For over 15 years, Visions du Réel’s industry activities aimed to underline and exalt the variety and richness of creative documentaries while providing precious networking opportunities. Acting as the Festival’s professional hub, VdR–Industry is designed as a springboard for projects, facilitating both national and international collaborations and long-term partnerships between the projects’ representatives and the professionals attending the industry events.
In 2023, 31 projects were invited to participate in three key activities – VdR-Pitching, VdR-Work in Progress and VdR-Rough Cut Lab – that ran as part of the Festival’s Industry activities in Nyon from April 23-27. With its numerous prizes and grants, VdR-Industry and its partners reaffirm their determination to support independent documentary filmmaking in all its diversity.
→ Discover all the 2023 projects
Industry Jury 2023
Awards for VdR-Pitching projects
VdR-Pitching Award
CHF 2’000 in cash for the most promising project
Rebibbia 310 by Francesca Mazzoleni
Production: Alessandro Greco (Morel Film), Roberto De Paolis, Carla Altieri, Rachel Greenwood (Young Films)
Italy
VdR–Industry Jury Special Mention
Florence from Ohio by Stephanie Wang-Breal
Production: Mynette Louie (The Population), Carrie Weprin (Once in a Blue)
United States, Taiwan
The Party Film Sales Award
A prize valued € 5’000 (including a cash contribution of € 2’500), awarded to a project with strong international potential
Simon the Absurd by Felipe Monroy
Production: Palmyre Badinier (Rita Productions), Diana Bustamente (Burning), Alexandre Perrier (Kidam), Kyzza Terrazas (La Corriente Del Golfo)
Switzerland, Colombia, France, Mexico
RTS Award
Pre-buy of one film
The Arctic Circle of Lust by Markku Heikkinen
Production: Hannu-Pekka Vitikainen (Zone2 Pictures oy)
Finland
Unifrance Doc Award
Subtitles creation sponsored by TitraFilm and one Unifrance’s membership for the French producer attached to the project
Gabin, a Youth in the Backland by Maxence Voiseux
Production: Elise Hug, Cécile Lestrade (Alter Ego Production), Ulla Lehmann (AMA Film)
France, Germany
Cannes Docs Award
Two accreditations for the filmmaker and producer to attend the Marché du Film – Festival de Cannes and participate in Cannes Docs
The Bamboo Family by Sein Lyan Tun
Production: Sein Lyan Tun (PS Films), Dwi Sujanti Nugraheni (DS Nugraheni/Jawa Dwipa Films)
Myanmar, Indonesia
DOK Leipzig Award
Accreditation and accommodation at DOK Leipzig & observer access to the DOK Co-Pro Market for the filmmaker and the producer
The Bamboo Family by Sein Lyan Tun
Production: Sein Lyan Tun (PS Films), Dwi Sujanti Nugraheni (DS Nugraheni/Jawa Dwipa Films)
Myanmar, Indonesia
EFM Award
Two Market Badges for the EFM and a consultation session
The Reserve by Ezequiel Yanco
Production: Elena Fortes (No Ficcion), Ezequiel Yanco (Isoi Cine), Juan Martín Hsu
Argentina, Mexico
DAE Encouragement Award
2 free consultations with network members tailored to the needs of the project
Lonan Tché by Joël Akafou
Production: Laurent Bitty (Les Films du Continent), Florent Coulon (VraiVrai Films), Gianluca De Angelis (Tekla Films)
Côte d’Ivoire, France, Italy
Awards for VdR- Work in Progress projects
VdR-Work in Progress Award
CHF 1’000 in cash for the most promising project
Piropolis by Nicolás Molina
Production: Joséphine Schroeder (Pequén Producciones), Francisca Barraza (Funky Films)
Chile
Lightdox Award
CHF 3’000 in cash for the project with highest international potential
Friday at the Window by Atiye Zare Arandi
Production: Bram Crols, Nina Payrhuber (Associate Directors)
Belgium, Iran, Qatar
TËNK Post-production Award
Sound post-production facilities at Tënk studios (France) – Mixing Studio (2 weeks) and Auditorium (1 week)
Rising Up at Night by Nelson Makengo
Production: Rosa Spaliviero (Twenty Nine Studio & Production), Dada Kahindo (Mutotu)
Democratic Republic of Congo, Belgium, Germany, Burkina Faso
Raggioverde Subtitling Award
Subtitle creation incl. translation in one language
Rising Up at Night by Nelson Makengo
Production: Rosa Spaliviero (Twenty Nine Studio & Production), Dada Kahindo (Mutotu)
Democratic Republic of Congo, Belgium, Germany, Burkina Faso
Freestudios Award
Creation of a DCP package
Rising Up at Night by Nelson Makengo
Production: Rosa Spaliviero (Twenty Nine Studio & Production), Dada Kahindo (Mutotu)
Democratic Republic of Congo, Belgium, Germany, Burkina Faso
visions sud est Jury 2023
visions sud est Award
CHF 10’000 in cash for the best project from the South (Africa, Latin America and Asia) or from Eastern Europe (according to SDC’s eligibility country list)
The Days I Would Like to Forget by Alina Gorlova, Maksym Nakonechnyi, Simon Mozgovyi, Yelizaveta Smith
Production: Eugene Rachkovsky, Maksym Nakonechnyi and Karina Kostyna (Tabor), Nabil Bellahsene (Les Valseurs), Ralph Wieser (Mischief Films)
Ukraine, France, Austria
Award for Opening Scenes
TËNK Award
Purchase of distribution rights for one film of the Opening Scenes section
L’Arrestation de C. by Arthur Jaquier
Switzerland
Prix RTS de soutien à la création documentaire
(formerly called Prix RTS: Perspectives d’un Doc)
Prix RTS de soutien à la création documentaire
CHF 10’000 for the best feature film project
The Way of the Mountain by Jules Guarneri
Switzerland
