Balkan Watchers – Balkan Documentary Center’s brand new industry training program encourages critical storytelling through journalism-driven films and podcast
The Balkan Documentary Center's brand new initiative, Balkan Watchers, addresses the urgent need for a safe and supportive environment for journalists, filmmakers, and activists, who often face difficult challenges such as self-censorship and various threats in the Balkans and surrounding regions.
The final phase of the program will take place and culminate during Sofia DocuMental – on October 3rd, the projects will be presented to the invited industry professionals at the Balkan Documentary Market, and an international jury of experts will award six of them with financial support during the awards ceremony at Cinema House on October 5, 2024.
Recognizing the critical role of the media in promoting democratic values and open societies, the Balkan Documentary Center is developing a program that fosters talent and encourages critical storytelling. By focusing not only on documentary films but also on podcasts, the initiative provides a platform for diverse voices and perspectives, especially in regions where freedom of expression is under threat.
The initiative is funded by the Creative Europe Media program and in collaboration with the One World Romania documentary film festival. The program is structured to provide comprehensive support to its participants. The first module – a project development seminar – was held in Bucharest in April 2024. Following an online pitch preparation, the final session will soon take place in Sofia, where the projects will be presented to an international jury, and six of them (three films and three podcasts) will receive financial support. Professionals from key outlets (BBC, HBO MAX, ZDF ARTE, YLE), international production and distribution organisations (Lightdox, German Films), and documentary film festivals (One World, Movies That Matter, and others) will arrive in Sofia to meet the projects and select the best among them.
After the pitching forum and individual meetings, a five-member jury will choose the projects to receive financial support from the newly established media development fund of the program. The jury includes Margje de Koning – artistic director of Movies That Matter Film Festival in the Netherlands, Hugh Levinson – audio commissioner at BBC, United Kingdom, Velislava Popova – editor-in-chief of Dnevnik newspaper, Bulgaria, Alecu Solomon – director One World Romania, and Ondřej Kamenický, director of One World Czech Republic. The winning documentary projects will be announced on October 5th, with films receiving 25,000 euros each and podcasts receiving 5,000 euros each. The supported projects are expected to be completed within one to two years.
"We were deeply honored and amazed by the number and quality of the projects submitted for the first edition of Balkan Watchers. In most of the applications, it was wonderful to observe the originality and boldness of ideas and the unique creative perspective of the authors, addressing topics of great significance that are relevant beyond the borders of their own countries, important for contemporary society as a whole," commented Martichka Bozhilova, director of the Balkan Documentary Center and Sofia DocuMental.
A key aspect of Balkan Watchers is the focus on collaborative projects between countries in Eastern Europe and the Balkans, both EU and non-EU countries. This approach encourages cross-border cooperation and helps foster a broader understanding of regional issues, contributing to a more connected and empathetic European media environment.
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The selected projects for 2024 are:
DOCUMENTARY FILM PROJECTS
- The Captain and the Caspian Sea Director: Turkan Huseyn. Producer: Emil Najafov, Turkan Huseyn. Production Company: Chinar Film. Country: Azerbaijan
- Survivors Directors: Nina Paschalidou & Maria Louka. Producer: Mina Dreki, Iro Aidoni. Production Company: Marni Films. Country: Greece
- A Trash Full of Gold Director: Silva Khnkanosian. Producer: Anahit Zakaryan (Armenia), Stephane Jourdain (France). Production Company: Picartix production company (Armenia). Country: Armenia, France
- The Forest Glade Director/Creator: Oksana Savoskina and Oleksiy Nikulin. Producer: Roman Negrienko. Production Company: hromadske.ua. Country: Ukraine
- Language X Director/Creator: Tanya Haurylchyk. Producer: Katerina Barushka. Production Company: Fundacja Skaryna. Country: Poland/Belarus/Germany
- Lost and Found – Between Worlds Director/Creator: Laurentiu Garofeanu. Producer: Laurentiu Garofeanu. Production Company: Mekanism Media. Country: Romania
- 80 Angry Journalists Director/Creator: András Földes, Co-director: Anna Kis. Producer: Loránd Balázs Imre. Production Company: filmDOUGH (Productions UG). Country: Hungary, Germany
- Not in the business of making friends Director/Creator: Monica Lăzurean-Gorgan. Producer: Elena Martin, Monica Lăzurean-Gorgan. Production Company: Manifest Film. Country: Romania
- Wave Director: Mariam Chachia. Producer: Mariam Chachia. Production Company: OpyoDoc. Country: Georgia
- Escape Director: Yevgenia Danilenko. Country: Ukraine
PODCASTS
Ukrainian Insights: Beyond Disinformation Director/Creator: Valentyn Balahura. Producer: Yuriy Honcharenko. Production Company: Foundation for Democracy Assistance. Country: Ukraine
Shadows in the Sunset: Unveiling Human Rights and Corruption in Western Balkans Director/Creator: Teodora Cvetkovska. Producer: Demijan Hadji – Angelkovski. Production Company: Anekta. Country: North Macedonia
Untitled Director/Creator: Marta Kasztelan. Country: Poland
Alex’s Job Director/Host/Producer: Alex Lungu. Country: Romania
Press-unbound Director/Creator: Marius Daea. Production Company: Asociatia Eurolife. Country: Romania
War: ON and OFF the air Director/Creator: Irina Nedeva. Country: Bulgaria
Beta Europeans Director/Creator: Daniel Nenchev. Country: Bulgaria
Equal Voices Director/Creator: Agnesa Qorri. Producer: Agnesa Qorri. Production Company: Maesta Film. Country: Kosovo
Taxi Taxi Director/Creator: Vladic Ravich. Producer: Sophie Chkheidze. Production Company: NA. Country: Georgia