East Doc Platform introduces new program features – now with short documentaries

The EAST DOC PLATFORM, the largest international platform for Central and East European documentaries, takes place March 3 – 9, 2018 in Prague. Its 7th edition will introduce a number of new program features. In addition to its established sessions, the EDP will also host a pitch for interactive projects and, for the first time, for short documentaries.

“We’d really like the East Doc Platform to be an event that reflects on some of the challenges that have emerged in the field,” says the new EDP Manager Tereza Šimíková. “In the age of Netflix and with the massive shift to online viewing, we’ve seen a renaissance of short documentaries. We’re honored to help some of the best short docs in the region, and to secure funding and distribution on both sides of the Atlantic.”  

Thanks to the unique partnership between the Institute of Documentary Film and Tribeca Film Institute’s IF/Then distribution initiative, short-form documentary projects from Central and Eastern Europe can participate in a competition IF/Then Short Pitch. The winning project will receive USD 20,000 in completion support, ongoing mentorship and it will participate in a year-long distribution initiative run by the Tribeca Film Institute. “Our program has two main goals – to discover and empower an inclusive and representative group of voices in the thriving short documentary space, and to carve out a new model of financial sustainability for these filmmakers.” says Mridu Chandra, Director of the IF/Then Short Documentary Program.

In addition to the new features, the 16th East Doc Forum (formerly ‘East European Forum’) remains the EDP’s flagship program. Its 5-day preparatory workshop focuses on helping directors and producers finalize their visual material, outline a distribution strategy, and improve their communication and presentation skills. The event also includes a series of inspiring lectures for the general public. The pinnacle of the EDP is the central pitch for 21 feature-length documentary projects in development/early production.

The EDP will again host cross-media/interactive projects at any stage of development, production or post-production. The Doc Tank session is now part of the East Doc Forum workshop and will include a new cross-media round table pitch – East Doc Interactive. Authors have an opportunity to get feedback and secure funding for their projects. It is also the key place to build partnerships with digital media and interactive web professionals, including broadcasters, online media, funds and experts in the interactive storytelling field.

Producers can submit their projects in production/post-production to the East Doc Market (formerly ‘Project Market’) that offers the opportunity to meet with over 100 international festival representatives, broadcasters, distributors and sales agents. Over the course of two days, filmmakers pitch their projects in 15-minute meetings through a speed-dating marathon to partners of their own choice or those who requested to meet the project.

For the third time, the EDP will present Czech Docs… Coming Soon, a selection of Czech documentary projects in production/post-production. Czech producers and directors will introduce their projects to international festival representatives, distributors and sales agents and later attend one-on-one meetings at the East Doc Market.

Application deadline for the 2018 East Doc Platform: November 10, 2017

For more details, go here.

The East Doc Platform is organized by the Institute of Documentary Film in association with the One World International Human Rights Documentary Film Festival.