2022 (Egg)celerator Lab recipient The Wife Of director Volia Chajkouskaya and 2022 Critical Issues Fund recipient Intercepted are also part of the Cannes Docs programming.

The event will take place from Thursday, May 16 through Wednesday, May 22. More details below.  

Saturday, May 18

Doc Talk > Filmmakers Collectives Rising up in Eastern Europe ⁠
2:00 PM GMT+2
Volia Chajkouskaya, Irina Gelashvili, Lyuba Knorozok, Marta Krzeptowska
Moderated by Selin Murat

East and Central European countries have experienced severe upheavals in the last 10 years, from right-wing governments and active aggressive wars to external political meddling. However, documentary cinema is bursting with creativity and captivating audiences across the world. Filmmakers in the region however find themselves in double-roles, both as artists pushing boundaries of documentary filmmaking and activists on the picket lines fighting for what is theirs or in the case of Ukraine, on the frontlines of war. A conversation with these ambitious and courageous filmmakers about how their filmmakers’ collectives support their everyday struggles and successes.

Sunday, May 19

Doc Talk > Redefining Success on Our Own Terms
2:00 PM GMT+2
Ilinca Calugareanu, Alisa Kovalenko
Moderated by Jenni Wolfson

The Chicken & Egg Award provides unrestricted funding and mentorship to help women and gender-expansive filmmakers advance their creative and business goals at a critical juncture in their careers. Filmmakers Ilinca Calugareanu and Alisa Kovalenko, in conversation with Chicken & Egg Pictures CEO Jenni Wolfson, reflect on their award year and share their values, their breakthroughs, and what is at stake as they redefine success for themselves.

Monday, May 20

Special Screening: Intercepted
9:30 AM GMT+2
dir. Oksana Karpovych
prods. Giacomo Nudi, Rocío B. Fuentes

Doc Talk > Towards a Universal Values System in Documentary: Dismantling Borders for Greater Equity 
2:00 PM GMT+2
Viv Li, Kiyoko McCrae, Alemberg Ang, Opal H. Bennett, Adam Piron
Moderated by Devika Girish

The Golden Age of Documentary, as the last 5 years have been labeled, may not have stabilized finances for the industry at large, but it has undeniably garnered more press and audience attention to documentaries. Our films play and win awards in the main competitions of A-List Festivals including Cannes, and are featured on the front page of major news outlets all over the world, making us more interconnected internationally than ever before. Under such scrutiny and when real life is involved, how can we work together to create a set of ethical or values-based guidelines to ensure equity, fairness, and safety? As our world currently feels turned upside down, let’s explore how our values are changing and if common ones can be agreed upon.

Hot Docs is North America’s largest documentary festival, conference, and market, and embodies a deep commitment to gender parity, with 54% female directors in this year’s official selection, according to their press release. Two of our staff members will be in attendance so be sure to stay in touch via our social media channels for some exclusive content at the festival!

Farming the Revolution

dir. & prod. Nishtha Jain

prod. Valérie Montmartin

Farming the Revolution was supported through Nishtha Jain’s 2020 Chicken & Egg Award and is having its World Premiere in the International Competition

7 Beats Per Minute

dir. Yuqi Kang

prod. Ina Fichman, Anita Lee

7 Beats Per Minute was a 2022 (Egg)celerator Lab grantee having its Canadian Premiere in the Canadian Spectrum Competition.

A Photographic Memory

dir. & prod. Rachel Elizabeth Seed

prods. Sigrid Dyekjær, Beth Levison, Matt Perniciaro, Michael Sherman, Danielle Varga

A Photographic Memory was a 2020 (Egg)celerator Lab grantee having its International Premiere in the Persister section.

Intercepted

dir. Oksana Karpovych 

prods. Giacomo Nudi, Rocío Barba Fuentes, Pauline Tran Van Lieu, Lucie Rego, Darya Bassel

Intercepted is a 2022 Critical Issues Fund grantee having its Canadian Premiere in the Festival Favorites section.

Look Into My Eyes

dir. & prod. Lana Wilson

prod. Kyle Martin

Look Into My Eyes was supported through Lana Wilson’s 2019 Chicken & Egg Award and is having its Canadian Premiere in the Special Presentations section.

Spotlight on Brett Story

2022 Chicken & Egg Award Recipient Brett Story will be engaging in an illuminating conversation with author and organizer Astra Taylor. Learn more about Astra Taylor in Conversation with Brett Story here.

From the AlumNest

• Adrianne & the Castle – Canadian Premiere
  dir. Shannon Walsh
  prod. Ina Fichman

• Power
  dir. & prod. Yance Ford
  prods. Sweta Vohra, Jess Devaney, Netsanet Negussie

• We Did Not Consent
  dir. Dorothy Allen-Pickard
  prods. Rosa Harris Edmonds, Lindsay Poulton

• Xixi – World Premiere
  dir. & prod. Fan Wu
  prods. Sona Jo, Venice De Castro Atienza, Yoonsoo Her

• Yintah – Canadian Premiere
  dirs. & prods. Jennifer Wickham, Brenda Michell, Michael Toledano
  prods. Bob Moore, Katie McKay, Mila Aung-Thwin

Meet Our Team at Hot Docs

We are exhilarated that our Senior Program Manager Elaisha Stokes and Program Assistant Will Tamura will be in attendance at the festival. They will be attending Chicken & Egg Pictures-supported screenings and industry events. Make sure to say hi!

Against the Tide

dir. Sarvnik Kaur

prods. Koval Bhatia, Quentin Laurent

Against the Tide is a 2021 (Egg)celerator Lab grantee.

Hummingbirds

dirs. Silvia Del Carmen Castaños, Estefanía “Beba” Contreras

co-dirs. & prods. Jillian Schlesinger, Miguel Drake-McLaughlin, Diane Ng, Ana Rodriguez-Falco

prods. Leslie Benavides, Rivkah Beth Medow

Hummingbirds is a 2022 (Egg)celerator Lab finalist.

Is There Anybody Out There?

dir. Ella Glendining

prod. Janine Marmot

Is There Anybody Out There? is a 2021 (Egg)celerator Lab grantee.

Twice Colonized

dir. Lin Alluna

prods. Emile Hertling Péronard, Alethea Arnaquq-Baril, Stacey Aglok, Bob Moore

Twice Colonized is a Project: Hatched 2023 participant.

From the AlumNest

• Who I Am Not
  dir. Tunde Skovran
  prods. Andrei Zinca, Danielle Turkov, Paul Cadieux, Patrick Hamm, Amy Shepherd, Edith Weil, Daniel Szandtner, Janos Kovacs

• King Coal
  dir. & prod. Elaine McMillion Sheldon
  prods. Shane Boris, Diane Becker, Peggy Drexler

In the Festival

Farming the Revolution

dir. & prod. Nishtha Jain, Akash Basumatari

prod. Valérie Montmartin

Farming the Revolution was supported through Nishtha Jain’s 2020 Chicken & Egg Award and is having its UK Premiere in the Rebellions section.

Get your tickets here.

The Boy and the Suit of Lights

dir. Inma de Reyes

prod. Aimara Reques

The Boy and the Suit of Lights was a participant of the 2020 (Egg)celerator Lab and is having its World Premiere in the International First Feature Competition.

Get your tickets here.

Our Land, Our Freedom

dir. & prods. Meena Nanji, Zippy Kimundu

Our Land, Our Freedom was a participant of the 2021 (Egg)celerator Lab having its UK Premiere in the Strands section.

Get your tickets here.

Union

dir. & prods. Brett Story, Stephen Maing

prod. Samantha Curley, Mars Verrone, Martin Dicicco

Union was supported through Brett Story’s 2023 Chicken & Egg Award.

Get your tickets here.

In the MeetMarket

The 19th edition of Sheffield DocFest’s flagship pitching forum, the MeetMarket, will take place on Thursday 13 and Friday 14 of June 2024. The slate includes 50 documentary projects, in development or at production stage, to be pitched in one-to-one meetings to international and UK industry representatives and experts. In this year’s lineup, there are three 2024 (Egg)celerator Lab grantees as well as a Research & Development Grantee. Learn more:

Jaripeo

dirs. Efraín Mojica, Rebecca Zweig

prods. Sarah Strunin

Jaripeo is a 2024 (Egg)celerator Lab grantee and is participating in the MeetMarket.

Vena Acuática

dir. Amada Torruella

prods. Seth Gadsden, Brenda Avila-Hanna

Vena Acuática is a 2024 (Egg)celerator Lab grantee and is participating in the MeetMarket.

War on Women

dir. Maris Salumets

prods. Elina Litvinova, Volia Chajkouskaya

War on Women is a 2024 (Egg)celerator Lab grantee and is participating in the MeetMarket.

Green is the Fire’s Tint

dirs. & prods. Arya Rothe, Cristina Hanes, Isabella Rinaldi

Green is the Fire’s Tint was supported through our 2023 Research & Development Grant and is participating in the MeetMarket.

From the AlumNest

• Bread & Roses | Festival Lineup
  dir. Sahra Mani
  prods. Jennifer Lawrence, Justine Ciarrocchi

• My Sweet Land | Festival Lineup
  dir. Sareen Hairabedian
  prods. Azza Hourani, Sareen Hairabedian, David Rane, Julie Paratian, Beth Levison, Rintu Thomas, Sushmit Ghosh

• Mountain Queen: The Summits of Lhakpa Sherpa | Festival Lineup
  dir. Lucy Walker
  prods. Charlie Corwin, Michael D. Ratner, Miranda Sherman, Dalia Burde, Christopher Newman

• The Age of Water | MeetMarket
  dirs. Isabel Alcántara, Alfredo Alcántara
  prods. Lindsay Perna, Joe Brewster, Michèle Stephenson

• The Noble Half (working title) | MeetMarket
  dir. Khaula Malik
  prods. Brit Fryer, Afnahn Khan

• The Shape of Blue | MeetMarket
  dir. Sybilla Patrizia
  prod. Ina Fichman

• Widow Champion | MeetMarket
  dir. & prod. Zippy Kimundu
  prod. Heather Courtney

Meet the Team at the Fest!

Program Director Kiyoko McCrae and Industry & Artist Development Manager Tobi Phang-Lyn are going to be in attendance at the festival. They will be taking meetings with filmmakers, watching supported films, participating in roundtable discussions, and hosting an alumni happy hour. 

Our Senior Program Manager Elaisha Stokes and Program Assistant Will Tamura were in attendance at the festival and the Hot Docs Forum. This year’s Forum had “20 projects—represented by 22 filmmakers, 11 of whom are BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Colour) and 16 of whom are women—representing 18 countries” (Business Doc Europe) presenting to key funders, decisionmakers, filmmakers, producers, and observers. There were a total of 58 projects being pitched across the industry events. Among the projects were 2024 (Egg)celerator Lab grantees Anatomy of a Life, Jaripeo, War on Women, Holder of the Sky, and Matininó. There were also films from the following supported filmmakers: Leah Galant, Kelly Duane de la Vega, Mila Turajlić, Chelsi Bullard, Geeta Gandbhir, Mars Veronne, Yvonne Welbon, Carine Chichkowsky, Ina Fichman, Valérie Montmartin, Lorena Luciano, Filippo Piscopo, Diane Becker, Melanie Miller, Kenya Jade Pinto, Brit Fryer, and Sona Jo.

We are extremely proud of 2024 (Egg)celerator Lab grantee Anatomy of a Life on being awarded the Cuban Hat Award. This award, given to the best pitch as decided by Forum attendees, offers funding for powerful and unique projects. The award also includes numerous other gifts, including a feedback call with our very own Elaisha Stokes. 

Learn more about the selected projects here.

2022 (Egg)celerator Lab recipient The Wife Of director Volia Chajkouskaya and 2022 Critical Issues Fund recipient Intercepted are also part of the Cannes Docs programming.

The event will take place from Thursday, May 16 through Wednesday, May 22. More details below.  

Saturday, May 18

Doc Talk > Filmmakers Collectives Rising up in Eastern Europe ⁠
2:00 PM GMT+2
Volia Chajkouskaya, Irina Gelashvili, Lyuba Knorozok, Marta Krzeptowska
Moderated by Selin Murat

East and Central European countries have experienced severe upheavals in the last 10 years, from right-wing governments and active aggressive wars to external political meddling. However, documentary cinema is bursting with creativity and captivating audiences across the world. Filmmakers in the region however find themselves in double-roles, both as artists pushing boundaries of documentary filmmaking and activists on the picket lines fighting for what is theirs or in the case of Ukraine, on the frontlines of war. A conversation with these ambitious and courageous filmmakers about how their filmmakers’ collectives support their everyday struggles and successes.

Sunday, May 19

Doc Talk > Redefining Success on Our Own Terms
2:00 PM GMT+2
Ilinca Calugareanu, Alisa Kovalenko
Moderated by Jenni Wolfson

The Chicken & Egg Award provides unrestricted funding and mentorship to help women and gender-expansive filmmakers advance their creative and business goals at a critical juncture in their careers. Filmmakers Ilinca Calugareanu and Alisa Kovalenko, in conversation with Chicken & Egg Pictures CEO Jenni Wolfson, reflect on their award year and share their values, their breakthroughs, and what is at stake as they redefine success for themselves.

Monday, May 20

Special Screening: Intercepted
9:30 AM GMT+2
dir. Oksana Karpovych
prods. Giacomo Nudi, Rocío B. Fuentes

Doc Talk > Towards a Universal Values System in Documentary: Dismantling Borders for Greater Equity 
2:00 PM GMT+2
Viv Li, Kiyoko McCrae, Alemberg Ang, Opal H. Bennett, Adam Piron
Moderated by Devika Girish

The Golden Age of Documentary, as the last 5 years have been labeled, may not have stabilized finances for the industry at large, but it has undeniably garnered more press and audience attention to documentaries. Our films play and win awards in the main competitions of A-List Festivals including Cannes, and are featured on the front page of major news outlets all over the world, making us more interconnected internationally than ever before. Under such scrutiny and when real life is involved, how can we work together to create a set of ethical or values-based guidelines to ensure equity, fairness, and safety? As our world currently feels turned upside down, let’s explore how our values are changing and if common ones can be agreed upon.

We are sending a heartfelt congratulatory message to the Chicken & Egg-supported filmmakers selected for the prestigious Guggenheim Fellowship. In its 99th year, The John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation selected 188 Artists, Scholars, Photographers, Novelists, Essayists, Poets, Historians, Choreographers, Environmentalists, and Data Scientists. In the Film-Video field, 2021 (Egg)celerator grantee Jude Chehab, 2021 Chicken & Egg Award Recipient Loira Limbal, and 2018 (Egg)celerator Lab grantee Jennifer Redfearn have been awarded this honor. 

Congratulations all!

Hot Docs is North America’s largest documentary festival, conference, and market, and embodies a deep commitment to gender parity, with 54% female directors in this year’s official selection, according to their press release. Two of our staff members will be in attendance so be sure to stay in touch via our social media channels for some exclusive content at the festival!

Farming the Revolution

dir. & prod. Nishtha Jain

prod. Valérie Montmartin

Farming the Revolution was supported through Nishtha Jain’s 2020 Chicken & Egg Award and is having its World Premiere in the International Competition

7 Beats Per Minute

dir. Yuqi Kang

prod. Ina Fichman, Anita Lee

7 Beats Per Minute was a 2022 (Egg)celerator Lab grantee having its Canadian Premiere in the Canadian Spectrum Competition.

A Photographic Memory

dir. & prod. Rachel Elizabeth Seed

prods. Sigrid Dyekjær, Beth Levison, Matt Perniciaro, Michael Sherman, Danielle Varga

A Photographic Memory was a 2020 (Egg)celerator Lab grantee having its International Premiere in the Persister section.

Intercepted

dir. Oksana Karpovych 

prods. Giacomo Nudi, Rocío Barba Fuentes, Pauline Tran Van Lieu, Lucie Rego, Darya Bassel

Intercepted is a 2022 Critical Issues Fund grantee having its Canadian Premiere in the Festival Favorites section.

Look Into My Eyes

dir. & prod. Lana Wilson

prod. Kyle Martin

Look Into My Eyes was supported through Lana Wilson’s 2019 Chicken & Egg Award and is having its Canadian Premiere in the Special Presentations section.

Wilfred Buck

dir. & prod. Lisa Jackson

prod. Alicia Smith, Lauren Grant

Wilfred Buck was supported through Lisa Jackson’s 2023 Chicken & Egg Award and is having its North American Premiere in the Canadian Spectrum Competition.

Spotlight on Brett Story

2022 Chicken & Egg Award Recipient Brett Story will be engaging in an illuminating conversation with author and organizer Astra Taylor. Learn more about Astra Taylor in Conversation with Brett Story here.

From the AlumNest

• Adrianne & the Castle – Canadian Premiere
  dir. Shannon Walsh
  prod. Ina Fichman

• Power
  dir. & prod. Yance Ford
  prods. Sweta Vohra, Jess Devaney, Netsanet Negussie

• We Did Not Consent
  dir. Dorothy Allen-Pickard
  prods. Rosa Harris Edmonds, Lindsay Poulton

• Xixi – World Premiere
  dir. & prod. Fan Wu
  prods. Sona Jo, Venice De Castro Atienza, Yoonsoo Her

• Yintah – Canadian Premiere
  dirs. & prods. Jennifer Wickham, Brenda Michell, Michael Toledano
  prods. Bob Moore, Katie McKay, Mila Aung-Thwin

Meet Our Team at Hot Docs

We are exhilarated that our Senior Program Manager Elaisha Stokes and Program Assistant Will Tamura will be in attendance at the festival. They will be attending Chicken & Egg Pictures-supported screenings and industry events. Make sure to say hi!

Q

dir. & prod. Jude Chehab

Q is a 2021 (Egg)celerator Lab grantee. 

Retrospective: Jeanie Finlay

We were proud to watch one of our 2023 Chicken & Egg Award recipients Jeanie Finlay, a prominent documentary filmmaker hailing from Northern England, getting recognized with a retrospective at this year’s Big Sky Film Festival. Jeanie’s films tell intimate stories that resonate with audiences globally, and this retrospective featured 12 selections from her repertoire, including her most recent feature Your Fat Friend. Explore the full program here.

From the AlumNest

• Troll Storm – World Premiere
  dir. & prod. Eunice Lau
  prods. Brooke Pepion Swaney, Zachary Kerschberg

• American Grail: A Quest for the Ivory-Billed Woodpecker  – World Premiere
  dir. Andy Sarjahani
  prod. Jolene Pinder

• Bring Them Home / Aiskótáhkapiyaaya – World Premiere & Winner of the Big Sky Award
  dirs. Ivan MacDonald, Ivy MacDonald, Daniel Glick
  prods. Daniel Glick, Ivan MacDonald, Sarah Clarke

• Confessions of a Good Samaritan 
  dir. Penny Lane
  prod. Gabriel Sedgwick

• Dark Money
  dir. & prod. Kimberly Reed 
  prod. Katy Chevigny

• Eat Flowers
  dir. River Finlay
  prods. Alison Klayman, Cig Harvey, River Finlay, Sashka Rothchild

• Montana Indigenous Voting Rights – World Premiere
  dir. Ivan MacDonald
  prods. ACLU of Montana, Western Native Vote, Jessica Jane Hart

• Seat 31: Zooey Zephyr – World Premiere & Winner of the Mini-doc Award
  dir. & prod. Kimberly Reed 

• Unseen
  dir. & prod. Set Hernande
  prods. Félix Endara, Diane Quon, Day Al-Mohamed

We would like to highlight the world premiere of Julia’s Stepping Stones, directed by our beloved Julia Reichert and her partner and longtime co-director Steven Bognar during the final months of Julia’s life. 

Light of the Setting Sun

dir. & prod. Vicky Du

prod. Danielle Varga

Light of the Setting Sun was a 2022 (Egg)celerator Lab Finalist and had its World Premiere.

A Photographic Memory

dir. & prod. Rachel Elizabeth Seed

prods. Sigrid Dyekjær, Beth Levison, Matt Perniciaro, Michael Sherman, Danielle Varga

A Photographic Memory was a 2020 (Egg)celerator Lab grantee. 

Look Into My Eyes

dir. & prod. Lana Wilson

prod. Kyle Martin

Look Into My Eyes was supported through Lana Wilson’s 2019 Chicken & Egg Award.

Union

dir. & prods. Brett Story, Stephen Maing

prods. Samantha Curley, Mars Verrone, Martin Dicicco

Still from Union

Union was supported through Brett Story’s 2023 Chicken & Egg Award.

From the AlumNest

• Growing Up Female
  dirs. & prods. Julia Reichert, Jim Klein

• Julia’s Stepping Stones
  dirs. Julia Reichert, Steve Bognar 
  prod. Steve Bognar

• Luther: Never Too Much
  dir. Dawn Porter
  prods. Trish D. Chetty, Ged Doherty, Jamie Foxx, Datari Turner, Leah Smith

• Power
  dir. & prod. Yance Ford
  prods. Netsanet Negussie, Sweta Vohra, Jess Devaney