INTERNATIONAL PITCHES 2025

Session moderated by
Margje DE KONING

& Gitte HANSEN

Wed 29/01 09h00 > 13h00
Rotonde (Bellevue)

Session moderated by
Margje DE KONING

& Gitte HANSEN

Thu 30/01 09h00 > 13h00
Rotonde (Bellevue)

A WARM WELCOME TO THE 2025 EDITION OF THE FIPADOC INTERNATIONAL PITCHES

For two days we offer a fresh beginning of the documentary year, by introducing 24 selected documentary projects to you. The pitch teams will present their projects to the 60+ decision makers we welcome for these two days of new connections, collaborations and co-productions.It is all happening with the frame of the Fipadoc festival and Industry days in our wonderful industry location of the Bellevue in Biarritz.

This year, we are especially proud of spotlighting a selection of fascinating projects from the 2025 focus, the Balkan region.
In addition, we are happy to have a great presence of Balkan decision makers with us, representing great opportunities for co-working with and reaching audiences in the region.

Welcome to what is truly two days of connections, collaborations and co-productions.

AWARDS

BEST INTERNATIONAL PITCH AWARD

€3.000 Co-production grant + an invitation to be part of the Al Jazeera Balkans Industry Forum

BEST FRENCH PITCH AWARD

€7.000 in post-production services at Saya

PUBLIC SENAT AWARD

Pre-buy for the selected project

DOTIMAGES AWARD

€3.000 in cash sponsored by the Dotimages Fund to support the financing of a cinematographic or creative documentary project

DOCS UP FUND AWARD

CAT&DOCS AWARD

Consultancy on Festival, marketing, and distribution strategies, aiming to support exceptional documentary films in reaching international audiences

DOCSBARCELONA AWARD

Selection of one project presented at Fipadoc for the DocsBarcelona Pitching Forum

DOK.FEST MÜNCHEN AWARD

Selection of one project presented at Fipadoc for the DOK.fest München Pitching Forum

SAN SEBASTIAN AWARD

Selection of one project presented at Fipadoc for the San Sebastián Lau Haizetara Forum.

BIO TO B AWARD

Selection of one project presented at Fipadoc to attend Bio to B – Industry Days (Biografilm Festival).

In partnership with

IS THE FUTURE ALREADY HERE?

Personal, tech and climate stories about how the present might help us envision a better future.

MERCREDI 29 JANVIER À 09H00

Tehran, auto-immune (FR, SE, IR)

AFSANEH SALARI - Christian Popp, Diane Nivoley | YAMI 2 Productions | France

Afsaneh Salari | Docmaniacs | Iran
Ashley Smith | Sisyfos Film Production | Sweden

One-off: 52 min & 80 min

TEHRAN, AUTO-IMMUNE goes under the skin of Iran's capital through intimate observations of beauty clinics in a city that records the world's highest rate of beauty surgery.

Jezero (BA, DK, ES, NO)

BOJAN STOJCIC - Lara Grozdanic, Ishak Jalimam | Realstage | France

Lise LENSE-MØLLER | Magic Hour Films
Amaia REMIREZ GARCIA | Kanaki Films | Spain
Anita | REHOFF LARSEN | Sant & Usant

One-off : 90 min

Jezero deals with the past, present, and future of a city in Bosnia & Herzegovina, as well as a crater of the same name on the planet Mars. Through these two connected motifs, the film aims to explore the implications of imperialism and extractive capitalism on ecosystems in the country and beyond.

World of Walls (SK, FR, CZ, ZA, BE)

LUCIA KAŠOVÁ - Matej Sotník | GUČA films | Slovaquie

Yann Ollivier | FACTSTORY | France
Klára Mamojková | CLAW AV | République Tchèque
Kristian Van Der Heyden | Harald House | Belgique
Wanda Kaprálová | Claw AV

One-off : 80 min

 

Set in a dystopian South Africa where the future is already reality, the coming-of-age documentary World of Walls follows the everyday lives of two teenage girls on opposite sides of a wall. Through their eyes, we witness extreme social divisions and an escalating climate catastrophe.

Women for Peace : A Journey in War (FR, IL)

KEREN SHAYO - Sylvie Brenet | Les Films Du Sillage | France Arik Bernstein, Talia Bernstein | Alma Films | Israël

One-off : 52 min & 70 min

Through the eyes of Israeli and Palestinian women peace activists, nominated for the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize, the film delves into the devastating toll of war on women. As October 7, 2023, changes everything, their shared journey for peace and the price they pay for it, faces its greatest challenge.

Dark Waters (GR, CA)

MARIANNA ECONOMOU - Rea Apostolides, Yuri Averof | Anemon Productions | Grèce Paul Cadieux | Filmoption International | Canada

One-off : 52 min & 75 min

 

In the dystopian port of Elefsina, a diver battles toxic wrecks, revealing a tale of cleansing and one man’s personal struggles to escape the world's darkness.

2084 (ES)

RUTH CHAO - Alphonse De La Puente | Somadrome Films | Espagne Alicia Veira | Espagne

One-off : 80 min

Marta overcomes trauma thanks to innovative neurotechnology, but a fatal failure highlights the need for legislation on mental privacy and neurorights.

IS THE PRESENT IN THE PAST?

Not only re-telling history – but looking at it again in a different light.

MERCREDI 29 JANVIER À 11H30

Seven and one (FR)

LUCAS VERNIER - Mathilde Raczymow | Les Films Du Bilboquet | France

One-off: 90 min

At 16, Evelyne Noël left her family in Picardie to escape elsewhere. Since then, we've known her only as Eve. Eve is my mother. She's kept her past hidden. She has seven sisters and brothers whom I don't know. It's time for me to meet them.

Memoirs of Jerusalem (GB, JO)

KINDA KURDI - Brian Hill | Century Films Ltd. | UK Kinda Kurdi | K² Visual Media | UK

One-off: 90 min

The year is 1948 and the Israeli army haven't been able to capture East Jerusalem. How will one man’s leadership restore life and hope to East Jerusalem and keep it under Palestinian sovereignty?

Yugo Goes to America (RS, HR)

FILIP GRUJIĆ, ALEKSA BORKOVIĆ - Čarna Vučinić | Naked | Serbie Vanja Jambrović | Restart | Croatie

One-off : 90 min

A group of friends, born in the 90s, goes on a road trip across America in a Yugo, aiming to experience their first big adventure in the worst car ever.

Hope against hope (IR, FR, NO)

MINA KESHAVARZ - Mina Keshavarz | MinDoc Film Production | Iran

Christophe Bruncher | Ici Et La Productions | France
Anita Norfolk | Folk Film | Norway

One-off: 100 min

 

Informations about this project are confidential.

XAU (SE, ZA)

FREDRIK GERTTEN, SYLVIA VOLLENHOVE Margarete Jangård, Cecilie Bolvinkel | WG Film AB | Suède

Sylvia Vollenhoven | Vision In Africa | Afrique du Sud
Andreas Dalsgaard | Elk Film

One-off : 55 min & 90 min

 

When a surprising illness hits Sylvia, a prominent black journalist, she traces its roots to the absurdities and violence of apartheid. Through uncovering her indigenous identity, she finds the cure.

Talking of Gaza (FR)

TAMARA ERDE, HANEEN SABBAH Christilla Huilard-Kann | Elda Productions | France

Serie: 2 episodes x 52 min

Through the eyes of a Palestinian and an Israeli filmmaker who have grown up in the complex reality of the region, the film aims to tell the story of the historical and geopolitical evolution of the Gaza Strip, as well as the intimate and collective stories that underpin this evolution.

IS REALITY IN WIDE FORMAT?

A bigger picture of the world around us. Here you get reality in a wider format.

JEUDI 30 JANVIER À 09H00

Balkan's Maestro (ME, FR)

ALTINAÏ PETROVITCH NJEGOSH, FRANÇOIS FLEURY Ivan ČOJBAŠIĆ | Atomic Production | Monténégro

Altinaï Petrovitch Njegosh | aïe aïe aïe films | Monténégro
Frédéric Chaudier| BIENVENUE PRODUCTION | France

One-off : 90 min

 

Following the death of his father, conductor Marc Korovitch put his career on hold to take the lead of the Montenegrin National Orchestra and reconnect with his roots. While rehearsing Don Giovanni, he’s confronted with the reality of a country about to join the European Union.

Under the yellow sky (UA, EE, LV)

MARYNA NAZARENKO Volodymir Tretyakoff | Cinema Sound Productions | Ukraine

Una Celma | Fenixfilm Ltd | Latvia

One-off: 80 min

 

The film "UNDER THE YELLOW SKY" is a documentary story about the life and survival of civilians in a frontline city during a full-scale war, their cohesion, resilience, and the desperately fast growing up of children at the peak of frontline activity. This is war through the eyes of children.

Boom ! (GB)

LAURA PLANCARTE Johnny Brewin | The Republic Of Park Royal Ltd | Grande Bretagne Laura Plancarte | LP Films ltd | Grande Bretagne

Mandy Chang | Mandy Chang | United Kingdom

One-off: 52 min & 90 min

 

 

BOOM! A journey into inner turmoil and the need to suppress it. Champion fighter G-Air and driven Sonia are a boxing couple navigating the complexities of life. Their passion for Muay Thai brings them peace, but the demands of societal expectations and parenting push them to their limits.

Barrabás (ES, PE, US)

Barrabás (ES, PE, US) DANIEL MARTINEZ-QUINTANILLA Rafa Molés, Pepe Andreu, Alba Santos Cloux | SUICAfilms | Spain

Daniel Martínez-Quintanilla Pérez | MUYUNA EIRL | Peru
Drew Stoneman | Associated Press | United States of America

One-off : 50 min & 90 min

"Barrabás" spans 12 years of world history, exploring war, football, ethical contradictions, and reconciliation through the lens of photojournalist and two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Rodrigo Abd.

Waltz from the Well (PL)

TYMON NOGALSKI Slawomir Richert | Warsaw Production Team | Poland

One-off : 54 min & 70 min

 

Young hydrology student and amateur conductor accidentally discovers lost manuscripts

Iraq, land of factions (FR)

ANNE POIRET Anne Poiret | After War | France

Patrick Winocour, Juliette Guigon | SQUAWK | France

One-off : 52 min

 

 

On the margins of the conflict between Israel and Lebanese Hezbollah, other pro-Iranian Shi’a factions are now clashing with the Jewish nation from their bases in Iraq. This film will delve into the factions comprising a paramilitary system alongside the Iraqi government.

IS IT ALL ABOUT CHARACTER?

We all have character – and this is what brings us challenges, dilemmas, conflicts and drama
 
THURSDAY, JANUARY 30 AT 11:30

Goodbye Andy Brown (NO, HU)

LARS ERLEND TUBAAS ØYMO Karianne Berge | Indie Film | Norway

Julianna Ugrin | Éclipse Film | Hungary

One-off : 52 min & 80 min

An intimate portrait of a female sex worker's struggle to define herself on her own terms and find true love. Goodbye Andy Brown is an artistic documentary combining animation and home video material.

Contacts (FR)

One-off : 52 min

Choreographer Eric Minh Cuong Castaing's Shonen company meets children with motor disorders and introduces them to contact dance, a form of dance based on physical contact and listening, which addresses in particular the question of the relationship between ‘able-bodied’ and ‘disabled’ bodies.

Matriarchy (SE, CH)

ZARA ARREHED Ilja Stenberg, Malcolm Dixelius | Dixit International | Sweden

Esther Van Messel, Daniel Schneider | First Hand Films | Switzerland

One-off : 58 min & 85 min

 

Living a double life between her Syrian Orthodox family and Muslim girlfriend, Melissa faces an impossible choice when secrecy is no longer an option. Her decision to live openly transforms her Stockholm home into a battleground, as her deeply religious mother weighs acceptance against tradition.

Sanda Dia (NL, BE)

MIRIAM GUTTMANN Monique Busman, Indy Kisoen | Tomtit Film | Netherlands

Hanne Phlypo | Clin D’Oeil Films | Belgium

One-off: 90 min

 

In the aftermath of the media hijacked trial of the circumstances surrounding the death of Sanda Dia (20) during a student hazing in Belgium, his brother Seydou and his friends struggle to come to terms with the events. How could this have happened? And how can they move on?

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