12/03/2025 - From ethics in the field of AI to international co-productions, this year’s event tackles the most pressing challenges shaping the future of documentary filmmaking

The East Doc Platform returns from 13-19 March at the French Institute in Prague, bringing together filmmakers, producers and industry professionals for a dynamic programme of discussions, screenings and workshops. This year’s edition explores pressing topics in documentary filmmaking, including international co-productions, AI ethics, archival research and the evolving role of broadcasters. With an extensive line-up of lectures, panel discussions and screenings, the event offers insights into financing, storytelling, festival strategies, and emerging trends in VR storytelling and distribution.

The event opens on 14 March with a keynote lecture by Claas Danielsen, co-founder of Documentary Campus and former director of DOK Leipzig, who will share his expertise in developing, financing and distributing documentary projects for international audiences. On 15 March, a panel will examine the Sundance-awarded documentary Mr. Nobody Against Putin [+see also:
film review
film profile] and the complexities of international co-productions. Filmmakers David Borenstein and Pavel Talankin will join producers and commissioning editors from PINK and BBC Storyville for an in-depth discussion. Later, Jesper Osmund will lead a seminar on creating effective pitch trailers, offering practical insights based on his experience as a film editor and narrative consultant.

On 16 March, a panel titled “Archives, Ethics & AI” will explore the ethical challenges of using AI in documentary filmmaking and the evolving role of archival materials. Stephen Bergson, of the Archival Producers Alliance (APA), will present best practices for archival use, while Lucie Králová, founder of the Future Memory Lab, will discuss the intersection of archives and emerging technologies. That evening, Mirjam Wiekenkamp, of NOISE Film & TV, will deliver “Festival Publicity 101”, offering strategies for crafting compelling publicity campaigns for documentary films.

From 17-18 March, the platform presents a two-day VR screening event featuring Darkening by Ondřej Moravec (see the news), and Goodbye Mr. Octopus by Amaury Campion and Lily Lambert. On 17 March, Czech Docs: Coming Soon… will showcase five upcoming Czech documentaries, providing a glimpse into the country’s evolving documentary landscape. The following day, director Sebastian Brameshuber (Movements of a Nearby Mountain [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Sebastian Brameshuber
film profile]) will lead a master class on the ethical challenges of social issue documentaries, focusing on truth and authenticity in storytelling. This will be followed by a panel on “New Opportunities for VR Distribution”, where experts Ondřej Moravec, Sara Fatucci and Gabriella Chihan Stanley will discuss how VR filmmakers can expand their audience reach.

The final day, 19 March, shifts the focus to Czech TV programming with a panel on “Broadcasters and Documentaries in 2025”. Representatives of Czech Television and Nova TV/Voyo will outline their documentary programming strategies and discuss opportunities for local filmmakers. The day concludes with “All the Money for Culture”, a discussion on state funding for the cultural sector in the Visegrad region. Industry experts from the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland and Hungary will examine the role of subsidies, grants and public funding in supporting documentary production and distribution.

East Doc Platform is supported by Creative Europe – MEDIA, the Czech Ministry of Culture, the Czech Audiovisual Fund, the International Visegrad Fund, the capital city of Prague, APA - Audiovisual Producers' Association, HBO, the Austrian Cultural Forum and Creative Europe Desk Czech Republic. The event is held in partnership with the Council of Europe, and is organised in collaboration with the One World Festival (see the news) and the French Institute in Prague.