The largest industry event dedicated to documentary filmmaking in Central and Eastern Europe reflects on the rise of populist regimes in the region and examines the options available for fighting efforts to suppress critical voices.

“In the course of the year, we see dozens of Polish and Hungarian producers who, under various pretexts, suddenly lose funding for their projects. Yet in fact, it’s in reaction to their public expression of anti-regime opinions,” says Tereza Šimíková, East Doc Platform Manager. “Public media and free speech have come under attack, documentary filmmakers and journalists have been facing threats of censorship even in the Czech Republic. A bit of silver lining is that countries in the former Eastern bloc share a common history with regard to these issues. It is time to reopen the subject and find some lessons for the present.”

The theme “NEW RESISTANCE” implies the unwillingness of documentary filmmakers to suck up to populist voices in society. Their resistance is manifested as dogged persistence with which they pursue these issues while maintaining critical thinking. They are resistant to the dangers they report on and immune to suggestions their work might be undesirable.

The mission of the Institute of Documentary Film is to work on behalf of Central and East European documentary filmmakers, to be an “advocacy organization”. For 10 years, the East Doc Platform has been a meeting place for documentary filmmakers from post-communist countries; it is by no means just a closed industry event that highlights some of the best projects with international potential for TV, festival, fund and sales representatives from around the world. It is a true platform that annually hosts some 400 documentary professionals to discuss and tackle issues that trouble the entire community and that require a joint response.

This year’s EDP addresses the general public and invites people to participate in this important discussion. The panel “NEW RESISTANCE; Media, Film and Politics” takes place on Tuesday, March 6 at 4 p.m., Kino 35, French Institute in Prague with following invited guests: Max Tuula (The Trial: The State of Russia vs Oleg Sentsov), Filip Remunda (Czech Journal), Konrad Szołajski (The Battle with Satan) or Outriders, a platform for independent Polish journalism. The discussion will be hosted by Czech journalist Veronika Sedláčková and it will be translated into Czech. 

The East Doc Platform (March 3 – 9, 2018) is organized by the Institute of Documentary Film in partnership with the One World International Human Rights Documentary Film Festival.

More details on the programme here.

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