Young Horizons Industry, the international co-production forum for films and series for young audiences (formerly known as Kids Kino Industry), has announced its Focus on Docs programme. The section is organised in partnership with Andrzej Wajda Centre for Film Culture. Young Horizons Industry will take place between 4-6 October 2023 in Warsaw (and online) as the industry part of the Young Horizons International Film Festival.
The idea to create a special focus on documentaries came after having two successful editions of the Kids Kino Docs documentary project development programme. The aim of these workshops is to create a space for documentary filmmakers with projects at development or pre-production stage that will contribute to the growing popularity of documentaries for young viewers – among filmmakers as well as audiences. Focus on Docs in this year’s programme is another step aimed at giving this genre more visibility and talking about the biggest challenges and obstacles the documentary industry faces.
Confirmed guests from the documentary field give an opportunity for filmmakers to meet with peers and talk with international experts. This list includes distributors: Cinema Delicatessen, Split Screen, Attraction Distribution, Windrose and JEF, as well as broadcasters: BBC, VRT – Ketnet, Canal + Poland and Latvian TV, and producers: GotFat Productions, Haka Films, Pinot Films, Bulletproof Cupid, are just a few of the companies that already confirmed their attendance.
Towards more visibility As part of the special focus on documentaries, Young Horizons Industry invites film professionals to take part in a special session – «DOCS FOR A YOUNG AUDIENCE – Towards more visibility». The session will highlight several case studies, followed by round tables with international experts. One of the case studies will be the Dutch film Shabu (dir. Shamira Raphaëla) that has been screened at multiple festivals and already won awards at IDFA, Berlinale, CPH:DOX, Hot Docs, to name a few. The fact that it has gained recognition among audiences is a great example that there is a need for more documentary projects for young viewers.
After the session, international industry stakeholders and professionals, in a safe space of two round tables, will share and analyse the pressing question of how to create more buzz for non-fictional films for young audiences, discuss strategies that have already worked, using the examples of the various case studies, and come up with new creative concepts.
Pitching presentation of documentary projects The second part of this year’s Focus on Docs will take place during pitching sections, which are the core part of the Young Horizons Industry programme. Selected documentary projects developed at the Kids Kino Docs programme will join 26 projects already selected, and will be looking for partners and feedback during the event.
Focus on Docs – list of projects:
- Armed With Drums by Øyvind Aamli
- Elliot by Maida Eirheim
- A Layup by Olga Papacz
- My Imaginary Friend by Ellen Morgenstierne
- Patterns of Being by Małgorzata Wabińska
- We Keep Them In Our Hearts by Julie Engaas, Cecilie Bjørnaraa
- The World According To Jędrek by Aleksandra Bielska
The full list of projects (documentary, live-action and animation) selected for Young Horizons Industry, along with more information, is available at: industry.younghorizons.pl/projects. All the case study presentations and pitchings are open to anyone with an accreditation, but the individual round tables require registration. The registration for the round tables will open in the first half of September.
