After 5 editions and over 130 participants (filmmakers and NGOs), Civil Society Pitch returns with a new initiative for its alumni: the pilot edition of Civil Society Pitch Forum, with online talks and panels set over the course of two days.

Devised as an extension of the intensive development program for documentary filmmakers and NGO representatives organized by One World Romania Association, the platform strives to increase the connection between NGOs and visual storytellers from all four participating countries (Bulgaria, Hungary, Republic of Moldova, Romania). The Forum serves as a hub for members to interact and support each other in ongoing or future projects, aiming to strengthen relationships and collaboration on social issues projects, ensuring that the impact of the Civil Society Pitch program extends well beyond the completion of its regular editions.

The first panel on June 27 focuses on the needs and expectations of NGOs during an artistic collaboration, while the discussion on June 28 has as its main topics the production and distribution of a documentary film. Both filmmakers and NGO representatives are encouraged to participate in both events.

On June 27, from 6 PM EEST / 5 PM CET, filmmaker and activist Mona Nicoară, together with Magda Achim and Livia Gyongyosi from Romanian Ornithological Society NGO, will discuss about the approach needed for a better collaboration between NGO representatives and filmmakers, and what it takes to be part of the development process of a social documentary. Sharing from their experience, the guests will present insights regarding NGO – artist collaborations in different projects, and Mona Nicoară will use the work on her documentary Our School / Școala noastră (USA, Switzerland, Romania, 2011, 94') as a case study.

Our School follows three Roma children from a small Transylvanian town participate in a project to desegregate the local school, struggling against indifference, tradition and bigotry with humor, optimism and sass.

On June 28, from 6 PM EEST / 5 PM CET, filmmaker Ruxandra Gubernat and documentary producer Elena Martin will discuss their film Imaginary Youth / Vis.Viață (Romania, 2024, 84’), the first documentary project developed during Civil Society Pitch to reach completion. Ruxandra and Elena will talk with CSP alumni about their collaboration during the production stage of Imaginary Youth / Vis.Viață and distribution strategies for the documentary.

Imaginary Youth follows three teenagers through their final years of high school, before, during, and after the Covid confinement. While pondering about leaving Romania after they finish school, Una - an actress, Habet - a trapper and Ștefania - an environmental activist get caught in the midst of the Coronavirus crisis. Personal dramas and dilemmas unfold, as the three try to make sense of growing up and what’s happening around them. Who’s gonna make it?

ORGANISED BY

One World Romania Association

CO-FINANCED BY

Administration of the National Cultural Fund

PARTNERS

Balkan Documentary Center (Bulgaria), VERZIO International Human Rights Documentary Film Festival (Hungary), MOLDOX Lab (Republic of Moldova), National University of Theatre and Film "I.L. Caragiale", National University of Arts Bucharest, Master of Anthropology SNSPA, Master of Visual Studies and Society SNSPA (Romania)

VENUES

Czech Centre Bucharest, KAS Rule of Law Programme South East Europe

The program does not necessarily represent the position of the Administration of the National Cultural Fund. AFCN is not responsible for the content of the program, nor for the manner in which the results of the program might be used. These are entirely the responsibility of the beneficiary of the grant.

Civil Society Pitch is an intensive one-year program designed to foster collaboration between non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and filmmakers from Bulgaria, Hungary, the Republic of Moldova and Romania. The goal of the program is to facilitate a dialogue between activists and visual storytellers and to launch new documentary film projects that address human rights and social issues.