The International Emerging Film Talent Association (IEFTA) In Collaboration With The Marché Du Film-Festival De Cannes Announces For The Third Year IEFTA’s Sponsorship Of A 10,000€ Prize For Documentary Works-In-Progress

At The Marché’s Cannes Docs

The Monaco-based International Emerging Film Talent Association (IEFTA) returns to this year’s Marché du Film-Festival de Cannes 6-15 July. For the third year, IEFTA will sponsor a cash award of 10,000€ given to one of the 32 docs-in-progress from eight presenting partners participating in the Marché’s Docs-in-Progress Showcases at the Cannes Docs program headed by Pierre-Alexis Chevit, Head of Cannes Docs.

Each year, Cannes Docs partners with a number of festivals and organizations from all over the world to showcase curated selections of docs-in-progress in finalization stage, aiming to hit the circuit within a few weeks or months. These showcases of docs-in-progress are primarily designed for decision makers looking for fresh new titles, in particular festival programmers and sales agents. The projects are also generally in search of post-production funding or general gap financing, and sometimes still open to co-production opportunities.

All of the eight showcases are composed of four projects, each presented in the form of a pitch and a 10-minute excerpt of the rough cut. This year, all the showcases will be presented both onsite in a larger Marché du Film screening room in the Riviera (9-12 July) and online via our marchedufilm.online platform (6-9 July). All docs-in-progress have the chance to win one of six prizes, including the Docs-in-Progress Award, in partnership with IEFTA – The International Emerging Film Talent Association, endowed with a €10,000 cash prize and professional long term project follow-up by IEFTA. The Award provides invaluable recognition and concrete support to filmmakers eager to finish their films. The awards will be revealed on Doc Day, 13 July.

The list of countries/partners participating in the 2021Docs-in-Progress program include: Showcase CANADA, Telefilm Canada, partnered with The Montreal International Doc Fest, and in collaboration with Hot Docs; Showcase CHILE, organized by Chiledocs, and financed by ProChile and the Ministry of Culture, Arts & Heritage; Showcase CIRCLE, CIRCLE Women Doc Accelerator; Showcase ITALY, Festival Dei Popoli & Torino Film Festival, Toscana Film Commission & Film Commission Torino Piemonte; Showcase PALESTINE, Palestine Film Institute; Showcase PARIS DOC; ParisDOC is the professional program of Cinéma du réel, The International Documentary Film Festival in Paris; Showcase SHEFFIELD, Sheffield DocFest; Showcase South Asia, International Film Initiative of Bangladesh. https://www.marchedufilm.com/programs/cannes-docs/projects/

Pierre-Alexis Chevit, Head of Cannes Docs, said: “After going online last year, we are very excited to offer our first hybrid series of showcases of docs-in-progress this year. The hybrid format will allow the decision makers, whether on site or online, to discover these wonderful curated projects that are about to hit the market and begin their careers on the festival circuit.“

Jurors for the 2020 Docs-in-Progress competition include Glenda BALUCANI, Stephan RIGUET, and Joanna SOLECKA (bios on Cannes Docs website).

In addition, IEFTA will curate four films in the Spotlighted Projects program in which top-quality international documentary projects selected by key festivals and organizations, or which received Cannes Docs awards on different events throughout the past months will be able to connect with potential co-producers and funding or creative partners through the online Co-Pro Speed Meetings on Thursday 8 July. https://www.marchedufilm.com/programs/cannes-docs/spotlighted-projects/

Every year during the Marché du Film, Cannes Docs offers a dedicated venue and tailored program of events for all feature documentary film professionals – filmmakers and industry decision-makers alike. At the heart of the world’s n°1 film festival and market, Cannes Docs reaffirms the fundamental place and role of the documentary genre and works at ever strengthening its organic integration within the global cinema industry. https://www.marchedufilm.com/programs/cannes-docs/

“IEFTA is proud to support documentary filmmakers through this cash prize and Spotlighted Projects presentations through our partnership with the Marché du Film and Cannes Doc,” states IEFTA President Marco Orsini. ‘Especially during these times, we hope this award will encourage others in the industry to support documentary filmmakers in their own regions.”

IEFTA is a Monaco based non-governmental organization founded with the purpose of discovering and developing film talent from emerging regions, globally. We connect film makers to established industry professionals, engage cultural diversity and foster relationships that are; mentoring, inspiring and educational. This year marks the 15^th anniversary of IEFTA-supported initiatives. https://www.iefta.org