The VdR-Industry Awards 2022 were announced April 13. With more than 2100 accredited professionals from over 80 countries, the Festival has broken the Industry attendance record of last year’s hybrid edition (+27%). “With its numerous prizes and grants, VdR-Industry and its partners reaffirm their determination to support independent documentary filmmaking in all its diversity,” say organisers.
“We are absolutely overwhelmed by the historic success of this edition. And considering that in 2019, the last Industry edition before the global pandemic, we counted just over 1400 accredited participants from 64 countries, the signal is even more encouraging,” commented Madeline Robert, Head of Industry. “The qualitative results are also pleasing. The meetings and events took place in an atmosphere that was as constructive and concentrated as it was relaxed.|
Madeline Robert will step down from her duties as Head of Industry after this edition, but will stay with the Festival in other capacities. During the Award Ceremony, Artistic Director Emilie Bujès thanked Madeline Robert for her unwavering commitment: “Madeline Robert has been a huge asset for the Industry, contributing in largely widening the spectrum of projects, attendees and partners. This highly successful edition is the very proof of her amazing talent. We are happy to know that she will continue working with us.”
27 projects were invited to participate in three key forums – VdR-Pitching, VdR-Work in Progress and VdR-Rough Cut Lab – that ran as part of the Festival’s Industry activities in Nyon from April 10-14. The prizes are as follows:
visions sud est Award: 10’000 CHF in cash for the best project from the South (Africa, Latin America and Asia) or from Eastern Europe (excluding EU members)
La Bonga by Canela Reyes, Sebastian Pinzón Silva. Production: Gabriella Garcia-Pardo (La Bonga)
VDR-PITCHING
VdR–Pitching Award: 5’000 CHF in cash for the most promising project.
Anatomy of the Night by Lionel Baier. Production: Agnieszka Ramu (Bande à Part Films)
The Party Film Sales Award: €5,000€ in cash for the project with highest international potential.
MAILIN by Maria Silvia Esteve. Production: Laura Mara Tablón (Rita Cine)
RTS Award: Pre-buy of one film.
NOOR by Jérôme le Maire. Production: Isabelle Truc (IOTA Production), Enrica Capra (Tag Film) AND Becoming Roosi by Margit Lillak. Production: Margit Lillak & Karolina Veetamm (Tiny Desk Productions)
HEAD–Genève Postproduction Award: Colour grading and creation of the files for diffusion (including accomodation in Geneva).
The Monsters by Manuel Abramovich. Production: Juan Pablo Labonia & Manuel Abramovich (Ruido)
TËNK Post-production Award: Sound post-production facilities at Tënk studios (France) – Mixing Studio (2 weeks) and Auditorium (1 week).
MAILIN by Maria Silvia Esteve. Production: Laura Mara Tablón (Rita Cine)
Unifrance Doc Award: Subtitles creation and one Unifrance’s membership for the French producer attached to the project.
A Dog’s Life by Diane Sara Bouzgarrou, Thomas Jenkoe. Production: Jean-Laurent Csinidis (Films de Force Majeure)
Cannes Docs Award: Two accreditations for the filmmaker and producer to attend the Marché du Film – Festival de Cannes and participate in Cannes Docs.
Karatara – Place of Deep Shadows by Teboho Edkins. Production: Don Edkins (Day Zero Films)
DOK Leipzig Award: Accreditation and accommodation at DOK Leipzig & observer access to the DOK Co-Pro Market for the filmmaker and producer.
To Use a Mountain by Casey Carter. Production: Colleen Casingham (To Use a Mountain LLC)
EFM Award: Two Market Badges for the EFM and a consultation session.
Wider Than the Sky by Valerio Jalongo. Production: Milena Stokar (Aura Film sagl)
DAE Encouragement Award: 2 x memberships for the network plus 4 free consultations with network members, tailored to the needs of the project.
Girl-Tubers by Tali Yankelevich. Production: Leonardo Mecchi (Enquadramento Produções)
VDR–WORK IN PROGRESS
VdR-Work in Progress Award: 3,000 CHF in cash for the most promising project.
The Other Profile by Armel Hostiou. Production: Jasmina Sijercic (Bocalupo Films)
Lightdox Award: 3’000 CHF in cash for the project with highest international potential.
5 Seasons of Revolution by Lina. Production: Diana El Jeiroudi (No Nations Film GmbH), Torstein Grude (Piraya Film)
Raggioverde Subtitling Award: Subtitle creation incl. translation in one language.
La Bonga by Canela Reyes, Sebastian Pinzón Silva. Production: Gabriella Garcia-Pardo (La Bonga)
Freestudios Award: Creation of a DCP package.
Against the Tide by Sarvnik Kaur. Production: Koval Bhatia (A Little Anarky Films), Sarvnik Kaur (Snooker Club Films Pvt Ltd), Quentin Laurent (Les Films de l’œil sauvage)
OPENING SCENES AWARDS
TËNK Award: Purchase of distribution rights for one film of the Opening Scenes section and an editing residency at the Documentary Village of Lussas (France) for the filmmaker of the awarded film.
Le Cercle vide / The Empty Sphere by Stéphanie Roland. Production: Natalia Trebik, Fresnoy – Studio National des Arts Contemporains
Docs Up Award: A grant of €1,000 and an individual consultation offered for the next feature length film of a film director from Opening Scenes section.
Le Thé et le Temps by Salah El Amri. Production: Gabriela Bussmann, Yan Decoppet – GoldenEggProduction / HEAD – Genève
The Festival Awards will be presented on Saturday April 16.
