Al Jazeera Documentary Channel is preparing for the second installment of its initiative, Al Jazeera Documentary Industry Days @ AJB DOC, scheduled for September 9-11, 2023. Building upon its inaugural success in 2022, this year’s event comes with an increased prize pool, offering $70,000 in co-production prizes and nearly $20,000 in partner cash awards, along with other in-kind benefits.

Head of Industry Days, Adel Ksiksi, revealed that the initiative drew an impressive 177 entries from 52 countries, spanning MENA, Southeastern Europe, and the Caucasus regions. From this extensive pool, 22 projects have been shortlisted. The evaluation process is thorough, involving a committee of global industry experts, broadcasters, funders, and distribution companies. These experts assess the creative and societal impact of each project, with winners potentially securing essential funding, strategic distribution channels, and fruitful co-production partnerships.

Significant films shortlisted in the Main Pitch category include Jana from Pakistan/Iran, The Srebrenica Tape from Germany, and Finding the Way Home from the UK. The Work in Progress section highlights projects like Moscow Nights from Ireland/Romania and Life is Beautiful from Palestine/Norway. Under the Balkan Stars category, films such as I Don’t Want To from North Macedonia and Another Film About the War, Father & Home from Croatia are getting attention.

With this increased investment and expanded global outreach, the 2023 edition aims to build on last year’s successes. The 2022 event had offered more than $60,000 in co-production prizes across three pitching categories, in addition to other financial and non-financial incentives. By upping the ante, Al Jazeera Documentary Channel continues to underscore its commitment to fostering a dynamic documentary ecosystem globally.