In 2026, numerous coveted cash and in-kind prizes were awarded to projects participating in the official VdR–Industry selection across three key activities: VdR–Pitching, VdR–Work in Progress and VdR–Rough Cut Lab.
In collaboration with our Awards Partners, the VdR–Industry Awards are designed to reaffirm our determination to support independent documentary filmmaking in all its diversity. The VdR–Industry Awards Ceremony took place in the evening of Wednesday 22 April 2026.
2026 VdR–Industry Awards
Eurimages Co-production Development Award
€20,000 in cash, this award has been created to promote the Fund’s role in encouraging international co-production from the initial stages of a project.
Uganda
Daniel Mann
Production: La Bête, Acqua Alta
France
visions sud est Award
CHF 10’000 in cash awarded to the best project from the South (Africa, Latin America and Asia) or from Eastern Europe (according to SDC’s eligibility country list) presented at either the VdR–Pitching, VdR–Work in Progress or VdR–Rough Cut Lab.
Job 1:21
Samuel Suffren
Production: Les Films du Bilboquet, Kit Films
France, Haiti
RTS Award
A €10,000 RTS pre-buy of one project pitched at the VdR–Pitching showcase.
TRADE
Todd Chandler
Production: Spectrascopic, AJNA Films, Breezy Circle
United States
Lightdox Award
€3,000 in cash awarded to the project with highest international potential at the VdR–Pitching showcase.
TRADE
Todd Chandler
Production: Spectrascopic, AJNA Films, Breezy Circle
United States
The Party Film Sales Award
€3,000 in cash awarded to the project with highest international potential at the VdR–Work in Progress showcase.
My Skin and I
Milton Guillén & Fiona Guy Hall
Production: Mayana Films, Solaris Films
Germany, United States, Nicaragua
IDA Documentary Culture Award
$2,000 USD in cash and two passes to Getting Real ’26 to a project that embodies a thriving and inclusive documentary culture — in its making, its vision, and its reach.
Hello?!
Sofie Benoot
Production: Quetzalcoatl, Altitude100, GROM, guča films
Belgium, Netherlands, Slovakia
Tënk Post-production Award
Sound post-production facilities at Tënk studios (France) including 2 weeks in the mixing studio and 1 week in the Auditorium.
Stuttering Fluidity – How My Father Became a Sea Creature
Stefan Pavlovic
Production: Serendipity Films, artTrace Foundation
France, Netherlands
Tënk Opening Scenes Award
Purchase of distribution rights for one film of the Opening Scenes section.
Welcome to Set
Cyan Bae
Production: Pingping Press
Netherlands
Unifrance Doc Award in partnership with TitraFilm
Subtitles creation (to the value of €2,300) sponsored by TitraFilm and one Unifrance membership (value of €1,590) for the French producer attached to the project.
Masé Studios & Color Grade Award
Creation of a DCP package for one project pitched at the VdR–Work in Progress showcase. DCP made by Color Grade with capacity to screen a projection in the Masé Studios Atmos Cinema-certified auditorium A (Geneva).
My Skin and I
Milton Guillén & Fiona Guy Hall
Production: Mayana Films, Solaris Films
Germany, United States, Nicaragua
Raggioverde Subtitling Award
Subtitles creation including translation in one language.
La Linda
Francina Carbonell
Production: María una vez, Gema Films
Chile, Argentina
Cannes Docs Award
Invitation to feature as a Cannes Docs ‘Spotlighted Project’, including two complimentary Marché du Film – Festival de Cannes badges valid for the 2026 or 2027 edition.
Stuttering Fluidity – How My Father Became a Sea Creature
Stefan Pavlovic
Production: Serendipity Films, artTrace Foundation
France, Netherlands
No Nation Films Fellowship Award
Six Month Fellowship aimed at giving support, guidance, counsel and mentorship to exceptional documentary film teams from around the globe who find themselves grappling with challenges and in vulnerable circumstances for one project in the VdR–Rough Cut Lab.
The People Outside
Jewel Maranan
Production: Cinema Is Incomplete
Philippines
DOK Leipzig Award
Two accreditations and four nights accommodation at DOK Leipzig & an observer access to the DOK Co-Pro Market for the filmmaker and producer, valid for the 2026 or 2027 edition.
Liberal Arts
Pacho Velez
Production: Pachoworks
United States
AIDC Award
Two accreditations to attend the Australian International Documentary Conference (AIDC) and a fee waiver to apply to The FACTory for the 2027 edition.
Somewhere Over the Rainbow
Koval Bhatia
Production: Bellota Films, What Took You So Long, A Little Anarky Films
France, United States, India
DAE Encouragement Award
Two free consultations with network members tailored to the needs of the project.
Somewhere Over the Rainbow
Koval Bhatia
Production: Bellota Films, What Took You So Long, A Little Anarky Films
France, United States, India
