A business room full of applauding and smiling people. Two young, smiling women are making their way through the crowd.
DOK Co-Pro Market Award Ceremony, prize winners Aslıhan Altuğ and Hazal Hanquet
Sophie Mahler

12 prizes were awarded at DOK Industry during the 68th edition of DOK Leipzig, taking place from 27 October to 2 November. 

The outstanding projects were recognised across three DOK Industry formats: seven awards were presented at the DOK Co-Pro Market, the festival’s major co-financing and networking event, four prizes at the short film pitch DOK Short n’ Sweet, and one award went to a project at DOK Preview Germany, an exclusive showcase of German documentaries in the final stages of production.

 

At the DOK Co-Pro Market, the Saxon Award for the Best Documentary Project by a Female Director, sponsored by the Saxon State Ministry for Science, Culture and Tourism (SMWK) and endowed with 5,000 euros, went to “nava mamă” by Ana Vijdea, produced by Remora Films (Romania), in co-production with Saga Film (Romania) and Les Steppes Productions (France).

The Deutsche Welle Award, carrying prize money of 1,500 euros, was presented to Olivia Yao’s “Between Three Waters” in recognition of its tackling some of today’s most pressing issues. The project is produced by FMEDIA (Benin), in co-production with STEPS (South Africa).

Showcasing the innovative use of archival footage, “The Chef Suffragette” by Magdalena Szymków, produced by Raban (Poland), in co-production with Kerekesfilm (Slovakia), received the IMAGO Archive Award, which comes with 1,500 euros and archive material worth 500 euros.

The Jacob Burns Film Centre Residency Award went to “Sense and Sensibility” by Hanna Nordenswan, a production of Zone2 Pictures (Finland). The two- to four-week residency includes a 500-dollar weekly stipend, travel support, housing, and access to the JBFC arthouse cinema and Media Arts Lab with editing, audio, animation, and screening facilities.

Hazal Hanquet’s “My Aunties”, produced by Aslıhan Altuğ (Turkey) and istos film (Turkey), in co-production with Little Big Story (France), received the No Nation Films Fellowship Award. The six-month fellowship, offered to exceptional documentary film teams around the world working in vulnerable conditions and facing challenges, includes an all-encompassing mentorship and consultancy package customised to best support the film teams during development or production stages.

The Unifrance Doc Award went to “Akal” by Basma Rkioui, a production of Kasbah Films (Morocco), in co-production with Massala Production (France). The winning project will receive subtitling services sponsored by TitraFilm and a Unifrance membership for its French producer. 

Pary El-Qalqili’s “Speak Image, Speak”, produced by SEERA Films (Germany), picked up the Willow Avocats Consultations Award, which comes with two tailored consultations on navigating international collaborations with a specialist in entertainment and film law. 

 

At DOK Short n’ Sweet, the Square Eyes Festival Consultation Award went to “LOVEBIRD” by Ferdinand Ehrhardt. Square Eyes will provide the project with a tailor-made consultation on festival strategy.

Kvet Nguyễn’s “Limits to Our Pain” scooped the Cut Through the NOISE Award. The winning team will receive a mentoring session from NOISE Film & TV that offers practical guidance on effectively preparing the short film it for festivals, premieres, and press.

Documentary Association of Europe (DAE) presented the DAE Talent Encouragement Award to Kvet Nguyễn’s “Limits to Our Pain”, which comes with a tailor-made mentoring session with a DAE senior consultant.

“LOVEBIRD” by Ferdinand Ehrhardt snagged the Ohrfilm Award, along with comprehensive music support services for the short documentary film.

 

At DOK Preview Germany, D-Facto Motion presented the D-Facto Motion Works-in-Progress Prize to “Finding Connection” by Florian Karner, providing the winning project with post-production services worth 10,000 €.