Join us for four days filled with inspiring masterclasses, discussions, and the highlight of the industry program, the DocLab Pitch, where six documentary projects in development will present to European decision makers.
Date: November 7–10
Location: Central European University, Nádor u. 15, 1051 Budapest
Thursday, November 7
14:00-15:30 DocPro and Verzió Doclab presents:
Masterclass with director Bálint Révész and producer Viki Réka Kiss: Crafting Stories Across 12 Years of Footage, the editing of KIX
CEU, Nador 15, Auditorium B
Verzió Doclab, the only workshop and pitch platform dedicated to nurturing new voices in Hungarian documentary filmmaking, invites you to explore the exciting challenges of editing long-term documentary projects. Director Bálint Révész and producer Viki Réka Kiss will delve into their decade-spanning journey on KIX, a film that documents 12 transformative years in the life of Sanyi, a boy growing up in Budapest. Join us to learn more on editing documentaries from a special angle, the director and the producer perspective.
Who do we recommend it for? Directors, editors, producers, film students.
The masterclass will be in English.
16:00 - 17:30 DocPro x Viewfinder Section presents:
Archival Archaeology: Researching Abandoned Private Film Collection - A Dan Curean Masterclass
CEU, Nador 15, Auditorium B
The masterclass takes you through the long journey of researching and making Family Movies film, how the creative process developed to the final form of the film through different stages from concept to production steps and editing. The masterclass is open to all interested in the behind the scenes research and the details of production and working with private archives. Full film will be screened on Friday in the framework of the Viewfinder section. Introduced and moderated by Oksana Sarkisova.
Who do we recommend it for? Film students and filmmakers, and anyone who is interested in working with archival material and found footage.
The masterclass will be in English.
Friday, November 8
14:00-15:30 DocPro Talks: To Reveal and Protect: Ethics in Addressing Sensitive Topics
Participants: Anna Rubi (director of Your life Without Me), Svitlana Lishchynska (director of A Bit of a Stranger), Ilyas Yourish (director of Kamay), Bálint Révész (director of KIX)
Moderator: Botond Püsök (director of Too Close)
CEU, Nador 15, Auditorium A
The discussion will focus on the ethical responsibility of documentary filmmakers. We will address sensitive topics such as suicide, disabilities, the involvement of children, and our own family stories as subjects for films. The panelists will discuss how to ethically navigate these complex situations, the impact of filmmaking on the subjects involved, and how to raise awareness among the audience regarding the issues presented.
Who do we recommend it for? For anyone interested in the challenges documentary filmmakers encounter when addressing sensitive topics and working with vulnerable subjects.
The discussion will be in English.
16:00-17:30 DocPro Talks: Outside Perspectives, Intimate Stories – Who Has the Right to Tell Them?
Participants: Chloe White (The Stimming Pool, producer), Gergő Somogyvári (Fairy Garden, director)
Moderator: Krisztián Marton (writer, scriptwriter)
CEU, Nador 15, 103.
The discussion centers on the filmmaker’s personal connection to the subject in documentary filmmaking. In the industry, a longstanding question is: how closely does a director need to engage with the community they are portraying, and to what extent should they be involved with the subject matter? For example, can a European director create an authentic film about a South American tribe? Can a heterosexual filmmaker genuinely capture LGBTQ+ stories if they are not part of that community? Led by writer and screenwriter Krisztián Marton, creator of Crybaby, this roundtable brings together filmmakers to share their thoughts and experiences.
Who do we recommend it for? For anyone who considers the topic of personal involvement important.
The discussion will be in English.
Saturday, November 9
13:30-15:00 DocPro Talks: Uncensored and Unfunded: Filmmakers Overcoming Financial and Political Hurdles
Participants: Natali Chkhartishvili (Project Manager at Chai Khana Media and KineDok Georgia), Eva Križkova (director, Festival Director of One World Slovakia), Julianna Ugrin (producer, Éclipse Film, Hungary), Agnieszka Zwiefka (director of Silent Trees, Poland)
Moderator: Alex Shiriaieff (Chief Producer, EuroArctic Media Group)
CEU, Nador 15, 1st floor, room 101
The discussion will focus on the challenges of documentary filmmaking in countries where the political and social climate presents significant obstacles for filmmakers: ongoing wars, political pressure, censorship, and authoritarian regimes. The panelists will explore how political and social pressures impact the filmmaking process and the role that censorship, self-censorship, and freedom of expression play in creative work. The conversation will also address the difficulties of raising funds when public financing is unavailable, corrupted or politically motivated. The goal of the panel is to examine the strategies documentary filmmakers can employ to protect and preserve their creative freedom while making their voices heard. The discussion will be led by Alex Shiriaieff.
Who do we recommend this for? For anyone who cares about the freedom of art and media.
The discussion will be in English.
16:00-19:00 Verzió DocLab Pitch
CEU, Nador 15, 1st floor, room 103
The public pitch of the 6 selected projects of the 9th Verzió DocLab workshop and pitch platform! Verzió DocLab is the only workshop and pitch platform dedicated to nurturing new voices in Hungarian documentary filmmaking and supporting filmmakers of the region and Europe. Directors, producers and editors will pitch their film projects. The creative teams will also present the scenes they have worked on with the guidance of the DocLab mentors to an industry panel and audience. The evening will be moderated by factual storytelling expert and strategist Jesper Jack (DK) and Péter Becz (HU), director and producer, creative director of Verzió DocLab. Verzió DocLab mentors are Flóra Erdélyi, editor (HU), Anna Kis, director and editor (HU) and Jesper Jack.
PITCHING FILMS AND CREATORS:
The freeSZFE Film (working title) / Hungary - representing the FreeSZFE Film Collective: Asia Dér, director and Dávid Kántor, editor
Bee In My Mouth / Hungary, Germany - Balázs Imre Lóránd, director and producer
Hide Me In The Light / Ukraine - Markiian Miroshnychenko, director; Nata Onysh, editor and Oleksandr Krasenko, producer
lluminated Geology / Spain - Pere Puigbert, director, cinematographer and editor; David Gimbernat, producer and Pol Roig, Second Camera Unit
Moving Sisters / Greece - Christos Stefanou, director; Eugenia Papageorgiou, editor and Michalis Kastanidis, producer
My Dear Vira / Ukraine - Maryna Brodovska, director and Olga Chernyk, co-director and producer
Sunday, November 10
14:00-16:00 DocPro Screening & Talks: Almost Hollywood: Kazincbarcika
CEU, Nador 15, 1st floor, room 103
Each year, the international and Hungarian documentary film classes (DOCNOMADS, DOKMA) of the University of Theatre and Film Arts visit Kazincbarcika in Eastern Hungary for a joint field exercise. Teams of Hungarian and international directors have one week to explore the town, find their topics, and create short films. Over the 12 years since DOCNOMADS was established, nearly 100 short documentaries have been made about the town. Now, a unique selection of these films will be presented as part of Verzió’s industry program, marking the first time these films are screened together.
All the films have English subtitles, but the discussion will be held in Hungarian.
