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EWA Network at DOK Leipzig

EWA Network supports women directors in developing projects at DOK Leipzig

EWA Network and DOK Leipzig are joining forces to take practical steps to bolster the position of women in the film industry. For the first time DOK Leipzig is awarding a prize at its international co-production meeting, the DOK Co-Pro Market.

This is also the first DOK Leipzig prize to place women’s filmmaking center stage. The award will go to the best female-driven film project and includes both financial support and a year of mentoring from festival director Leena Pasanen and head of DOK Industry Brigid O’Shea as the project moves into further development. "We are proud to cooperate with DOK Leipzig in supporting female driven film projects, and we hope this will be the first step of a long standing partnership giving women filmmakers the opportunities they deserve" says Alessia Sonaglioni, EWA Director.

The reason for this extra support is the enduring shortfall in representation of films made by women, which also makes itself felt at DOK Leipzig. There are substantial differences between the amount of projects submitted at the Co-Pro Market, 50/50 split of male and female directors. However, the number of completed feature-length films for the festival competitions has been more in favor of males.

The award brings with it continued support of the selected film project. The makers of the prizewinning project will also be invited to DOK Leipzig the year after being awarded the prize. This will give them the opportunity to take advantage of the festival’s networking possibilities and even submit their film to DOK Leipzig should it be completed.

This year’s DOK Co-Pro Market will take place at the beginning of the festival week, from October 31st to November 1st. Each year DOK Leipzig selects 35 film projects looking for co-financing on an international platform to participate in the Co-Pro Market. The prize for the best female-driven film project will be awarded during the festival.