15/04/2019 - The Argentinian and French projects have won two prizes apiece; the industry events also included Switzerland Meets Quebec and Doc & Art

Director Alessandra Celesia (holding microphone) receiving one of her awards for The Flats (Once We Were Terrorists) (© Fabien Wulff-Georges)

The backbone of the Visions du Réel Industry programme, Pitching du Réel, announced its award winners at the closing ceremony of the festival.

The Argentinian project Pornomelancolía [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Manuel Abramovich
film profile] by Manuel Abramovich scored the biggest win by pocketing both the visions sud est Award for a project from the Global South, worth CHF 10,000 (€8,816), and the Doc & Film International Distribution Award, consisting of the acquisition of the international rights for the film by the Paris-based company. 

The Flats (Once We Were Terrorists) by Alessandra Celesia, a co-production between France, the UK, Ireland and Italy, also picked up two prizes: the HEAD – Genève Post-Production Award, which will provide the film with colour grading and the creation of distribution files, and the Marché du Film – Festival de Cannes Award, consisting of Cannes Film Market accreditations for the director and producer, allowing them to participate in the Doc Corner. 

The MFI Script2Film Workshop Project Development Award, consisting of tuition expenses for the Mediterranean Film Institute's script and project development programme, went to the Swedish project Meril by Victoria Verseau.

The French-Palestinian project A Thousand Fires [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] by Saeed Taji Farouky received the DOK Leipzig Talent Development Award, which provides the director and the producer with accreditation and accommodation at the German festival's 2020 edition as well as access to its Co-Pro Market. Finally, the Thessaloniki Documentary Festival Award, which covers accreditation, accommodation and access to its Agora market, went to the Swiss project Dreamers [+see also:
film review
film profile] by Stéphanie Barbey and Luc Peter.

In the Perspectives d'un Doc section for Swiss feature-length documentaries at the development stage, Stuntwomen [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] by Elena Avdija bagged the RTS Award, worth CHF 10,000.

Among the other industry events, the bilateral meeting Switzerland Meets… Quebec aimed to encourage co-production, networking and collaboration through case studies, company presentations and one-on-one meetings between professionals from the European country and the Canadian francophone region. For a description of the events and a list of speakers and participants, please click here.

The Doc & Art segment, dedicated to bridging the gap between the art world and the cinema industry, focused on artists' moving images (AMI), a blooming territory for new narratives and critical attitudes towards mainstream audiovisual culture. A round-table on the production of AMI brought together producers and curators from France, Belgium and the UK to contribute to bringing about a broader understanding of the way in which artists’ moving images are produced, and how they can be funded and distributed.

Meanwhile, at the Artists' Work Session, two projects were presented by their artists and producers to curators, and representatives of museums or galleries, foundations, film funds and grants: The City by Rossella Biscotti and producer Katrien Reist (Belgium/UK), and To a God Unknown by Margaret Salmon and producer Dominic Paterson (UK). For more details, click here. 

Here is the full list of Pitching du Réel award winners:

Doc & Film International Distribution Award
Pornomelancolía [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Manuel Abramovich
film profile] - Manuel Abramovich (Argentina)
Production company: Gema Films

HEAD - GENÈVE Post-Production Award
The Flats (Once We Were Terrorists) - Alessandra Celesia (France/UK/Ireland/Italy)
Production companies: Films de Force Majeure, Dumbworld, Planet Korda, Graffiti Doc 

MFI Script2Film Workshop Project Development Award
Meril - Victoria Verseau (Sweden)
Production company: HER Film 

Doc Corner, Marché du Film - Festival de Cannes Award
The Flats (Once We Were Terrorists) - Alessandra Celesia

DOK Leipzig Talent Development Award 
A Thousand Fires [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] - Saeed Taji Farouky (France/Palestine)
Production companies: Les Films du Balibari, Odeh Films 

Thessaloniki Documentary Festival Award
Dreamers [+see also:
film review
film profile] - Stéphanie Barbey, Luc Peter (Switzerland)
Production company: Intermezzo Films

visions sud est Award
Pornomelancolía - Manuel Abramovich

Prix RTS: Perspectives d'un Doc
Stuntwomen [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] - Elena Avdija (Switzerland)
Production company: Bande à Part Films