Three projects exploring themes of displacement, surreal imagery, and contested histories took top honours at this year’s Docu Talents from the East Awards, presented during CineLink Industry Days at the Sarajevo Film Festival.
The main Docu Talent Award went to A Song Without Home, directed by Georgian filmmaker Rati Tsiteladze and produced by Olga Slusareva. The jury, which included Modern Times Review’s Steve Rickinson, cited the documentary’s «real-world stakes» and its depiction of a protagonist navigating danger with resilience, adding a note of solidarity with Georgia’s independent film community.
The Avanpost Post-production Award, offering €25,000 in in-kind services, was presented to Flying Cows, an Armenian-Swiss co-production from Vahagn Khachatryan and Aren Malakyan. Described by the jury as «scary, surreal and troubling,» the project polarized panelists but was praised for its striking narrative vision within a politically charged backdrop.
The DAFilms.com Distribution Award, worth €3,000 in-kind for a two-year VOD release, went to Land of Fire, directed by Nikola Klinger and produced by Kristina Husová. The jury highlighted its «vibrant cast of characters» and the film’s distinctive European perspective on a dark North American story.
Since its launch in 2005, the Ji.hlava IDFF-curated Docu Talents platform has introduced early works by directors later premiering in Cannes, Berlin, Locarno, and Sundance. This year’s edition placed special emphasis on the South Caucasus, showcasing films from Armenia, Georgia, and Azerbaijan.
The festival also announced the 2026 class of Emerging Producers, featuring 17 names from across Europe plus Ethiopia as guest country, alongside €54,000 in funding for three hybrid documentaries through the Ji.hlava/JB Films support scheme. Croatia was confirmed as industry guest country for the 2025 edition of Ji.hlava IDFF (24 October – 2 November).
