Rough Cut Pitch Selected Projects
LHASA
Sophie Leblond
Production: Audrey-Ann Dupuis-Pierre (Metafilms)
Synopsis : Lhasa is a feature documentary on the work, life and artistic vision of Lhasa de Sela, an internationally celebrated singer-songwriter who tragically died at the age of 37, leaving behind three award winning albums (BBC’s World Music Award, Platinum, Gold Records and more). The film will feature Lhasa de Sela narrating her own story through a series of never-heard interviews, audio excerpts, written diaries, cherished recordings of her songs and artwork. With her voice as a guide, the film dives into the inner world of this woman as she shares her doubts, aspirations and reflections on life, death, and creation.
NOLANDIA
Kinga Michalska
Production: Ashley Duong, Danae Elon et Paul Cadieux (Productions Megafun)
Synopsis : Nolandia draws a psychological portrait of contemporary Poland from the perspective of young Poles living next to post-Holocaust sites of Jewish trauma. Poles have a complicated identity as victims, witnesses, and perpetrators in WWII. While they eagerly speak about their victimhood, their complicity in the murder of Jews and the appropriation of Jewish spaces is usually left unspoken. What would it take to hold together all of the pieces of their identity, including the most difficult parts? This observational documentary evokes both heartbreak and subtle humor by depicting the absurdity of denial and the unsettling coexistence of the impossible contrasts.
PARRANDAS
Constance Chaput-Raby
Production: Constance Chaput-Raby
Synopsis : In a Cuban village, during the grand Nativity celebration, men and women set off fireworks in bursts. One of them falls too low too fast causing an explosion that seriously injures several people, including teenagers. After this serious accident, the village decides to exclude minors from the explosives throwing area and offers workshops to learn the art of pyrotechnics. Through the journey of two teenagers, Edelsy and Lazarito, who are initiated into operating fireworks, the film portrays this community, torn between passing down knowledge and protecting its children. Parrandas is an ode to the continuity of this ritual and to these celestial displays that combine danger and splendor.
SPARE MY BONES, COYOTE! | ¿A DÓNDE VAMOS, COYOTE?
Jonah Malak
Production: Dominique Dussault (Nemesis Films)
Synopsis : For more than twelve years, every two weeks, Ely and Marisela have been organizing “búsquedas”, search operations in the American desert that separates Arizona from Mexico. With a group of volunteers known as “las Aguilas del Desierto”, they must search for, locate and return to families the migrants' bodies who died during their crossing on foot. Their reputation quickly spread not only in the Latinx community of California and Arizona, but also in Mexico and Guatemala. The feature documentary tells the story of their work, dedication and the challenging lives they have chosen to lead.
Rough Cut Pitch Awards
ROUGH CUT PITCH AWARD PRESENTED BY VITAL PRODUCTIONS & HOT DOCS
Vital Productions is committed to offering a 1 500$ grant in cash to one of the projects.
Hot Docs is committed to offering an Industry All Access accreditation (valued at $1,000) for the 2024 edition of the festival.
Rough Cut Pitch Jury
BÉRÉNICE HAHN
Sales Agent | Square Eyes
AUSTRIA
CLAIRE LASOLLE
Member of the selection comitee | FID Marseille
FRANCE
INTI CORDERA
Executive Director | DocsMX
MEXICO