Are you a documentary filmmaker with a project in development or early production? Are you looking for guidance, international exposure, and an opportunity to sharpen your craft under the mentorship of some of the most respected professionals in the industry? If so, Ex Oriente Film 2025 may be the opportunity you’ve been waiting for. Applications are now open, with a deadline of February 28th, 2025.
Ex Oriente Film is a renowned international training program for documentary filmmakers from Central and Eastern Europe. Over the course of a year, participants take part in three intensive, week-long workshops that provide tailored guidance on creative development, funding strategies, and the international co-production landscape. Designed for feature-length documentary and docuseries projects, the program culminates in the East Doc Forum, where projects are pitched to leading commissioning editors, producers, and distributors from Europe and North America.
What makes Ex Oriente Film stand out? To answer this question, we spoke with some of the esteemed tutors who’ve guided filmmakers through the program. Their insights highlight why Ex Oriente Film is a unique, career-changing experience.
Unlocking Your Documentary’s Potential
According to Marc Isaacs, BAFTA-winning filmmaker, Ex Oriente Film is “an innovative and rare chance for filmmakers to receive support in all areas of filmmaking. For many, this is the difference between the life or death of their film.” His statement underscores the workshop’s commitment to fostering projects with immense potential, providing essential resources and mentorship. However, the participants must also“be ready to question and unpack their project, so it can reach full potential”, advises the Acquisitions & Content Manager at TVF International Samuel Joyce.
For Hanka Kastelicová, the VP and Executive Producer of Documentaries for HBO Europe, Ex Oriente Film is “a fantastic opportunity to develop projects, helping filmmakers find the right approach and protagonists. Fully utilizing this opportunity can lead to the success of the film. Additionally, the workshop is organized with a deep understanding of the industry context from which the participants come, providing significant help in navigating the filmmaking reality in this region.”
A Platform for Collaboration and Growth
One of the program’s greatest strengths is its collaborative nature. By helping each other, the projects can continue to flourish and form a coherent whole, as noted for example by film law expert Stefan Rüll: “The opportunity to exchange views, methods, experience and to put these individual pieces together to form a complete mosaic is the most valuable aspect of the workshop.”.
Filmmakers and mentors come together not just to develop projects, but to forge lasting professional relationships. According to Nicolas Deschamps, CEO of Realworks, “The most valuable aspect is the collaborative environment it fosters around a project. Through dedicated mentorship, producers can refine their editorial direction and even build long-term relationships with the tutors. This highlights the importance of viewing the experience as part of a longer journey.”
Angus Macqueen, Emmy- and BAFTA-winning filmmaker, echoes this sentiment, describing the workshop as “creative and supportive”. He highlights the “collegiality” that defines the program, where participants and tutors collaborate to bring each project to its fullest potential. Award-winning documentary filmmaker and producer Sylvia Nagel, creative producer Ümit Uludag and others also highlight its honest and constructive collaboration and support.
Participants are encouraged to exchange ideas and push their creative boundaries. Samuel Joyce recalls the dynamic energy of these interactions: “The involvement of all parties in the documentary workshops creates dynamic and productive conversations. It's great to have the time to get to the core of the projects and motivations of the participants. It also affords opportunity to network in a relaxed, collaborative and creative environment, which makes connections more meaningful.”
Where Central and Eastern Europe Shines
Unlike other training programs, “the focus on Central and Eastern Europe makes it an unique workshop”, says award-winning screenwriter and documentary director Chris Westendorp. This focus, far from being limiting, is a strength. As producer Christian Popp, whose films have premiered at Sundance and IDFA, explains: “Focusing on projects from Central and Eastern Europe is not a limitation. Instead it sharpens creative approaches to documentary filmmaking in a diverse yet coherent cultural space.”
Hanka Kastelicová adds: “The focus on Central and Eastern Europe is crucial, and there is no other pitching forum that captures this complexity so well. There is a deep understanding of the needs of projects from these territories and the challenges Eastern European filmmakers face. For commissioners, it is the perfect hub to search for projects from this part of Europe.” So the workshop not only provides a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities of projects from Central and Eastern Europe, but it also opens doors to the wider international market. As Nicolas Deschamps highlights: “Joining the Ex Oriente Film program is like climbing a mountain—it gives your project greater visibility while offering a broader perspective, allowing you to reach the level of major international players.”
Producer and former commissioning editor Christilla Huillard-Kann emphasizes that through the Ex Oriente workshop, participants learn to think about their projects not only from a personal perspective but also with the audience in mind. As she states: “Thanks to the diversity of the sessions offered at each meeting, Ex Oriente provides a global view of the market and the possibilities of narrative and teaches to think about your film for an audience and not just for yourself or for a festival.” This approach is crucial because it allows filmmakers to better understand how their films can resonate with a broader audience, which is key to their success.
Stories That Resonate Globally
The success of Ex Oriente Film can be seen in the extraordinary projects that have emerged from the workshop. Academy Award-nominated Rabbit à la Berlin by Bartek Konopka is one such example, remembered fondly by Tue Steen Müller, a co-founder of the European Documentary Network. But there are many more successes, recently for example films like Boylesque by Bogna Kowalczyk or Over the Limit by Marta Prus.
Producer at TAG FILM, with films at Sundance and Cannes, Christian Popp reflects on a standout project, My Armenian Phantom by Tamara Stepanyan: “It is a subtle combination of personal and political, intimate and universal resonance and amazing use of archives.” This film is set to world premiere in the Berlinale Forum Special programme at this year’s Berlin International Film Festival.
But a lot of projects that participated in the Ex Oriente Film workshop recently are still in development and are yet to premiere, so definitely keep an eye on them as they have a lot of potential. We asked the tutors which ones stood out to them, for producer and editor at Triptyque Films Alexandra Mélot it was Do Magic by Vera Lacková, she justified it for “the incredible background of the director and the deep potential of an approach”. For Christilla Huillard-Kann, it was My father, the ICEMAN by Łukasz Kowalski, “for the quality of the images, the reflection, the contemporary subject matter that raises issues both intimate and collective, and for its political dimension”.
A Rare Opportunity for Aspiring Filmmakers
Why should filmmakers apply? The tutors’ responses are compelling. “If you are open to being supported in the making of your film then you'd be mad not to apply,” says Marc Isaacs. Founder of Nukleus Film and producer of award-winning documentaries Siniša Juričič adds: “This is a unique opportunity for you to get creative critical thinking about your project, but also network with your piers and get valuable insight into the state of documentary film market.”
Charlotte Uzu, an experienced producer, calls Ex Oriente Film “a rare and safe space where you can put your project to the test before showing it to the world. A rich and reinforcing opportunity”. One of the highlights of the workshop is also the ending pitching session at the East Doc Forum. This way the project teams have a clear deadline, which, as Catherine Chevassu, founder of C&Co, specializing in documentaries about and by women, points out, can be very helpful (as they often work on multiple projects at once and attention can be fragmented).
For filmmakers just starting out, Ex Oriente Film can be career-defining, emphasizes Hanka Kastelicová. “Especially for young filmmakers it is a must - as you will not only develop your project, but will also build your network and learn many important things to orient yourself in the film industry.
Apply Now
Ex Oriente Film is more than a workshop—it’s a launchpad for documentary filmmakers ready to make their mark on the world stage. With its blend of creative development, market-oriented guidance, and international networking, the program is uniquely equipped to help filmmakers bring their vision to life.
Applications for Ex Oriente Film 2025 are now open. Don’t miss this chance to join a community of passionate filmmakers and tutors dedicated to the art of documentary storytelling. Apply by February 28th, 2025, and take the first step towards transforming your project—and your career.
