Al Jazeera Documentary Industry Days launches with the aim of connecting decision-makers with promising documentary projects at the Al Jazeera Balkans Documentary Film Festival in Sarajevo. The event, holding 80 experts, focuses on telling inspiring human stories, addressing social issues, and promoting universal human values while shining a light on underrepresented areas in the industry. It also aims to promote cultural exchanges for a deeper understanding of different perspectives.
The Main Pitch category kicked off with a project called The Other Gaza, telling the story of Wafa Jamil living in Sweden while her family resides in Gaza. Inspired by the conflict in Palestine, Jamil presents a different side of Gaza to her daughter. Rudy Buttignol, the event’s moderator, praised the high-quality projects and intimate atmosphere for networking.
Al Jazeera Documentary Channel Director, Ahmed Mahfouz, emphasized the network’s commitment to supporting the documentary industry by showcasing a record number of shortlisted projects and promoting social change through documentaries. Adel Ksiksi, director of Al Jazeera Documentary Days, highlighted the event’s growth, with 29 projects selected from over 270 proposals, reflecting the diversity and dedication of documentary filmmakers worldwide.
The selected projects will be divided into four categories, including Main Competition, Projects in Progress, Balkan Stars, and Out of Competition Projects, showcasing the creativity and inspiring stories of documentary filmmakers worldwide. Al Jazeera Documentary Industry Days continues to provide a platform for filmmakers to connect with decision-makers and promote the power and art of storytelling on a global level.
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Photo credit www.aljazeera.com