Cannes Docs Unveils Four 2025 Projects From Circle Women Doc Accelerator (EXCLUSIVE)

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The Circle Women Documentary Accelerator has chosen four documentaries made by female and non-binary directors for their yearly presentation at the upcoming Cannes Docs event within the Cannes Film Market.

For six years running, the international training program has showcased works-in-progress by its alumnae at their annual market event.

2021’s lineup boasts a blend of seasoned professionals and fresh talents. Notable among these are Mina Keshavarz, an award-winning director known for her works “The Art of Living in Danger” and “Profession: Documentarist”, as well as Anna Khazaradze, a debut feature director whose work on “9 Month Contract” has recently garnered attention at CPH. Additionally, we have up-and-coming filmmakers Ramona Mos and Rachel Close, whose projects have caught the eye of renowned production companies such as Fünfer Films (Germany) and Manifest Film (Romania).

The four films selected for the showcase are:

The movie, titled “Berliner” (from Georgia), is directed by Anna Khazaradze and produced by 1991 Productions (also from Georgia). This film focuses on the life of Nana, a Georgian translator residing in Berlin who plays a pivotal role in assisting asylum seekers. She helps them narrate their stories and guides them through the hurdles of beginning new lives. However, as German authorities advocate for remote translation methods, both Nana’s job and her personal relationships seem to be hanging in the balance.

Hello there! As a devoted admirer, I wanted to express my appreciation for your profoundly moving documentary, “A Six-Year Journey with My Mother and Friends.” Produced by Fünfer Film from Germany and Stray Dogs from Norway, under your insightful direction, Ramona Mos.

This deeply personal film chronicles your six-year journey alongside your mother and dear friends as you navigated through phases of courage, despair, and resilience. Your quest for justice transformed into a powerful testament to the preservation of reality and the unwavering bond of solidarity in the face of immense challenges. The narrative serves as a beacon of hope and inspiration for many, including myself. Keep creating such impactful stories!

Titled “Hope Against Hope,” this introspective documentary hails from Norway and France. Directed by Mina Keshavarz, it is a product of MinDoc Film Production (Norway) and Ici et La Production (France). The compelling narrative spans over 25 years, delving into the intricate ways political and social upheavals influence personal identity, as portrayed through the filmmaker’s own journey.

A Familiar Journey” (Romania/U.K.)
Director: Rachel Close
Production companies: Manifest Film (Romania) and My Accomplice (U.K.)
In this heartfelt documentary, British-Romanian filmmaker Rachel Close embarks on a personal mission to assist another adoptee in finding her birth mother. Simultaneously, she delves into her own family history, sparking an expansive investigation across borders to uncover lost sisters and confront a troubled past. The film showcases the transformative power of self-expression as a tool for healing old wounds and crafting fresh stories.

The Circle Women Documentary Accelerator Showcase is known for highlighting groundbreaking documentaries. Some past selections include “Twice Colonized” by Lin Alluna, which won first place at Docs-in-Progress 2022 before debuting at Sundance and opening both CPH and Hot Docs; Maja Prelog’s “Cent’anni,” winner of the 2021 Docs-in-Progress award; and Anna Nemet’s “Beauty of the Beast,” which was awarded at Nordisk Panorama in 2020.

Among other distinguished graduates, Maka Gogaladze’s film “Ever Since I Knew Myself” was honored at Cannes Docs 2023 and showcased in the Burning Lights Competition at Visions du Réel 2024. Similarly, Lina Vdovîi and Radu Ciorniciuc’s “Tata” made its debut at TIFF in 2024 and went on to be screened and win awards at numerous film festivals around the globe.

Biljana Tutorov, director of Circle, expressed her excitement as they unveil four captivating films with cinematic, personal, and political themes by former Circle alumni at Cannes 2025 – the sixth time we’ve done so. This event also serves to commemorate Circle’s seventh anniversary. ‘We are eager to embark on a fresh cycle,’ said Tutorov, ‘with an exceptional community of over 120 women and gender-expansive filmmakers in documentaries and fiction who have grown their projects within Circle.’ We strive to broaden the concept of the safe environment we’ve collectively built, drawing inspiration from innovative ideas and technologies.

This year, Tutorov mentioned that we will showcase four more exceptional filmmakers hailing from various parts of the globe. Their films delve into personal, political, and ethical matters. We cordially invite you to discover four unique and eccentric pieces: ranging from cinéma vérité and monochrome dramas to blending archives and virtual reality, probing the essence of memory and visual representation, and grappling with the intricacies of the current state between life and annihilation.

The showcase will take place May 18.

Circle manages two primary programs: The Women Doctorate Accelerator, which is an ongoing educational platform available to both projects and professionals at any career stage, and Fiction Orbit, a rigorous residential program set to start in 2023, aimed at mid-career filmmakers working on scripted projects.

This program is jointly funded by Creative Europe MEDIA and supervised under the auspices of Eurimages. Wake Up Films from Serbia acts as the main organizer for this event. The program’s partners are diverse and include When East Meets West, IEFTA, DAE Documentary Association of Europe, along with various other film industry associations.

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2025-04-17 13:17