RABBIT SET TO GO ALL THE WAY

We are extremely proud to announce that - as the first-ever East European film - Rabbit a la Berlin by director Bartek Konopka and producer Anna Wydra is one of the nominees for the 82nd Academy Award in the Documentary Short Subject category. The film attended the 2005 Ex Oriente Film workshop; in 2009 it received, among others, the Award for Best Mid-length Documentary at Hot Docs and was screened at the IDA-organized DocuWeek. Congratulations to the entire crew on this remarkable achievement!

CZECH LION AWARDS NOMINEES

Saturday, Feb 6, the Czech Film and Television Academy announced the nominees for the Czech Lion Award for Best Documentary. Lukáš Přibyl's Forgotten Transports to Poland - winner of the Film Critics Award - will compete for the trophy against Welcome to North Korea! (dir. Linda Jablonská) and Citizen Havel Is Rolling Barrels (dir. Jan Novák, Adam Novák).

EX ORIENTE FILM TAKES NEW DIRECTION IN 2010

In 2010 Ex Oriente Film introduces a new system of inspirational lead tutors who will be involved in designing the programme structure of their respective sessions. Film theorist and FIDMarseille’s director Jean-Pierre Rehm will be the lead tutor of the 1st session in the Czech Republic; documentary producer of the Flying Moon Filmproduktion Helge Albers will be in charge of the 2nd session in Warsaw; director and editor Stan Neumann will, along with Danish documentary expert Tue Steen Müller, head the 3rd and 4th sessions in Jihlava and Prague. Application deadline: February 1, 2010.

NEW CZECH / SLOVAK DOCUMENTARY CHANNEL

DokuCS, the first TV channel dedicated to Czech and Slovak documentary film, was trial launched in January. Run by SPI International as one of the three themed channels planned for the Czech and Slovak markets, DokuCS will broadcast short and feature documentaries, spanning from the 1950s to the latest docs by the young generation of Czech and Slovak filmmakers.

TWELVE CZECH STUDENT SHORTS ON DVD

The Czech Film Center has released Czech Short Films Vol. 1, a DVD set of twelve shorts made by students of Czech film schools. The set includes two documentary films - 100 Days by Viera Čákanyová and 59/184/84 by Lukáš Kokeš. The CFC will present the DVD at the Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival & Market that takes place Jan 29 - Feb 6.

PHANTOM GEARING UP FOR TEXAS

Phantom of Liberty II, one of the five films made under the Breathless project, has been selected to screen as part of the SXSW Global International Documentary section. Blending a variety of conference and festival events, the 2010 SXSW takes place March 12 - 21 in Austin, Texas. Along with Karel Žalud's film, SXSW will also present Miro Remo's short Arsy-Versy, included in the 2009 East Silver.

ARSY-VERSY AND PHANTOM OF LIBERTY II. GO TO ZAGREB

East Silver Caravan titles Arsy-Versy (Miro Remo, 2009), awarded with special mention on 13th IDFF Jihlava, and Phantom of Liberty II. (Karel Zalud, 2009), which was developed in Czech-German project Breathless, were selected for festival program of Zagrebdox that takes place from February 28th - March 7th 2010

SUNDANCE INVITES APPLICATIONS FOR SPRING 2010 CYCLE

The next deadline to submit international documentary proposals for the Sundance Documentary Fund is February 9, 2010. The Fund accepts projects with social relevance that explore human rights issues, freedom of expression, social justice, etc. Grants will be announced in late Summer 2010.

SUBMIT SCIENCE FILMS FOR ACADEMIA FILM OLOMOUC

In addition to the Czech and International Competitions, the 45th Academia Film Olomouc - International Festival of Science Documentary Films (April 13 - 18) will explore a variety of intriguing subjects, including autism, witchcraft, anarchy and alternative human anthropology. Entries may be submitted until February 1.

BREATHLESS CAGE SHORT AT ROTTERDAM IFF

Anca Miruna Lazarescu's One Day Today Will Be Once (Es wird einmal gewesen sein) - developed with four other Czech and German films under the Breathless project - will be presented in the shorts section of the Rotterdam IFF (Jan 27 - Feb 7). Going strong after the premiere in October 2009, Breathless films have already been awarded at two festivals and are scheduled to attend a number of major events.

CZECH LION AWARDS TO ANNOUNCE NOMINATIONS

Twelve documentary films are eligible for a nomination in the 2009 Czech Lion Awards. February 6, the nomination ceremony will include a wide variety of theatrical documentaries, ranging from Linda Jablonská's Welcome to North Korea! (East European Forum 2008) and Tereza Nvotová's Take It Jeasy, to Martin Mareček's Auto*Mate, Lukáš Přibyl's Forgotten Transports to Poland, and Martin Hanzlíček's Short Long Journey.

TRANSPORTS AND DISCO MAKE THEIR WAY TO SWEDEN

Awarded in Warsaw and Tallinn, Disco & Atomic War (East European Forum 2007) by Jaak Kilmi and Kiur Aarma kicks off 2010 at the Göteborg International Film Festival (Jan 29 - Feb 8). Lukáš Přibyl's complete Forgotten Transports series will also screen at the festival, a not-to-miss opportunity for audiences and another prestigious stop in the filmmaker's busy festival schedule.

FORGOTTEN TRANSPORTS RELEASED ON DVD

Forgotten Transports, the internationally acclaimed four-part series completed by Lukáš Přibyl last year after a decade of painstaking research, has been released in a 4-disc DVD set. Meanwhile, Přibyl, graduate in history and political science, continues to gather praise and admiration for the series wherever he goes. The set is currently available only in Czech; other language versions will be released in the coming months.

ITVS INTERNATIONAL CALL: APPLY BEFORE FEB 5

The production funding initiative run by ITVS International provides funds for independent producers outside the USA, and aims to showcase compelling documentaries that will resonate with US audiences. The deadline for the current ITVS International Call is February 5, 2010. [photo: Belarusian Waltz, 2008, dir. Andrzej Fidyk, Co-production of Piraya Film, ITVS International, MG Productions and ARTE]

FORGOTTEN TRANSPORTS TO POLAND IN NEW YORK PREMIERE

Director Lukáš Přibyl is scheduled to attend the New York premiere of his Forgotten Transports to Poland that will screen January 18 and 20 at the New York Jewish Film Festival (January 13 - 28, 2010). Forgotten Transports, a unique series of four 90-minute documentary films written, directed and produced by Přibyl, was also presented at the prestigious Docs for Sale market in Amsterdam last year.

DOC POINT TO FOCUS ON POLAND

DocPoint - Helsinki Documentary Film Festival (January 26 - 31) will present special events to celebrate Polish documentary film. Polish Heart, a showcase of nine documentaries, will include films by Paweł Łoziński (Chemo, East European Forum 2007), Marcin Latałło (Our Street, East European Forum 2003), Maciej Cuske and others. The Marcel Łoziński Retrospective will feature 10 films spanning from 1973 to 2008.

EU TO LAUNCH NEW FUND FOR AV COMPANIES

At the beginning of January, the European Commission published a call for expressions of interest to select an organization that will implement the MEDIA Production Guarantee Fund. Aiming to facilitate the access of European audiovisual companies to bank credits, the new fund should be set up in mid-2010, using 8 million EUR over a four-year period.

2010 DOCS FOR SALE ONLINE: FIRST DEADLINE

Docs for Sale Online, IDFA's market and catalogue of creative documentary films, is now offering even more opportunities to launch or buy quality docs. From 2010, new films will be available online every month, with the first deadline set for February 15, 2010. [photo: Goodbye, How Are You? Dir. Boris Mitic, Serbia 2009]

CZECH FILMING INCENTIVES STILL NOT APPROVED BY BRUSSELS

Last year in autumn, the Czech administration allocated 400 million CZK for the film industry support scheme. This week the European Commission sent the document back to the Ministry of Culture and the Czech Film Chamber to supply additional information. While some analysts claim that incentive schemes - implemented so far in 11 EU countries - are ineffective and unfair, film professionals support the measures, citing competitiveness and foreign investment.

DOCUMENTARY ENTRIES FOR FINÁLE FESTIVAL

Until January 17, the 23rd Finále - Festival of Czech Films (April 18 - 24, 2010) is accepting entries for its documentary competition. The festival provides an annual overview of all Czech features and a selection of the latest documentaries (may have a non-Czech co-producer). Screenings are supplemented by other sections, retrospectives and debates. [photo: Rapublic, dir. Pavel Abrahám, Czech Republic 2008]

BULGARIA BRACES FOR FUNDING CUTS

Failing to deliver on its promise of budget reevaluation, the Bulgarian administration proposed a 57% cut in public funding for Bulgarian film. The National Film Council has issued a statement that warns that the decrease in funding will result in serious setbacks for the entire industry and Bulgaria's weaker position within the EU. [photo: Europolis: The Town of the Delta, dir. Kostadin Bonev, Bulgaria/Austria 2009]

GEORGIAN AND SLOVAK DOCS REVIEWED IN DOCUMENTARY BLOG

In his blog, documentary expert and consultant Tue Steen Müller reviews The Leader Is Always Right (Georgia) by Salome Jashi, a 2009 Ex Oriente Film participant, and Pictograph (Slovakia/USA) by director Mišo Suchý and editor Marek Šulík who edited, for example, Peter Kerekes' Cooking History.

SIXTH MAGNIFICENT 7 AND FESTIVAL WORKSHOP

January 21 - 25, 2010, local organizers in cooperation with Danish documentary consultant and Magnificent Seven's programmer Tue Steen Müller will treat audiences in Belgrade to seven remarkable creative documentaries. The festival workshop designed for emerging filmmakers will offer a number of master classes. Application deadline (outside Serbia): Jan 10, 2010. [photo: The Arrivals, dir. Claudine Bories, Patrice Chagnard]

ONE SPONSOR DOWN FOR CZECH FILM

Sazka, Czech Republic's largest lottery company, has announced that it will no longer sponsor the contest for best unfilmed feature screenplay that was part of the Czech Lion film awards for the past seven years. Though the news has no direct bearing on documentary filmmakers, it attests to the general decline of support for Czech film.

EDN RELEASING 2010 FINANCING GUIDE

EDN, European Documentary Network, has released the 2010 edition of their essential documentary financing tool, The EDN Financing Guide. EDN has expanded the guide by adding a global perspective, making it yet more relevant for documentary professionals looking for international funding. The guide is available in both a printed and an online version.

SUBMISSIONS STILL OPEN FOR GUCCI TRIBECA DOCUMENTARY FUND

The Gucci Tribeca Documentary Fund provides finishing funds to feature-length documentaries that highlight important social issues in the stages of advanced production or post-production, with an intended premiere in late 2010 or early 2011. US as well as international productions may apply until January 11, 2010. [photo: If a Tree Falls, dir. Marshall Curry, Sam Cullman]

DOCS IN THESSALONIKI CALL FOR PROPOSALS

Docs in Thessaloniki is an international pitching forum and workshop offering an outstanding opportunity to create alliances for future collaborations. Participants develop & pitch their projects and network with European colleagues and financiers in a relaxed and constructive atmosphere. Docs in Thessaloniki takes place March 17 - 21, 2010. Submission deadline: January 22, 2010.

BUDGET CUTS RAISE CONCERNS FOR BULGARIAN FILM

Citing the country's economic woes, the Bulgarian Ministry of Culture will cut film funding in 2010. Despite a positive outlook earlier this year and despite the film law in force, the Bulgarian National Film Center will receive 4.1 mil. euro, fourty-three percent of the subsidy set by law. [photo: Goleshovo, dir. Ilian Metev, Bulgaria/UK 2008]

BREATHLESS FILMS TO BE RELEASED IN GERMANY

Four creative documentaries that were developed under the Breathless project will be released in German cinemas December 30, 2009. Milltown, Montana by Rainer Komers; I Love My Boring Life by Jan Gogola; Time's Up by Marie-Catherine Theiler, Jan Peters; and One Day Today Will Be Once by Anca Miruna Lazarescu will make their first appearance in Köln, Frankfurt, Berlin and Halberstadt, with more cities to follow in January.

48 FILM HAIKUS ON DOC ALLIANCE FILMS

From December 12 to January 3, Doc Alliance Films offers free streaming of 48 short haiku films. To celebrate the 15th anniversary of Visions du Réel Nyon, the festival asked selected filmmakers for the gift of images, in the form of cinematic haikus. Each short film in the haiku series is comprised of three shots. [photo: Haiku - Gérard Allon]

EDN PORTAL GETS MAKEOVER

EDN, European Documentary Network, has launched a new version of their web site. The new edition of edn.dk offers a variety of tools for developing, funding, & distributing your documentary, a number of networking databases as well as the latest news and information from the international documentary scene.

TALLINN BLACK NIGHTS MAKE KILMI SHINE

Jaak Kilmi's Disco & Atomic War received Special Mention in the Baltic feature competition and won the FIPRESCI Award at the 13th Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival that took place November 12 - December 6, 2009. With several awards already under its belt, Disco & Atomic is among the most successful films pitched at the 2007 East European Forum.

8TH FESTIVAL OF FILM ANIMATION IN OLOMOUC

December 10 - 13, 2009, the eighth Festival of Film Animation (PAF) takes place at the Art Centre of Palacky University in Olomouc. The festival presents history of animated film, current trends as well as border areas where animated film meets other art forms and technologies. The 2009 PAF offers, for example, a retrospective of Croatian animation, debates, lectures, and a section dedicated to non-fiction animation. [photo: Deanimated, dir. Martin Arnold]

MILLTOWN, MONTANA AWARDED AT BLICKE FESTIVAL

Milltown, Montana by Rainer Komers received an award and a cash prize of 1,500 EUR at Blicke - Ruhr Region Film Festival that took place November 26 - 29, 2009 in Bochum, Germany. The film was developed under Breathless, an initiative of Zipp - Czech-German Cultural Projects of the German Federal Cultural Foundation, co-organized by the Institute of Documentary Film and DOK Leipzig.

TŘEŠTÍKOVÁ'S KATKA SET FOR RELEASE IN FEBRUARY

Director Helena Třeštíková has finished her latest documentary film Katka that was pitched at the 2007 East European Forum. The films tracks fourteen years in the life of a woman who, after years of heroin addiction, tackles motherhood. Třeštíková's René received the European Film Award for Best Documentary; Katka is slated for theatrical release February 25, 2010.

JAN VRIJMAN FUND DEADLINE: JANUARY 15

IDFA's Jan Vrijman Fund has announced its call for entries, with the deadline set for January 15, 2010. The fund supports creative documentaries and festivals in developing countries that cannot access other types of broad support, such as the EU funding. Categories: Script and Project Development; Production and Post-production; Other Activities. Entry forms will be available from December 15. [photo: Dead Man Walking, dir. Petar Oreskovic]

CECILIA LIDIN VOTED IN AS NEW HEAD OF EDN

November 22, 2009, the General Assembly of the European Documentary Network (EDN) appointed Cecilia Lidin as the new head of EDN. The General Assembly also elected German director, producer and CEO of onlinefilm.org C. Cay Wesnigk as the new Chairman of the Executive Committee. Newly elected members of the committee are Ivana Miloševič, Director & Coordinator at the Institute of Documentary Film, Czech Republic; Raffaele Brunetti, Director, Producer & CEO B&B Film, Italy & Kees Ryninks, Producer, Cobos Films, The Netherlands.

EX ORIENTE FILM PARTICIPANTS HEAD TO AMSTERDAM

Continuing its follow-up support for Ex Oriente Film projects, the Institute of Documentary Film made arrangements with Adriek van Nieuwenhuyzen, Head of IDFA Industry Office, that allow a one-day participation at The FORUM (Nov 23 - 25) for a number of Ex Oriente Film participants. With the discounted fees paid by IDF, the filmmakers will have a unique opportunity to watch all the action at Europe's largest co-financing market, and to take part in onsite consultations with international experts. The Last Black Sea Pirates and Sir Norman Foster [photo], winner of the EEF IDFA Forum Award, is included in the official pitch sessions.

CZECH DOCS SET TO MAKE IMPACT AT IDFA

Czech Docs, IDF's year-round project that supports the development, promotion and distribution of Czech documentary films, is proud to present Czech documentaries that grace various sections of the 22nd IDFA - International Documentary Festival Amsterdam (Nov 19 - 29, 2009). The Czech Documentary Films catalogue annually published by Czech Docs, provides a comprehensive overview of the year's completed and upcoming documentaries. Get your copy at IDFA! [photo: Jan Hus: A Mass for Three Dead Men, dir. Miroslav Bambušek]

ROMANIA WITHOUT PRODUCTION GRANTS IN 2009

Pending the approval of the new state aid scheme by the EU, Romania will not distribute film production funds. Though the National Centre for Cinema (CNC) had 7 mil. euro in grant money for this year, the EU agreement for state aid is essential for the next session of the competition. However, Eugen Şerbănescu, general manager of the CNC, has stressed that a year with no grant contest would not hamper Romania's film production, and that the number of premieres planned for 2010 remains the same as this year, with sixty films currently in production. [photo: In January, Perhaps, dir. Diogo Costa Amarante]

FINAL REPORT: EAST EUROPEAN FORUM AND JIHLAVA IDFF INDUSTRY PROGRAMME

Creative documentary film has again found strong support at this year's East European Forum and the East Silver market. The annual event that brings together East European filmmakers and European broadcasters, sales agents and distributors facilitated the development and completion of a number of new documentary projects and films. In addition to negotiating preliminary co-production and broadcast rights deals that will help secure completion funds, more than 85 East European documentary filmmakers also attended numerous lectures, case studies and one-on-one meetings with so far the largest number of European and North American documentary professionals. Besides that, three of the films supported by IDF were awarded with the Silver Eye awards and Czech Joy award.

EAST EUROPEAN DOCUMENTARIES AT IDFA 2009

Over 2600 projects have been submitted for the 22nd IDFA (19 – 29 November 2009), out of which a final selection of some 300 films has been made. Environmental issues and globalisation appear as major themes shared by many of the films. IDFA will feature several documentaries that, in the past, have been part of the Institute of Documentary Film’s programmes.

PLAN 9 - EXPERIMENTAL FILM FESTIVAL

PLAN 9 - 4th Festival of Experimental Films presents the latest in experimental cinema from around the world. During six Wednesday nights in November and December (Nov 4 - Dec 9 at Galerie FotoGrafic, Prague), PLAN 9 presents profiles of selected artists and filmmakers, and screens selections of short experimental films, videos and installations. PLAN 9 is designed for a wide audience. The majority of international films included in the festival will be presented to Czech audiences for the first time. [photo: Rush Hour, Morning and Evening, Cheapside, dir. Mark Lewis]

BOSCH CO-PRODUCTION PRIZE FOR GERMAN AND EAST EUROPEAN FILMMAKERS

Until November 30, 2009, film projects developed by German and East European filmmakers may apply for the Robert Bosch Stiftung Co-production Prize. The prize of up to 70,000 euros for each selected project is awarded in the categories animated / documentary / short film. Only joint production teams (producer, director, cinematographer, screenwriter) made up of young filmmakers under 35 may apply. The prizes will awarded at a gala at the goEast Film Festival (April 2010). [photo: Nowhere in Europe, dir. Kerstin Nickig, Winner - Robert Bosch Stiftung Prize 2008]

SUBMIT ENTRIES FOR ONE WORLD BY END OF NOVEMBER

The 12th edition of One World Human Rights International Documentary Film Festival will take place March 10 - 18, 2010 in Prague, Czech Republic. You can submit your film by filling the online entry form and sending a preview DVD. Submission deadline is November 30, 2009. The festival accepts both short and feature length documentary films, as well as short animation films with human-rights themes. [photo: Below Sea Level, dir. Gianfranco Rosi, USA / Italy 2008]

ENTRY DEADLINE: FOCAL INTERNATIONAL AWARDS 2010

FOCAL, the organisation for commercial archives, are now accepting submissions for their FOCAL International Awards 2010. FOCAL will present 18 awards to celebrate the use of footage archive images in the creative media. You can submit your production until December 1, 2009. [photo: The Night James Brown Saved Boston, dir. David Leaf, USA 2008, FOCAL International Awards 2009]

MEMORIMAGE BEST PRODUCTION AWARD GOES TO KEREKES

Peter Kerekes' Cooking History received the Memorimage Award at the Memorimage Festival (November 4 - 8, 2009) in Reus, Spain. Editor Marek Šulík attended the Closing Ceremony to accept the award that comes with a cash prize of €3000.

BARBARA KOPPLE PRESENTS WOODSTOCK DOCUMENTARY IN PRAGUE

On Monday, November 16, 2009, two-time American Academy Award winning director Barbara Kopple will present her latest documentary film Woodstock: Now and Then at the American Center in Prague. Premiered in August 2009, 40 years after the historic festival, the film includes some of the iconic soundtrack and archival footage, as well as perspectives of today's musicians and activists. The Q&A with the filmmaker is open to the public; admission is free.

COOKING HISTORY VOTED BEST DOCUMENTARY FILM AT VIENNALE

Cooking History, a documentary film by Peter Kerekes has added another prize to its budding collection of international accomplishments. The film received the Award for Best Documentary Film at this year's Viennale (October 22 - November 4, 2009). In May, the documentary that deals with global implications of military cooking was awarded Special Jury Prize at Canada's Hot Docs; it was also among the nominees for the 2009 Prix ARTE Award.

JIHLAVA IDFF AUDIENCE AWARD PICKED UP BY AUTO*MATE

Martin Mareček's Auto*Mate received the Audience Award at the 13th Jihlava International Documentary Festival. The award comes after the film's successful run at a number of other international festivals that took place in October. After taking the Student Award at CinemAmbiente in Turin, the film raised a lot of interest among the audiences at the Yamagata IDFF and may go on to be screened for NGO's in Tokio and Yokohama; it was also presented at DMZ Docs in South Korea and DOK Leipzig in Germany.

ČT2: REVOLUTION GIRLS

On Thursday, November 12, 2009 at 8:15pm, Czech TV will screen a new Czech documentary film. Revolution Girls by Taťána Marková and Nataša Dudinski follow the stories and careers of four women who were involved in the 1989 student strikes.

FIRST SILVER EYE AWARDS HANDED OUT

This year, for the first time, the Silver Eye Awards for the best documentaries of the East Silver market have been presented. Eleven documentaries from Central and Eastern Europe were nominated in each category. Former Ex Oriente Film and East European Forum participating films are among the winners: Rabbit a la Berlin by Bartek Konopka and Disco and Atomic War by Jaak Kilmi and Jiur Aarma. Congratulations!

CUTS IN ROMANIAN FILM FUNDING

Eugen Şerbănescu, manager of the National Centre for Cinema, sounded an alarm over the decrease of finances available for the Romanian Cinema Fund next year. With less funding from TV advertising and the ban of contributions from gambling industry sources, the Fund might be reduced by 40% in 2010. [photo: Don't Get Me Wrong, dir. Adina Pintilie]

EAST SILVER FINAL REPORT

The sixth East Silver, a digitized documentary market dedicated to films from Central and Eastern Europe, opened its film vaults and events to 300 invited film professionals (producers, distributors, broadcasters, festival programmers) and other industry guests. In addition to its film library of more than 400 titles, East Silver also organized meetings with some of Europe's leading documentary producers. More details in the East Silver Final Report.

WINNERS OF JIHLAVA IDFF RECONSTRUCTION

The 13th Jihlava IDFF announced its winners Saturday, October 31. Developed under Breathless - Dominance of the Moment, Jan Gogola's I Love My Boring Life took the Award for Best Czech Documentary Film. Danish filmmaker Jørgen Leth who was the recipient of this year's Award for Contribution to World Cinema and also the sole jury member of the international section presented the top trophy to Bassidji (dir. Tamadon Mehran). Border (dir. Jaroslav Vojtek) won the Award for Best East European Documentary Film; the experimental section honours went to Workers Leaving the Factory (Dubai) (dir. Ben Russell).

OPEN SESSIONS OF EX ORIENTE FILM AND EAST EUROPEAN FORUM

Institute of Documentary Film would like to invite you to open sessions of East European Forum, Ex Oriente Film Workshop and East Silver, that take place during the IDFF Jihlava.

EAST EUROPEAN FORUM AND EAST SILVER 2009

Jihlava eats, sleeps and breathes documentary films - young, old and even ones that don't yet exist. The East European Forum is October's documentary incubator. Each year, it hosts more than 60 East European directors and producers and their projects, some of which return after a few years to the festival's competition, to the East Silver Market and to online distribution. The East European Forum and the East Silver Market invite all who want to take part - October 27 - November 1, 2009 in Jihlava.

KEYWORD: RABBIT

Rabbit à la Berlin is one of the most successful films of the Ex Oriente Film workshop. Among other awards, it won the Best Mid-Length Documentary award at Hot Docs 2009, then it was selected for DocuWeeks. In the middle of October the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced the list of eight semi-finalists in the Documentary Short Subject category for the 2010 Academy Awards. Three to five of those shorts will end up with Oscar nominations. The short documentary ‘Rabbit à la Berlin’ by Bartek Konopka and Piotr Rosolowski is among the eight selected films.

EAST SILVER’S BREAKFAST DELEGATES SURVEY EASTERN EUROPEAN CO-PRODUCTIONS

With each edition of the Jihlava International Documentary Film Festival, the East Silver Market offers a the newest and most distinguished documentaries from the Eastern European region, accruing an esteemed international reputation among the network of producers, broadcasters and industry professionals.

WFF AWARDS DISCO AND ATOMIC WAR

This year's Warsaw Film Festival Best Documentary Film award goes to Disco and Atomic War. Jakk Kilmi's documentary tells the story of a strange kind of information war in which a totalitarian regime stands face to face with the heroes of popular culture. And loses.

A PROPOSAL TO SUPPORT FILM INDUSTRY ADOPTED

At its session on 19 October 2009 the Czech Government adopted a draft Programme to Support the Film Industry, submitted by the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic. The programme is a response to the downturn in the country’s film production activity, due not only to the global economic crisis, but also to the introduction of similar measures in neighbouring countries. Similar support programmes have already been introduced in many EU member states. In the following month, the Ministry of Culture, in cooperation with the Office for the Protection of Competition, will notify the programme to the European Commission. If the notification is accepted, the programme will most likely be launched in January 2010.

13TH JIHLAVA IDFF

A six-day celebration of documentary film in Jihlava! From 27 October to 1 November 2009 With the traditional motto “Thinking through film!” Jihlava is hosting this year the biggest documentary film festival in Central and Eastern Europe. The unifying idea of the thirteenth Jihlava International Documentary Film Festival is expressed by the festival visuals designed by Juraj Horváth: This year’s festival appeals for RECONSTRUCTION.

DOCUMENTARY AWARD GOES TO THE SOUND OF INSECTS – RECORD OF A MUMMY

The European Film Academy proudly announces that the award EUROPEAN FILM ACADEMY DOCUMENTARY 2009 – Prix ARTE goes to the film THE SOUND OF INSECTS – Record of a Mummy by Peter Liechti, Switzerland.

RABBIT A LA BERLIN CLOSER TO OSCAR NOMINATIONS

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced the list of eight semi-finalists in the Documentary Short Subject category for the 2010 Academy Awards. Three to five of those shorts will end up with Oscar nominations. Short documentary Rabbit à la Berlin by Bartek Konopka and Piotr Rosolowski is among the eight selected films. The Documentary was developed at Ex Oriente Film 2005 and producer Anna Wydra will hold the film´s case study at this year's East European Forum. Congratulations!

COOKING HISTORY AND OTHER EAST SILVER FILMS NOMINATED FOR THE PRIX ARTE AWARD

The European Film Academy annually awards European films, directors and actors. Now it published ten documentary films nominated for the Prix ARTE award. Several films entered in this year's East Silver were also chosen.

WELCOME TO NORTH KOREA!, DISCO & ATOMIC WAR AND THE MOON INSIDE YOU AT IDFA

The International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam invited the films Welcome to North Korea!, Disco & Atomic War and The Moon Inside You. This years festival will take place from 19th to 29th October 2009 and will offer a wide variety of projects and discussions, insight into new documentary trends and also a place for different meetings of film professionals and audience.

PROJECT SELECTIONS FOR 2009 EAST EUROPEAN FORUM

After long deliberations, the final lineup of documentary projects that will meet at the East European Forum in Jihlava (October 27 - November 1, 2009) has finally emerged. Selected out of a record number of 84 applications, the following nine projects will be pitched to CE's and other documentary professionals at the Forum: Aftermath (Austria); Beast (Bulgaria); The Obscurantist and His Lineage (Czech Republic); Iceland: A Bankrupt Nation (Czech Republic/Iceland); The New World (Estonia); Leaping Over the Dragon's Gate (Finland, photo); The Glass Cage; Recycling (both Hungary); Assassination (Serbia). Congratulations!

ARCHIDOC WORKSHOP

The Archidoc project of the Paris-based film school, La fémis, will organize lectures and workshops as part of the Ex Oriente Film workshop programme during the Jihlava International Documentary Film Festival. Archidoc is aimed at European documentary filmmakers with archive-based documentary film projects. The training program provides support to filmmakers in developing an original, creative film project based on archive materials. It also helps them gain a better knowledge of the international documentary film market.

SILVER EYE

The East Silver Market introduces the new Silver Eye Award. Silver Eye is an award presented to best short, mid-length and feature documentary films of the East Silver Market. Documentaries are selected from the 2009 East Silver Market submissions. Best films will each be awarded EUR 1500; winners will be announced October 31, 2009, during the Closing Ceremony of the 13th Jihlava International Documentary Film Festival.

FORMER EEF / EX ORIENTE FILM PARTICIPANTS AT EAST SILVER

The Institute of Documentary Film is pleased to announce that a total of 14 documentaries that in the past attended the East European Forum / Ex Oriente Film workshop have been included in the 2009 East Silver market video library. East Silver is the largest digital market dedicated to documentary films from Central and Eastern Europe. The newly added EEF/Ex Oriente Film documentaries that include, for instance, Rabbit a la Berlin, Welcome to North Korea!, Sevdah (photo), or Czech Peace, will be available to international professionals attending the industry section in Jihlava (Oct 27 - Nov 1, 2009).

AUTO*MATE TO COMPETE AT YAMAGATA IDFF

Martin Mareček's documentary film Auto*Mate that explores individual efforts to transform and enhance urban space will be presented at the Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival (October 8 - 15, 2009). Included in the festival's international competition, Auto*Mate will be screened along with fourteen other documentaries selected out of more than 1000 entries.

VACHEK'S FILMS AT HARVARD AND YALE

Selected films by Karel Vachek who belongs among the most original Czech filmmakers will be presented at Harvard (Oct 27-28) and Yale (Nov 4). Both will screen his latest film Zavis, the Prince of Pornofolk... (2006); in addition, Harvard will offer audiences Moravian Hellas (1963) and Elective Affinities (1968). Vachek will also hold lectures at both institutions. Organized as part of the Vachek series of US retrospectives, the screenings follow after his programme in Berkeley and Washington D.C. Vachek's upcoming film The Obscurantist and His Lineage will be presented at this year's East European Forum in Jihlava.

TUTORS AT UPCOMING EAST EUROPEAN FORUM

The Institute of Documentary Film is proud to announce the tutors at this year's East European Forum/Ex Oriente Film workshop that takes place Oct 27 - 30, 2009. The expert lineup includes a number of seasoned guests, such as Tue Steen Müller, Marijke Rawie or Mikael Opstrup, who come to Jihlava on a regular basis, as well as other renowned professionals: Iika Vehkalahti, Kristina Pervilä-Andersson (both Finland), Niels Pagh Andersen (Denmark), Pieter Van Huystee (Netherlands) and Uldis Cekulis (Latvia). At the workshop, the EEF/Ex Oriente Film participants spend the last few days of intense work to finetune their projects before the weekend pitch sessions (October 31 - November 1).

CULTURE, PRODUCTION AND DISTRIBUTION: MASTER CLASS AT FAMU

Initiated by Master 2 professionnel Cinéma-Télévision-Nouveaux Médias, University Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne in association with FAMU and with the assistance of the French Embassy are organizing Culture, Production and Distribution - Cinema and Audiovisual, a series of seminars that will take place October 2 - 3, 2009 at FAMU.

TRAILERS OF CZECH UPCOMING DOCUMENTARY FILMS 2009/2010

September 22, the Světozor hosted the Panel of New Czech Documentary Films. The following twelve directors and producers attended the event to present their latest documentary projects to be released in 2009/2010: Helena Třeštíková, Karel Vachek, Jan Gogola, Karel Žalud, Jan Šikl, David Čálek, Erika Hníková, Břetislav Rychlík, Lucie Králová, Nataša Dudinski, Martin Řezníček and Thomas Feierabend. Trailers for their upcoming films are now posted on our website.

3RD CROSS-MEDIA CHALLENGE: MIGRATIONS

The National Film Board of Canada and Sheffield Doc/Fest are issuing a call for proposals for the third Cross-Media Challenge on the theme of Migrations. Cross-Media Challenge is a competition for innovative, interactive, socially engaged content with applications for mobile and broadband. The winning producer will sign a production development deal with the NFB worth C$10,500. Four semi-finalists will present their projects at a panel session during the Sheffield Doc/Fest (Nov 4 - 8). Application deadline: October 9, 2009.

OCT 10: NEW ACCREDITATION DEADLINE FOR EEF, EAST SILVER AND JIHLAVA IDFF

Don't miss your chance to register for the East European Forum, East Silver, film programme as well as seminars and panels at the Jihlava IDFF taking place October 27 - November 1, 2009. Visitors, film professionals and members of the press are invited to book their place at screenings and industry events by registering online by October 10, 2009.

82 DOCUMENTARY PROJECTS APPLIED FOR EAST EUROPEAN FORUM

Marking its ninth edition in 2009 (October 27 - November 1, 2009), the East European Forum is the region's largest meeting of East European documentary filmmakers with leading European commissioning editors, distributors, buyers and film fund representatives. By September 11, 2009, 82 documentary projects applied for the pitching session and the forum workshop. 8 selected projects will be announced on September 30.

CALL FOR 2010 DOCUMENTARY CAMPUS MASTERSCHOOL

Until October 2, 2009, talented and emerging documentary professionals may apply for the 2010 Documentary Campus Masterschool that will facilitate their access to the international non-fiction market. Up to fifteen European authors and directors will meet at four workshops to develop their documentary projects and to find out more about legal or budgetary issues related to documentary filmmaking.

DOCUMENTARY CAMPUS - THE ART OF PITCHING

Documentary Campus would like to invite producers, directors and other documentary professionals to register as observers for the final pitching session in Leipzig, October 24 - 25, 2009. Registered participants will be able to attend pitching sessions, special film screenings and networking events with top European commissioners. Deadline: October 19, 2009. Students, East Europeans and reelisor premium members are eligible for a discount.

VLAD AND VOICU CLOSE TO FINISHING METRO BRANDING

Metro Branding, a documentary film by Romanian filmmakers Ana Vlad and Adrian Voicu is currently in post-production. Presented at this year's Docu Talents from the East, the film explores several powerhouse brands that dominated the Romanian communist market. Producer Anca Puiu is hoping to launch the feature doc in November at this year's IDFA; local theatrical release is slated for February 2010.

PRAISE FOR FORGOTTEN TRANSPORTS

On his website, Tue Steen Müller discusses extensively the remarkable Holocaust-themed documentary series Forgotten Transports by Czech director Lukáš Přibyl. In addition to Mr Müller's laudatory words on the merits of the series, the texts include excerpts from an email communication between the documentary expert and the filmmaker.

MIPCOM 2009 - REGISTRATION WITH MEDIA STAND

Time is running out for anyone wanting to be on the MEDIA programme’s umbrella stand at MIPCOM 2009 in Cannes from October 5-9. To be sure of a listing in the catalogue, accreditation must be completed by September 3. Participating in MIPCOM via the MEDIA programme's stand brings with it two key advantages: a special price and support services. Any European entity providing European content is welcome.

CENTEAST MARKET IN WARSAW AND MOSCOW

East European works-in-progress will be presented at CentEast, October 16 - 18, 2009, as part of the Warsaw IFF and 2morrow FF in Moscow. The presentations are designed for feature and documentary projects, and films before world premiere coming from Eastern Europe. The selected projects will be presented to sales agents, distributors, TV buyers and festival programmers. Submission deadline: September 4, 2009.

SEVDAH TAKES AUDIENCE AWARD AT SARAJEVO FILM FESTIVAL

The 15th Sarajevo Film Festival (August 12 - 20, 2009) came to a close Thursday night as the awards cermony honoured this year's winners. The Heart of Sarajevo for Best Documentary Film went to The Caviar Connection by Serbian director Dragan Nikolić, Special Mention was awarded to Romania's Constantin and Elena directed by Andrei Dascalescu. Sevdah by Marina Andree (Ex Oriente Film 2007, photo) takes home the Audience Award, with Cash & Marry by Atanas Georgiev (Ex Oriente Film 2006) ranking third in the public vote.

ARCHIDOC APPLICATIONS STILL WELCOME

Until September 10, 2009, European filmmakers may apply for Archidoc, a recognized three-part training programme dedicated to archive-based documentary film. Ten participants will be able to sit in on the East European Forum in Jihlava, attend a workshop session at La fémis, and finally pitch their project to international producers and commissioning editors at FIPA in Biarritz (January 26 - 29, 2010).

DEADLINE APPROACHING FOR SHEFFIELD DOC/FEST MEETMARKET

Sheffield Doc/Fest (November 4 - 8, 2009) - MeetMarket Applications are open until September 4, 2009 for pitching new documentary projects. The event is designed to match international documentary projects with international buyers. This year, up to sixty projects will be presented to over 100 funders, with a number of one-on-one meetings arranged for each project.

CLOSING LOOMS FOR LATVIAN FILM CENTRE

Drastic cuts in financial support suffered by the Latvian film industry this year have in recent days been followed by further attempts to undermine the efforts of local film professionals. Under the new proposal, the National Film Centre of Latvia (NFC) is planned to be transformed into a department within the Ministry of Culture. As a result of this move, the Centre would effectively cease to exist as a politically independent organization, losing most of its powers as well as its access to the MEDIA Programme funding.

OPEN-MINDED ENERGY: INTERVIEW WITH PAUL PAUWELS

Serbian director and producer Željko Mirković has conducted an interview with Paul Pauwels, a renowned documentary producer, consultant, tutor and currently etma (European Television & Media Management Academy) director. In the interview, Mr Pauwels expounds, among other things, on his long career in international production and commissioning, the future of creative documentaries or the value of solid media training.

EUROPA CINEMAS - NEW EXHIBITORS MAY APPLY UNTIL END OF AUGUST

Europa Cinemas, international film theatre network, is accepting new members. Exhibitors that are part of the network are eligible to receive annual support from the MEDIA Programme of the European Union in order to promote European programming in film theatres. Europa Cinemas currently has 704 members across all of Europe. Application deadline: August 31, 2009.

PETITION: FREE MAZIAR BAHARI

The Institute of Documentary Film joins the petition initiative supported by the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA), DOK Leipzig, DOK.FEST Munich and other organizations and individuals in order to demand the release of Canadian-Iranian filmmaker, playwright, editor and Newsweek reporter Maziar Bahari. Without any charges pressed against him, Mr Bahari has been held in Iran since June 21, 2009 with no access to a lawyer or his family.

DOX:FORUM ENTRY DEADLINE: SEPTEMBER 4, 2009

DOX:FORUM (November 11 - 13, 2009), a three-day industry event taking place during CPH:DOX (November 6 - 15, 2009), is currently accepting entries from international producers who get an opportunity to pitch nearly or just finished docs and arrange early distribution deals. Documentary projecs in the production or post-production stage may be submitted until September 4, 2009.

SEVDAH TO OPEN DOCUMENTARY COMPETITION AT SARAJEVO FILM FESTIVAL

The Sarajevo Film Festival kicks off its 15th edition August 12, 2009. Its week-long programme includes the international documentary competition that introduces some of the latest and most notable films made in the region. Among some veteran award winners and festival regulars, Sevdah by Marina Andree that was developed within the 2007 Ex Oriente Film will celebrate its premiere in Sarajevo. The documentary competition is supplemented by a panorama that will offer a selection of international hits.

TUE STEEN MÜLLER REVIEWS THREE CZECH DOCUMENTARIES

Tue Steen Müller, renowned documentary consultant and Ex Oriente Film's Head of Studies, has published reviews of three Czech documentaries on his website. To read some interesting insights on Miroslav Janek's The Confessions of Kataryna K. (photo), Jana Boková's Bye Bye Shanghai, and Linda Jablonská's Welcome to North Korea, make sure to visit www.filmkommentaren.dk.

VARIETY REVEIW OF FORGOTTEN TRANSPORTS TO POLAND

Variety has published a review of Forgotten Transports to Poland by Czech documentary filmmaker Lukáš Přibyl. Having appeared in the special industry screenings at the Karlovy Vary IFF earlier this month, the Holocaust-themed documentary continues its tour of international festivals and - like the previous three documentaries in the series - it is included in the East Silver catalogue.

MOON INSIDE YOU AT CRITIC'S WEEK IN LOCARNO

Developed within the 2007 Ex Oriente Film Workshop, Diana Fabiánová's documentary film Moon Inside You that delves into issues surrounding menstruation will be featured in the programme of the prestigious Critic's Week / Semaine de la Critique (August 5 - 15, 2009), co-organized by the Swiss National Association of Film Journalists and the Locarno Film Festival. The film will be screened August 13 at 11am and August 14 at 6:30pm.

FLORIN IEPAN'S PROJECT TACKLES ROMANIAN HISTORY

In his new creative documentary project, documentary filmmaker Florin Iepan (The One, the Only, the Real Tarzan; Children of the Decree; Bela Lugosi - The Fallen Vampire) is taking on a difficult subject - the massacre on 20,000 Jews of Odessa committed by the Romanian army in October 1941. The film is being developed by Iepan's company Sub-Cult-Ura in co-production with Germany's Starcrest Media GmbH, with an estimated budget of approx. €350,000. Shooting will continue till the end of 2009.

RABBIT SCREENINGS AT DOCUWEEKS

Rabbit à la Berlin / Mauerhase by Bartek Konopka and Piotr Rosolowski was selected for the IDA's 13th Annual DocuWeeks Theatrical Documentary Showcase which helps to qualify feature and short documentaries for Academy Award consideration. Developed within the 2005 Ex Oriente Film workshop, the film will be screened at the IFC Center in New York between August 7 - 13 in the Short Docs section with 9 other titles.

FILMS AWARDED AT 2009 FID MARSEILLE

The 2009 edition of FIDMarseille - Marseille International Documentary Film Festival (July 8 - 13, 2009) came to a close after awarding the most outstanding films in this year's lineup. The International Grand Prix went to Thomas Heise's Material (photo); Special Mention to Sharon Lockhart's Lunch Break. Videomappings: Aida, Palestine by Till Roeskens was deemed the best film in the French Competition. The Georges de Beauregard International Prize was presented to Ruinas by Manuel Mozos.

MARKO ŠKOP SCORES AT KARLOVY VARY IFF WITH OSADNÉ

Three years after taking the Karlovy Vary IFF Audience Award and Special Mention for his feature documentary film Other Worlds, director Marko Škop celebrates another success. At the award ceremony last night, Osadné received the Award for Best Documentary Film over 30 Minutes. The film that was co-produced by Slovak company Artileria and Czech company Hypermarket Film was presented at the 2008 Docu Talents from the East. Special Mention in this category went to We Live in Public by Ondi Timoner. Wagah by Supriyo Sen won in the short category, with the jury also honouring Marcin Koszalka's Till It Hurts.