05.05.2021

U.S. Docs in the Spotlight / new initiative for US-EU co-productions

One of the leading European documentary film festivals, the Czech Republic’s Ji.hlava International Documentary Film Festival, has announced a new call for U.S. filmmakers – U.S.DOCS IN THE SPOTLIGHT.

„The aim of this new initiative is to encourage and support U.S. and European documentary co-productions. In the European context, Ji.hlava decided to become the first platform, which would effectively connect the U.S. documentary filmmakers with the potential co-producers, distributors, sales representatives and film festivals from Europe,“ says Marek Hovorka, director of Ji.hlava IDFF.

The U.S. filmmakers can submit their feature and mid-length documentary films in development, production or postproduction until May 18. The selected projects will be presented to European decision-makers during the 25th Ji.hlava IDFF (October 26–31, 2021) and the U.S. filmmakers will also be invited to tailor-made activities focusing on European funding and distribution system, join the festival’s Matchmaking Accelerator and other Ji.hlava industry events.

“We primarily look for films made with creative artistic approach. They do not need to be shot in Europe but the expected impact of the film should reach beyond the U.S.A.”, says Jarmila Outratová, head of Ji.hlava’s Industry section.

The projects will be selected by June 30, 2021. Their presentation will take place online on October 26–31 during the 25th Ji.hlava IDFF, and will be made accessible to over 1,200 industry professionals and decision makers attending the event. The 25th Ji.hlava IDFF is expected to take place in a hybrid form combining online and offline features.

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The Ji.hlava IDFF is a co-founding member of Doc Alliance network (CPH:DOX, Doclisboa, Docs Against Gravity FF, DOK Leipzig, FIDMarseille, Ji.hlava IDFF, Visions du Réel) and is behind the leading documentary VoD platform dafilms.com. Ji.hlava Industry programme includes acclaimed projects such as EMERGING PRODUCERS workshop or DOCU TALENTS FROM THE EAST presentations.