The 9th Verzió DocLab Pitch concluded this year with prizes totalling €5,700 awarded to six standout projects in development. The event, held in partnership with the international festival network Doc Around Europe, showcased talent from Greece, Ukraine, Germany, Spain, and Hungary.

Verzió DocLab combines mentoring workshops with a professional pitch forum, providing young filmmakers the tools and opportunities to present their projects to industry leaders. This year’s panel included representatives from HBO, Warner Bros. Discovery, and the Swedish and Norwegian Film Funds, among others. Projects were polished under the guidance of mentors Jesper Jack, Flóra Erdélyi, and Anna Kis.

Top honours and winners

• HBO Development Award (€1,500)
  Winner: Moving Sisters (Greece)
  A poignant story of three Afghan sisters divided between a Greek refugee camp and Germany. Directed by Christos Stefanou and edited by Eugenia Papageorgiou, the film examines themes of resilience and family bonds.
• On the Spot Verzió DocLab Award (€1,000)
  Winner: Bee in My Mouth (Germany-Hungary)
  Directed by Loránd Balázs Imre, this deeply personal documentary explores a father’s grief over the loss of a child and the delicate balance between mourning and renewal.
• FocusFox Award (16 hours of Baselight grading, €2,500 value)
  Winner: Hide Me in the Light (Ukraine)
  Directed by Markiian Miroshnychenko, this project received post-production support to enhance its visual storytelling.
• DAE Encouragement Award
  Winner: The freeSZFE Film (Hungary)
  Chronicling the 2020 occupation of a Hungarian university amid political upheaval, this project also received the Social Caption Award for subtitling services.
• Bio to B Award
  Winner: My Dear Vira (Ukraine)
  Directed by Maryna Brodovska and Olga Chernykh, this film earned an industry pass to the Biografilm Festival for further networking and development.
• Best Hungarian Project Award by MADOKE
  Winner: Bee in My Mouth
  Recognised for its potential, this project will benefit from long-term mentoring by the Hungarian Documentary Filmmakers Association.