Alex Gibney Produced Documentary About Palestinian-American Scholar Edward Said Among Winners at CPH:DOX Industry Awards

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Last night, at the CPH:DOX documentary festival in Copenhagen, the U.S. project “Untitled Edward Said Documentary” by Maiken Baird, who has worked on Netflix’s “Venus and Serena” and “Ghislaine Maxwell: Filthy Rich,” received the Al Jazeera Documentary Channel Co-Production Award. This award comes with a €10,000 ($10,800) cash prize, and the project is being produced by Alex Gibney, Paul Dallas, and Sarah Mowaswes.

The “Metropolis” project, a collaboration between India and the U.S., overseen by award-winning directors Anupama Srinivasan and Anirban Dutta (who won at Sundance for “Nocturnes”), was awarded the $25,000 Sandbox Films Science Pitch Prize.

Two documentaries have been generating quite a bit of conversation as potential projects seeking co-funding during this week’s CPH:DOX Industry Days. These events conclude today.

The panel judging the Al Jazeera Documentary Channel Co-Production Award included Jamel Dallali, the managing director of Al Jazeera Documentaries, Amber Fares, a renowned documentary director, and Rasmus Steen, who serves as head of IMS Documentary Films.

Regarding Baird’s project, the jury stated: “Amidst the ongoing ethnic cleansing of Palestinians that we witness, and with minimal intervention by the international community, it is crucial now more than ever to comprehend how history has molded our current circumstances. In this light, the thoughts of the central character – an influential figure who advanced the Palestinian cause from a local to a global platform – hold significant relevance today.

Accepting the award at Kunsthal Charlottenborg’s Social Cinema last night, Baird expressed feeling “overwhelmed” as she had not received backing from American financiers. “It’s been a barren landscape from New York,” she said, “but this support has given us renewed hope in humanity. We aim to share the ‘Untitled Edward Said Documentary’ globally, as Edward Said deserves it and we need him!

As a movie enthusiast, I’d put it this way: “This captivating archival film offers an intimate glimpse into the life of Edward Said, a trailblazing Palestinian-American activist for justice, from his early years in 1930s Jerusalem to his passing in New York City in 2013. I was fortunate enough to know him as a family acquaintance in the ’80s, and he ignited my passion to study at Columbia University. He was an extraordinary professor there, charismatic yet profound, exuding intellect and wisdom that made him a true rock star.

According to EbMaster’s report, the project was discussed during a meeting in the industry regarding the decline in funding for U.S. political documentaries and potential financing avenues in European markets instead.

Among several projects considered, “Metropolis” – a work that addresses politically-relevant themes due to the current U.S. administration’s reduction in funding for science – was the preferred choice by the jurors for the Sandbox Films Science Award. The panel included Irem Couchouron, Silbersalz festival programmer, director/producer Pernille Rose Grønkjær, and Ina Fichman from Intuitive Pictures.

Discussing this movie, it focuses on two unexpected protagonists – a 65-year-old scientist from South Asia and a brave health worker from Malaysia, who are pursuing mosquitoes across New York City to protect its inhabitants. The panel commented that the film is likely to generate quite a lot of interest or excitement.

The jury declared that the top film was an exceptionally well-made immersive piece, capable of captivating audiences globally. This documentary uniquely showcases the efforts and perspectives of scientists from underrepresented groups. It skillfully blends humor and compassion with scientific accuracy while addressing critical contemporary issues such as immigration, healthcare, and climate change in a refreshingly original manner.

The project is being produced by Dutta and Ryan Krivoshey, head of newly formed Correspondent.

In addition to other monetary awards, the Eurimages Outreach Award worth €30,000 ($32,300) was presented to the VR360 + XR project titled “Becoming Lucien,” created by Lucien Pin and Alex Haugmard. This production is overseen by Thibault Eli from France.

Regarding their decision to pick “Becoming Lucien,” the jury, composed of Emma Scott from Screen Ireland, Gugi Gumilang of In-Doc, and Marie Schmidt Olesen from Northern Souls, expressed that the project presents an in-depth examination of gender identity using virtual reality as a means for intimacy. This exploration transforms personal stories into potent catalysts for empathy and comprehension. The project establishes a heartfelt conversation between the present self and past childhood memories, thereby offering a unique perspective on the transgender experience. By challenging prevailing misconceptions and promoting authentic human interaction, this project offers an extraordinary insight into the transgender experience.

During the acceptance of their award, Pin expressed that this will aid us in increasing understanding towards transgender individuals. At present, it’s crucial that we prioritize and uphold trans rights,” said Pin.

In the meantime, “A Sanctuary of Stuff” received the €20,000 Eurimages Outreach Award, which totals approximately $21,500. This honor went to Francesca Tremulo and Eszter Várhidi. The jury, comprised of Elena Kotová from Eurimages (Czech Republic), Rémi Grellety from Warboys Films, and Violeta Ayala from United Nations Film, praised the Danish/Italian/Hungarian interactive project, stating: “This is a groundbreaking project that defies conventional storytelling norms and resists categorizing its intended audience.

Previously at the CPH:LAB awards, “Becoming Lucien” was honored with the Newimages, Forum Des Images Award. Meanwhile, “A Sanctuary of Stuff” won the Sunny Side of the Doc Award. Notably, the Onassis ONX Studio Award was bestowed upon “The Place Beyond,” a production by Elena Lyubarskaya and David Steiner.

Two more winners of cash prizes were chosen from among the 32 projects showcased during the CPH:FORUM event held between March 25th and 27th.

The “Rise & Shine Award” worth €3,000 ($3,200) was given to the most promising international project, titled “House No7,” which is directed by Rama Abdi and produced by Hazar Yazji from Syria.

Despite encountering difficulties with their visas that prevented them from attending CPH:DOX personally, these young Syrian women left an indelible impression on the judges through their video message. The jurors were moved to say that, in a world post-Syrian war where the conflict may no longer dominate headlines, this project serves as a poignant reminder of how the aftermath continues to profoundly impact lives. By sharing the intimate journey of three young women fighting for freedom within their precarious safe haven, it weaves a compelling narrative of resilience, camaraderie, and the relentless pursuit of normality in a place where even security can feel like a prison.

The panel for the Rise and Shine Award, comprising Patricia Drati (director/producer), Jarmila Outratová (from Ji.hlava festival), and Anna Berthollet (Lightbox Sales), also awarded the €5,500 ($5,300) Unifrance/Titra Film Award to “The Salt of the South,” a Tunisian-French project by Rami Jarboui.

The project tells an urgent story about climate change through the personal journey of a family deeply connected to the sea, whose ties span beyond borders. This narrative style is uniquely cinematic, shedding light on how historical colonial structures continue to affect us today. The story, rooted in a local conflict with global implications, powerfully portrays resilience amid ecological devastation and displacement.

Simultaneously, the Millennium Docs Against Gravity team chose to explore “Missing in Action” by Marharyta Melnychuk and Kateryna Holovko, hailing from Ukraine. This project was selected out of eight documentary titles in development, originating from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine.

Exceptional Year for CPH:FORUMIn an exceptional year for CPH:FORUM, numerous industry professionals commended the superior quality and diverse range of projects showcased. A long-time attendee, Debra Zimmerman from Women Makes Movies, was impressed by the substantial number of films directed by women and the high number of documentaries produced by male directors, which is not typically the case. She also noted the blend of projects led by both newcomers and experienced filmmakers.

Jane Mote, representative from The Whickers Funding agency, highlighted the diverse geographical distribution of exceptional projects. These range from “One Day in the Future” by China’s Hang Ji and Jiang Xuan-nian, a project that delves into the topic of same sex parenthood in China, to “In the Black Magic” by Julian Knox, a U.K. project that investigates the intricacies of Black life using mythology, fantasy, and speculative fiction.

Bente Roalsvig, from Fritt Ord Foundation in Oslo, who supported 13 films competing at CPH:DOX, such as the Norwegian premiere “Facing War” and Georgian contender “9-Month Contract,” was struck by documentary filmmakers’ talent for anticipating societal trends. She expressed that they consistently create works that are timely, insightful, and compellingly relevant.

Katrine Kiilgaard, the managing director of CPHDOX, remarked that this year’s quality was exceptionally high, not just in terms of projects but also in the discussions within the room,” she said, noting that around 32 titles at the Forum might be the optimal number for facilitating quality meetings during the six-day industry event.

Highlighting the total numbers, Mara Gourd-Mercado, in her role as head of industry and training, stated that CPH:INDUSTRY accommodated approximately 1,000 one-on-one meetings, in addition to 120 individuals who were part of 20 different delegations. Furthermore, the event welcomed around 2,050 accredited guests.

2021’s standout event – a one-day Summit – exceeded expectations, as stated by Gourd-Mercado. This gathering brought together politicians, innovators, researchers, and documentary professionals to tackle today’s critical issues in the documentary sphere. Gourd-Mercado particularly praised the blend of politicians, policymakers, and intellectuals such as Matthias Pfeffer, who serves as the head of the Council for European Public Space. His stimulating speech on the “alarming concentration of power” among tech giants was one of the most impactful moments during the yearly meeting.

Gourd-Mercado stated that we managed to gather individuals with like-minded perspectives, who could engage in conversations about indie media channels as they relate to human rights, democracy, and citizenship. This became quite apparent by the end of the day.

In our role as a leading industry platform, we keep up with the latest trends and offer solutions to help navigate through difficulties like political instability, social conflicts, widening class disparities, and democracy being under pressure. Our goal is to stay ahead of current events.

During the festival, it made clear its commitment to staying abreast of global happenings. On Tuesday, Kiilgaard read aloud a statement prior to the start of the CPH:FORUM project presentations, concerning the arrest of Hamdan Ballal, co-director of the Academy Award-winning documentary “No Other Land,” which had its world premiere at CPH:DOX the previous year. The statement advocated for Ballal’s release, as he was detained by Israeli authorities following an attack by armed settlers in the West Bank. He was eventually freed. In making this declaration, Kiilgaard explained, it served as a significant show of solidarity with our documentary community, demonstrating that our festival is a venue for open dialogue.

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2025-03-28 13:18