We are excited to reveal the selected projects for this year’s East Silver Market, taking place on March 17 at the East Doc Platform. This unique film market for finished films and rough cuts consists of pre-scheduled in-person meetings between carefully selected creators and industry decision-makers. The market aims to foster the distribution and promotion of projects in post-production, rough cuts and completed films from Central and Eastern Europe.
East Silver Market titles at the East Doc Platform:
Isabella (dir. Joanna Janikowska, prod. Anna Gawlita - Kijora Film sp. z o.o., Marta Szymanowska - Kijora Film sp. z o.o., co-prod. Rosanna D'ALoisio - Domus Films, Poland, Italy, 2025)
Isabella is a 91‑year‑old fortune‑teller and staunch catholic who lives alone in an abandoned village in Sardinia. She is also an activist with all her might fighting for the survival of the village, and the memory of her own life. But she faces many challenges: fires, vandals, and—the biggest of all—time. Isabella's own prophecy says she will die at the age of 93.
9 Month Contract (dir. Ketevan Vashagashvili, prod. Nino Chichua, Anna Khazaradze - 1991 Productions, co-prod. Martichka Bozhilova - AGITPROP, Sylvia Nagel - Vincent productions, Georgia, 2024)
In Tbilisi, homeless mother Zhana turns to surrogacy to provide for her teenage daughter, Elene. Hiding her pregnancies, Zhana faces relentless financial struggles and risks her health through multiple childbirths. As her body weakens, Elene matures, confronting her mother’s sacrifices. Through a decade-long bond with the duo, the film delves into their evolving relationship and the limits of a mother’s devotion.
A Song Without Home (dir. Rati Tsiteladze, prod. Olga Slusareva - ArtWay Film, Georgia, 2024)
After 11 years of being locked away from the outside world by her parents due to fear of society, Adelina, a transgender woman from a small Georgian village, flees to Europe. Her mother remains behind, facing societal rejection by her family and community for supporting her child. As Adelina navigates an unfamiliar world, the weight of her past psychological scars lingers, complicating her ability to integrate into her new life.
Heart Don't Be Afraid (dir. Ana Kvichidze, prod. Avtandil Khorava - Moonbow, co-prod. Natalia Imaz Mariam Bitsadze, Georgia, Germany, 2021)
Dachi is a transgender person (they/them) from a religious place in Georgia, oppressed by the Archbishop, religious society, and even their own family, they find an old witch, taught and empowered with her magic spells, and they begin to change reality.social oppression and to create a reality where they can be themself.
What about Petey? (dir. Martin Trabalík, prod. Jan Bodnár- GNOMON PRODUCTION S.R.O., co-prod. Silvia Panáková - Dayhey, Czech Republic, Slovakia, 2025)
After the sudden death of his wife, the main protagonist of the film, Mr. Jochec, must take on the care of his two teenage children: his daughter Vanesa and his son Petr, who have a severe autism spectrum disorder. Mr. Jochec now has to manage the family on his own and keep it together. While many fathers in such circumstances leave their families, Mr. Jochec chooses to face this challenge head-on, engaging in a daily struggle—from devoted care for his childrens and providing financial stability to managing household responsibilities.
My Family and Other Clowns (dir. Heilika Pikkov, Liina Särkinen, prod. Ülo Pikkov - Silmviburlane, Estonia, 2025)
How to survive parenthood, when you have a lot to juggle? Haide and Toomas are a married couple, with three children living in a tiny one-bedroom apartment in the suburb of Tallinn. They could be a perfectly ordinary family, but there’s a catch – the parents in this family are famous clowns and one of the kids is autistic.
Because I Have to (dir. Jakub Kučera, prod. Tomáš Pertold - Perfilm, Michael Přibil - Perfilm, Czech Republic, 2024)
The documentary Because I Have to delves into the life and art of Miloš Šejn (b. 1947), a visionary artist and former head of the Conceptual Art Department at Prague’s Academy of Fine Arts. For nearly 60 years, Šejn’s immersive works have bridged nature, spirituality, and intermedial art. The film offers an intimate look at his intense performances and spiritual philosophy, blending tribal, environmental, and philosophical perspectives.
The Town That Drove Away (dir. Grzegorz Piekarski, Natalia Pietsch, prod. Katarzyna Kostecka - LARMO, co-prod. TVP National Polish TV, Poland, 2025)
In Kurdistan, the last residents of the ancient town of Hasankeyf watch helplessly as centuries-old traditions disappear when the Turkish government floods their land. Rengin, a Kurdish shepherd, and Burak, the local barber, are caught in a political game where survival depends on obeying new rules that strip them of their identity.
Hungry (dir. Susanne Brandstaetter, prod. Susanne Brandstaetter - Susanne Brandstätter Filmproduktion / Envision Film, Austria, 2025)
A mysterious Being in a near future investigates a world devoid of human life using voice recordings retrieved from the past – interviews made by filmmaker Susanne Brandstätter before the elimination events. The Being connects the dots to reveal how an economic system based on exploitation destabilized not only the food system, but also the whole planet. “Hungry” delivers solutions how to prevent this desolate tomorrow from becoming our today.
The Longer You Bleed (dir. Ewan Waddell, prod. Ewan Waddell - Runscape Gallery Liubov Dyvak, Ukraine, Germany, 2024)
The Longer You Bleed explores the emotional fallout of displaced Ukrainians in Berlin navigating a world of war through images and algorithms. Absurdist humour and compassion fatigue become survival tools in this trauma-saturated reality. Through a lens of intimacy and abstraction, the story unfolds from the perspective of the director's partner and her similarly displaced friends.
What the... Hen! (dir. Joanna Deja, prod. Justyna Kluczewska - Raban, Maciek Ostatek - Raban, Poland, 2024)
The story of Łukasz Puczko, Poland’s only constructor of biomechanical hybrid puppets, and Sabina, a 16-year-old refugee from Ukraine. In Solniki, Łukasz leads local activism, building a 2 m high hen to protest a planned 4-hectare industrial poultry farm near the village. Sabina, initially reserved, becomes his assistant, discovering a passion for puppetry. Together, they create a unique bond and tour European festivals with their work.
The Wind Blows Where It Pleases (dir. Andreea Udrea, prod. Ana Maria Vijdea - Remora Films, Romania, 2025)
Eszter, a 37-year-old queer Christian woman in Budapest, navigates the tension between religion and queerness. From being single to finding love, she confronts shame, guilt, and difficulties expressing her sexuality. Through raw monologues and tender moments, the film explores her path to self-acceptance, uncovering her longing for love and inner peace.
Signs of life (dir. Julia Kushnarenko, prod. Victor Candeias - DocNomads, Hungary, Belgium, Portugal, 2024)
The demand for stuffed pets has grown significantly over the past year. In a small taxidermy workshop several artists are trying to bring dead pets back to life. The young dog Mila becomes our guide to a mystical world where her owners learn to attain immortality.
Stone of destiny (dir. Julie Černá, prod. Kristina Husová - Pure Shore, Czech Republic, 2025)
The animated musical follows the journey of the anthropomorphized Stone of Destiny. On a path filled with mysterious encounters and hidden symbols, he is driven by a desire for freedom. Singing Stone is accompanied not only by a newfound freedom, but also by a fear of failure. He settles in a seaside villa, followed by shadows of doubt, but even here he finds no solace. The narrative, which explores themes of understanding, beauty and loneliness, is based on the experiences of author Julie Černá, who is also behind the comic book of the same name. The latter was awarded the Muriel Prize for Best Student Comic in 2022.
Hidden (dir. Monika Kotecka, prod. Marta Szymanowska, Poland, 2026)
Dominated by black-and-white archives, the film bridges past and present, revealing how fear shapes bodies, emotions, and lives across generations of women. Symbolic visuals—pulsating veins, cracked earth, storms—evoke a visceral emotional landscape. A female protagonist embodies many voices, shifting from reflection to silence as she confronts her fears. The journey ends in soothing: naming and understanding her anxiety fosters strength and compassion, sharing a timeless story of resilience.
