Civil Society Pitch

🔔 This weekend is your last chance to submit your film for the 19th edition of One World Romania International Documentary & Human Rights Film Festival!

We are looking for: documentary films as a vehicle for social and political dialogue, a window to the world, a medium that sparks reflection and forms communities. Films of any length, including children/youth docs.

Submissions are accepted only through FilmFreeway: filmfreeway.com/OWR19.

📸 Photo: Paula Dunker by Ionuț Dobre, One World Romania 8

✈ At the end of November, Civil Society Pitch and One World Romania traveled once again to Moldox Festival and Moldox Lab, our dear partners from the Republic of Moldova, for their 9th edition, the first to take place in Chișinău.

Our colleague Dan Angelescu, One World Romania Association communications manager, was part of the jury for the INSPIRATION workshop for young documentary filmmakers from Moldova. Five projects were pitched after a full week of training with Melody Gilbert and Hjalmar Palmgren, and the jury was impressed by the very specific topics underlining very universal issues.

We were proud to offer two awards this year:
🏆 "RugumRugum (ChewingChewing)" by Steliana Rudco & Iurie Gandrabura will participate in Civil Society Pitch 6 in 2026, with one full year of workshops and mentorship;
🏆 "Bazar închis (The Bazaar Is Closed)" director Arcadie Botnaru will participate as observer for the first phase of Civil Society Pitch 6 in 2026.

Please click on the photos for bios and synopses. Congratulations!

🌠 Please share! 🌠

One World Romania has opened its call for films for the 18th edition of the International Documentary & Human Rights Film Festival.

They are looking for: documentary films as a vehicle for social and political dialogue, a window to the world, a medium that sparks reflection and forms communities.

Submissions are accepted only through FilmFreeway: https://filmfreeway.com/OWR18.

Deadline: November 17. Go go go!

👏 We're very happy that Imaginary Youth / Vis.Viață, a documentary feature on Gen Z that started its journey at Civil Society Pitch in 2018, directed by Ruxandra Gubernat, is now screening in cinemas and other venues in Romania.

“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 Stefania - an environmental activist get caught in the midst of personal dramas and unfolding dilemmas, as they try to make sense of growing up and what’s happening around them. Who’s gonna make it?

🔎 You can watch it in Bucharest today, October 5th, from 6:00 PM, during Street Delivery, at Casa Ion Mincu. If that's too short notice, another screening is scheduled for October 21st, 6:00 PM, at Cinema Elvire Popesco. Aaaand we're also screening it as part of One World Romania on Tour: next stop is Oradea, on October 18th, 8:00 PM, at Cetatea Oradea.

🌠 Our friends and partners from Moldox Lab have opened the call for documentary projects for their next INSPIRATION workshop, to take place in Chișinău between November 25 and December 1, 2024, and we warmly recommend it.

They are looking for documentary film projects with and about the people of Moldova, with strong social relevance or those inspiring social change. Participation is free of charge. The workshop will take place in English. Please apply through the link in the comments by September 18.

⚙ Applicants can submit projects in early development stage or production. Participants should be residents of the Republic of Moldova or have a project that is co-produced with the Republic of Moldova or a project that is co-directed with a resident of Moldova.

One World Romania and Civil Society Pitch will also hand out an award at the INSPIRATION pitch in November. Stay tuned for more details! ✌

🌠 Civil Society Pitch projects update: we're very proud that Anelise Sălan's short documentary Spread your wings / Când mintea zboară is not only finalized, but already had its premiere and has just been awarded a Special Mention of the Jury at Filmul de Piatra #16 festival in Piatra Neamț last week. Congrats & hopefully more to come!

🤝 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.

🔗 The platform strives to strengthen relationships and collaboration between NGOs and visual storytellers, serving as a hub for members to interact and support each other in ongoing or future projects. For this pilot edition, we've prepared an exciting roster of speakers:

On June 27, filmmaker/activist Mona Nicoară and Magda Achim & Livia Gyongyosi from Societatea Ornitologica Romana will focus on the needs and expectations of NGOs during an artistic collaboration, also using Mona's 2011 documentary Our School / Școala noastră as a case study. 🏫

On June 28, filmmaker Ruxandra Gubernat and documentary producer Elena Martin will talk with CSP alumni about their collaboration during the production stage of Imaginary Youth / Vis.Viață and distribution strategies for the documentary, which is the first project developed during Civil Society Pitch to reach completion. 🏆

✨ As a follow-up to our public pitch during One World Romania, we have more photos to share with you below, as well as a note from the winner of the pitch, 𝐀𝐧𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐲 𝐇𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐯:

“I am extremely thankful to Civil Society Pitch for provoking me to begin the development of 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐩𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 and providing space and mentorship for young directors like me. I would also like to thank my mentor from the program, Mona Nicoara, and my creative producer, Svetla Turnin, for all the help and support they have given me and the project so far. I must say that all the projects this year were extremely interesting and I am grateful to have met and had the opportunity to pitch side by side with all these young professionals. I hope that I will be able to see on screen each one of the pitched projects. I’m very thankful to the jury for understanding the urgency and supporting the mission of 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐩𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞. I am hopeful that the making of this film will bring support and advocacy for the rights of transgender people and better understanding of their struggles. Thank you!”

📸: Cristian Codrescu, Irina Fețanu & Dan Angelescu

Civil Society Pitch is a cultural program co-financed by the Administration of the National Cultural Fund (AFCN). More info coming soon on our next activities.

Congratulations to the winner of Civil Society Pitch 5:

🏆 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐩𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞, 𝐛𝐲 𝐀𝐧𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐲 𝐇𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐯 🏆
in collaboration with the NGO Single Step (Bulgaria) and produced by Svetla Turnin
Best Documentary Project – 4,000 Euros for development.

The motivation of the jury: "With great access to the characters and strong personal motivation regarding the topic, this documentary project promises to convey multilayered perspectives on what it means to be a q***r person in contemporary society. To achieve this goal, it uses a convincing narrative structure and addresses the topic with urgency and sensitivity at the same time."

💜 Life on pause is a creative documentary about Gabriela, Eda and Valentin, three young and vibrant transgender people, as they strive to fight state discrimination, assert their personhood and claim their place in society against all odds in Bulgaria, Europe's human rights frontier.

Life on pause represents Anthoniy’s directorial debut in documentary filmmaking. This project bears personal significance to him as a transgender male who – prior to a Bulgarian Supreme Court’s restrictive ruling – successfully amended the s*x marker and names on his personal documents in 2018. His intimate connection to the subject matter infuses the film with authenticity and a deep understanding of the nuances involved in the transgender experience.

The award was decided during One World Romania by a jury consisting of Elena Martin, documentary film producer; Martichka Bozhilova, producer, director of Balkan Documentary Center and Sofia Documental; and Viera Čákanyová, documentary filmmaker.

📸: Cristian Codrescu

📣 A film that started its journey at Civil Society Pitch in 2018 premiered today at One World Romania during the Youth Days special program. We're very happy for director 𝐑𝐮𝐱𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐫𝐚 𝐆𝐮𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭 and the amazing protagonists of Imaginary Youth / Vis.Viață - Habet, Una and Ștefania.

The documentary follows them through their final years of high school, before, during and after the Covid confinement. Personal dramas and dilemmas unfold, as the three try to make sense of growing up and what’s happening around them.

🧲 A second screening will take place tomorrow, April 13, from 11:00, at Cinema Muzeul Țăranului, with free admission. Do not miss it!

🪑 Last call: all set at Centrul Ceh (Czech Centre Bucharest) for tomorrow, we're ready for Civil Society Pitch 5 – Public Pitch at One World Romania. All that's left is for you to join us in welcoming and encouraging the five participating projects for their first public presentation. See you on Saturday, from 11:30 AM!

🔜 Civil Society Pitch 5 – Public Pitch at One World Romania is approaching fast! On Saturday, April 13, from 11:30 AM, at Centrul Ceh (Czech Centre Bucharest), we will be joined by the international jury that will decide the winner of the program, after one year of mentoring sessions and development.

Jury:
🟣 𝐄𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐚 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧, documentary film producer
🟣 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐡𝐤𝐚 𝐁𝐨𝐳𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐚, producer, director of Balkan Documentary Center and Sofia Documental
🟣 𝐕𝐢𝐞𝐫𝐚 𝐂̌𝐚́𝐤𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐨𝐯𝐚́, documentary filmmaker

“The five projects prepared for the public pitch tackle profound social issues, showcasing resilient individuals who persistently combat social atomization and advocate for a more compassionate future where diversity thrives without censure. These stories unfold progressively, recovering at the same time parts of the history of some communities that continue to be marginalized, such as the LGBTQIA+ community, people grappling with severe anxiety and depression, or with mobility impairment, thereby emphasizing their rightful place in contemporary society.” (Raluca R. Gorgos, program coordinator)

The projects have a chance to win an award of 4,000 Euros for development.