The Sarajevo Film Festival, in collaboration with the Balkan Documentary Center, has unveiled the 2024 Docu Rough Cut Boutique projects. A specialized regional platform aimed at supporting documentary projects in the advanced stages of editing, this initiative is designed to nurture creative possibilities and provide filmmakers with an extended, in-depth mentoring process through a three-module program held in Sofia, Cluj-Napoca, and Sarajevo.
The current selection of projects featured in the Docu Rough Cut Boutique showcases a diverse range of stories from across the region. Here are the highlighted projects:
- Electing Miss Santa (Moldova, Romania): Directed by Raisa Razmerita and produced by Ion Gnatiuc, this documentary follows 42-year-old Elena, who challenges societal expectations and family responsibilities in a remote Moldovan village. The film explores her transformative journey as she seeks to reclaim control over her life and pursue her dreams, even if it means leaving everything behind. The project is produced by HaiDOC Productions in co-production with Tangaj Production.
- Kartli (Georgia, France): Directed by Tamar Kalandadze and Julien Pebrel, with producer Ketevan Kipiani, this documentary poses a poignant question: Can the places we are forced to leave ever truly release us? The project is produced by Sakdoc Film in co-production with Habilis Production.
- In Hell with Ivo(United States, Bulgaria): Directed and produced by Kristina Nikolova under LunaClipse Media, this film tells the story of a queer artist who embarks on a series of intimate home concerts before returning home to confront past abuses. The film culminates in one final concert performed for the artist’s parents. The project is co-produced by Magic Shop.
- Super Paradise (Greece, Germany): Directed by Steve Krikris, who also produces the film alongside Paul Typaldos and Dafni Kalafati, this documentary revisits the 1970s when Mykonos was considered “paradise-on-earth,” a perception that lingers for some even today. The project is produced by FILMIKI S.A Productions in co-production with unafilm.
- Divia (Poland, Ukraine, Netherlands): Directed by Dmytro Hreshko and produced by Polina Herman and Glib Lukianets, this documentary captures the haunting beauty of the massive environmental destruction in Ukraine during the ongoing Russian invasion. The film is produced by Gogol Film and UP UA Studio in co-production with Valk Productions.
In addition to the invaluable mentorship and exposure provided by the program, participants also have the opportunity to compete for several prestigious awards that further support the completion and distribution of their documentaries:
- HBO Award: €2,000
- Cat&Docs Sales Agent Award: €2,000
- Dok Leipzig Preview Award: Presentation at the Dok Leipzig Festival
- AVANTPOST Postproduction Award: €20,000 in-kind postproduction services
- Movies that Matter Award: Presentation at the Movies that Matter Festival
- East Silver Caravan Award: In-kind distribution service worth €3,500, provided by The Institute of Documentary Film (IDF)
