DOK Industry, the professional arm of DOK Leipzig which runs 8-15 October, has put out the call for project submissions for its DOK Preview Germany, DOK Short n’ Sweet and DOK Exchange XR Showcase programmes. Additionally, DOK Industry published July 5 a podcast on the plight of Hong Kong docmakers three years after China’s controversial National Security Law for Hong Kong which severely restricts local freedom of expression.
CALL FOR PROJECTS
DOK Preview Germany: run in collaboration with German Films, a showcase for exciting new German documentary projects. Submission deadline: 22 August.
- feature-length (at least 79 minutes)
- newly completed or in their final stages, with an estimated release date in autumn/winter 2023/2024
- with international potential, especially for theatrical release and festival exploitation
- with majority German participation (BAFA proof required for international co-production)
- Present your project to international buyers, editors, world sales, festivals and distributors.
DOK Short n’ Sweet: projects to be pitched during the programme’s 7th edition. Submission deadline: 10 August.
- short film projects at all stages from development to complete
- all forms of documentary, animated documentary/animated film
- shorts with a strong point of view and creative vision
- maximum 30’ duration
- short film series are also welcome to apply
DOK Exchange XR Showcase: Work-in-progress projects aimed at the international XR community. Submission deadline: 10 August.
- in development or early stages of production
- presenting an innovative and unique approach to storytelling
- exploring artistic possibilities of immersive media, interactive technologies and augmented creativity (AI+Human)
- seeking international collaboration, partners, producers, distributors
- (alternatively) taking into account the ethical and social impact of XR and AI.
Every year, approximately 1,600 film industry professionals attend Leipzig to participate in over 50 events under the umbrella of DOK Industry. This year’s festival runs 8–15 October.
DOK INDUSTRY HONG KONG PODCAST
In the latest episode of the DOK Industry Podcast, filmmakers Tze Woon Chan, Kanas Liu and Dr Anson Hoi Shan Mak discuss the impact the National Security Law for Hong Kong has had on local documentary filmmaking in Hong Kong.
“Given the recent news of content from several short films of the Fresh Wave International Short Film Festival was censored by the Office for Film, Newspaper & Article Administration, our guests talk about the 2021 revision of the policy on film censorship in Hong Kong and share their own experience with (self-)censorship,” organisers write.
“Another topic is how challenging it is for documentary filmmakers to find people in Hong Kong who are willing to speak openly about their experiences in front of the camera – and to protect these respondents from reprisals. How can an artist’s aim of documenting reality be fulfilled without endangering the protagonists?” organisers continue.
“The filmmakers also discuss the current difficulty to obtain funding at a national level for making or distributing independent documentaries. Nonetheless, the tightening restrictions are not stopping many filmmakers from documenting life in Hong Kong and the stories of local people, but are instead inspiring them to find creative ways of realising their projects.”
The podcast is available from the DOK Leipzig website as well as from Spotify, Google Podcasts and Deezer.
