Cannes Docs Swiss Showcase Open Call

Submission deadline: March 3, 2024.

Switzerland is the Country of Honour at the Cannes Film Festival’s Marché du Film, which runs from May 14 to 22. The event is organised by SWISS FILMS in collaboration with the Swiss Federal Office of Culture (FOC) and SRG SSR. 

In collaboration with SWISS FILMS, Visions du Réel will be pleased to present a Swiss Showcase (docs-in-progress) on Sunday, May 19. This event will take place during Cannes Docs, the gathering of documentary professionals at the Marché du Film.

SWISS FILMS professionals can now submit their projects for the Swiss Showcase, which will be made up of four projects, each presented in the form of a pitch and a 10-minute excerpt of raw material.

This event is a real showcase for film professionals, highlighting documentaries in the post-production phase. The Cannes Docs Swiss Showcase offers the opportunity to present unique and innovative film projects, ready to make their debut on the international scene.

Swiss productions officially recognized by the Federal Office of Culture (FOC) are eligible for the Guest of Honour programme. Projects must be directed or co-directed by Swiss filmmakers, and produced or co-produced by Swiss producers.

  • Creative, cinematic, author-driven feature documentary films, (over 60 min in duration) with strong international potential.
  • The projects must be in more or less advanced editing stage, with the possibility of preparing a 10 minute excerpt of the film for the Showcase (not an extended trailer, and preferably not a selection of scenes).
  • The projects should be aiming at a finalisation in the 6 to 10 months following Cannes.
  • The projects should be interested in priority in securing festival selections and/or a sales agent, some potential gap financing or late co-producer, and, more generally, key international exposure & visibility.
  • The 4 selected docs-in-progress should not have been presented anywhere else in rough-cut stage outside of their country of production or on any major doc market.

Projects will be selected by Visions du Réel in collaboration with SWISS FILMS and Cannes Docs.

Don’t miss this unique opportunity to present your documentary project at the Cannes Docs Swiss Showcase! 

To submit your project, click here

Find out more about Switzerland Named 2024 Country of Honour of the Marché du Film.