When Pitching Slows Down

The second edition of ZagrebDox's Slow Pitch programme once again transformed the city into a space for encounters, conversations and documentary project development. Over the course of four days, eight selected projects had the opportunity to meet with a different mentor each day at various locations across Zagreb, moving the pitching process away from conference rooms and into a more relaxed and intimate environment for exchanging ideas and experiences.

Through focused discussions, participants connected with colleagues from across Europe and found new ways of looking at their own projects. Each morning began with a presentation by one of the mentors, who shared personal insights and valuable advice on navigating the contemporary documentary landscape. The programme concluded with a public presentation, where participants had the opportunity to showcase the progress they had made during the four-day workshop to an audience of invited producers and film students.

This year's mentors were acclaimed filmmaker Marc Isaacs, producer Vanja Jambrović, whose documentary won the European Film Award, executive producer Lucie Kon, whose documentary won the Academy Award, and documentary consultant and financing expert Cecilia Lidin. Drawing on their diverse experience, from auteur documentary filmmaking to international production and financing, they introduced participants to different approaches to developing and positioning documentary projects.

The mentoring sessions took place across four Zagreb locations: Restaurant Zagrebački Kulturni Krug – kod Draška, Café Bar Crni Mačak and the Grič Tunnel, the Botanical Garden, and the Meštrović Atelier, giving each meeting its own atmosphere and dynamic.

This year's awards further confirmed Slow Pitch as a space where projects can take meaningful steps forward. Four projects received international awards and recognition from programme partners.

The Turkish project Transformation Stories from Akbelen Forest, directed by Selen Çatalyürekli and produced by Zeyneb Gültekin, explores the struggle of a local community against environmental devastation. The project received three awards: a one-year mentorship with Ana Fernandez Saiz from Impronta Films, participation in the Nebulae programme at Doclisboa, and residency at this year's Rab Film Festival.

The UK project Turning the Tide, directed by Louisa Rechenbach, follows the transformation of parents as their child gradually discovers and affirms their own identity. The project was awarded an invitation and accreditation to Ji.hlava New Visions, presented in person by the head of industry, Jarmila Outratová.

The Croatian project Through the Process, directed by Marina Petković Liker and produced by Tiha Gudac, offers an intimate look at the lasting consequences of unresolved wartime trauma, following the parents of children killed during the war as they continue to live with its impact more than thirty years later. The project team will take part in the Rab Film Festival residency programme this summer, where they will continue developing the project with the support of mentors.

Among the awarded projects was also Beautiful Death, directed by Andris Gauja and produced by Elza Gauja. This international co-production between Latvia, Bulgaria, Estonia and Italy uses a visually striking auteur approach to explore attitudes towards death, the body and mortality. The project received an award granting participation in the pitching forum of the Spanish documentary market MEDIMED.

Once again, Slow Pitch demonstrated that documentary development does not happen solely through formal presentations, but also through walks, unexpected digressions, conversations and encounters that open new directions for projects. At a time when the film industry often prioritises speed, competition and perfectly polished pitches, Slow Pitch serves as a reminder that the most meaningful documentary stories still emerge from careful listening, trust and genuine dialogue.