Films that have been supported through IDF activities have made significant strides on the international scene in recent months. An Oscar nomination, a European Film Award, and selections at prestigious festivals such as Berlinale, CPH:DOX, or FIPADOC confirm the long-term significance of the support IDF provides to documentary filmmakers from Central and Eastern Europe.
One of the most remarkable achievements is the Oscar nomination in the Documentary Feature category for Mr Nobody Against Putin (dir. David Borenstein). The film, which was part of the East Doc 2025 program and whose creators also participated in a panel discussion at the East Doc Platform 2025, follows the courageous teacher Pavel Talankin, who secretly documented how the invasion of Ukraine changed education in Russian schools under the influence of wartime propaganda.
Another outstanding success was achieved by the film Fiume o Morte! (dir. Igor Bezinović), which was presented at the East Doc Market as part of East Doc Platform 2024. The film, which reconstructs the historical episode of the occupation of the city of Rijeka in an original way, won the award for Best Documentary at the European Film Awards.
IDF-supported projects have also made a significant mark at this year’s Berlinale. The project KONTREWERS (dir. Zuza Banasińska), which participated in the Short Pitch Program, was selected for the Berlinale Shorts competition, where it will have its world premiere. Additionally, the film If Pigeons Turned to Gold (dir. Pepa Lubojacki), previously presented at Czech Docs: Coming Soon 2024 during East Doc Platform, was included in the Berlinale Forum program.
Success continues for projects currently being developed through the Ex Oriente Film workshops. The films Children of the Moon Land and Total Mess, participants in the Ex Oriente Features 2025 program, will be presented at CPH:FORUM 2026 in Copenhagen. The project Birdie (dir. Aneta Ptak), a participant of Ex Oriente Features 2023, was selected for the prestigious Last Stop Trieste program as part of the When East Meets West platform, where it received the HBO Europe Award and a cash prize of €1,000.
At the end of January, three alumnis of IDF activities will present their projects at the Fipadoc International Pitch in Biarritz: Not So Far Way Places (Ex Oriente Features 2025), Recovery (East Doc and East Doc Forum 2025), and Inner Landscapes (East Doc Forum 2025, also recipient of the East Doc Platform Award). Selected projects will have the opportunity to hold individual meetings with more than sixty international decision-makers.
Projects supported through the East Doc Caravan distribution service have also made an impact. The film What Does The Mud Whisper? will be screened at FIPADOC, received a special jury mention at the Tbilisi International Film Festival, and will also be shown at the Florence Short Film Festival, where the film Object 817 will also be presented.
We warmly congratulate all filmmakers on their achievements. We are delighted that the Institute of Documentary Film could be part of their journey. If you are also seeking support for your documentary project and want to take it to the international level, follow our current calls. Currently, the call for the Short Pitch Program is open (application deadline February 1), and in the coming days, accreditation for East Doc Platform 2026 will be launched.
