Jury composed of Bulgarian producer Martichka Bozhilova, Berlinale selector Sergio Fant, Natalia Arshavskaya from Current Time TV, Filipino producer Armi Rae Cacanindin, and Jarmila Outratová representing the organiser of the programme – Ji.hlava IDFF, chose the most promising Central and East European documentary project.

The Docu Talent Award 2021 was granted to Freedom Squared – a Russian project by director Anastasia Zverkova produced by Anastasia Alexeeva (Saltstudio). In the center of this visually strong documentary is a theme of isolation approached from different perspectives. 

The award is accompanied with a financial prize 5,000 USD in cooperation with the Ji.hlava IDFF’s partner Current Time TV.

Statement of the jury: 

“We chose this project for its great potential to tackle the topics of solitude and isolation complicated by the pervasive covid situation. The subject connects universal matters with extremely timely issues of humanity, spirituality and science. The artistic quality of the picture makes us believe that the talented filmmaker can express her vision by dealing with the subject and treating the material well.”

See the Freedom Squared teaser here.

Since 2005, Docu Talents has been a launch pad for a number of documentaries by both renowned and emerging directors such as Laila Pakalniņa, Vladimir Mansky, Bartek Konopka, Piotr Stasik, Peter Kerekes, Dmitrii Kalashnikov and Helena Třeštíková.  Films presented at Docu Talents in the past had world and international premieres at major film festivals including in Cannes, Berlin, Locarno, Rotterdam and Sundance.

“We have been following the region of Central and Eastern Europe through Docu Talents for 17 years, thus promoting the cinematography which is often omitted by others. And every year the selection confirms to us that there are many new authors to discover”, says Marek Hovorka, director of the Ji.hlava IDFF and curator of Docu Talents.

More information at https://www.ji-hlava.com/docu-talents