We know the results of the first Progress Pitching Session at MDAG Industry. The event took place on the 12th of May at the Atlantic cinema and was moderated by Frank Piasecki Poulsen. The awards were presented during a debate on the role of documentary cinema on Sunday, 14th of May, at the POLIN Museum.
The CANAL+ Poland Award for the best presentation in the amount of 3,000 EUR was given to the “Forest” by the recognized documentary filmmaker Lidia Duda. The heroes of the film are Joasia and Marek, who after graduation decided to escape from all evils of the world and bought an old house in the Białowieża Forest, right on the eastern border of Poland. Their three children - Marysia, Ignacy and Franek were born there. The whole family lives close to nature, and the forest is their second home. But one day it changes - refugees unwanted in both Poland and Belarus appear in their forest. The whole family decides to help, even though Polish law prohibits it.
The SFP award went to the “Keepers of the Ruins” directed by Maria Shevchenko. It is a Ukrainian project developed as part of the Young Europe program organised by the Fundacja Edukacji Dokumentalnej (Documentary Education Foundation). The prize is a stay at the SFP House of Creative Work. “Keepers of the Ruins” showcases what everyday life looks like in Kharkiv, which has been shelled by Russian troops every day for over a year. The heroes of the film, despite the ongoing war, try to maintain a sense of normalcy and lead a happy life. The project also received the SMAKJAM Award. The studio will provide colour-correction service worth 15,000 PLN.
The DAE Award, which is mentoring consultations and free DAE membership for 12 months for the project producer, was given to the debut project "I am one of them" by Nadim Suleiman. A Syrian immigrant, he made a film about a Polish nationalist. It is a story of a very unlikely friendship that became a pretext for two men to share their traumas and dreams. The Short Pitch Program was held on the 14th of May. 5 short projects in the raw cut stage of production were selected. Ana Maria Vijdea won the award for “Blue”. The film tells a story of Rodica and her teenage children, Maria and Patrick. All three struggle with mutual communication and building healthy family relationships. It is a film about love, fear and anxiety.
