21st Edition of ZagrebDox: The Best Documentaries from World Production Are on Their Way
In addition to the world’s best documentaries, this year's edition of ZagrebDox brings new programmes, raises issues and supports visiting authors.
For lovers of documentaries, the period from 30 March to 6 April this year is dedicated to ZagrebDox, the largest regional festival bringing the best documentaries from world production. Some of the most significant European authors, producers and screeners will participate as speakers, experts and guests of the programme.
Around a hundred films selected among 1500 submitted will be screened in five halls of the Kaptol Boutique Cinema. During the seven days of the festival, world, international and Croatian premieres of documentaries shot and produced in the last year will be screened. The emphasis is on everything that is new, bold and marked by the author’s style as stated by the organisers. Every year, the winner of the festival directly enters the competition for the annual award of the European Film Academy.
Films that are part of this year’s ZagrebDox come from all parts of the world and were screened in numerous film festivals. Many of them also won awards. Film buffs will have an opportunity to attend the premiere of the short documentary Red Slide by Croatian director Nebojša Slijepčević immediately after his return from Los Angeles. This is where his awards-winning film The Man Who Could Not Remain Silent was nominated for an Oscar in the category of Best Live Action Short.
The ZagrebDox Pro programme, a workshop for authors and producers, will also take place during the festival. It brings a so-called slow pitch concept of presenting projects in a collegial and relaxed atmosphere, without pressure to win. The film voted best by the jury will receive a one year online mentorship while two projects will get an opportunity to participate in the residential module of ZagrebDox Pro, in collaboration with the Rab Film festival in August 2025. The project has aroused a lot of interest, but just six out of 80 applicants will participate in a five-day workshop.
A special segment of the ZagrebDox Pro program is dedicated to artificial intelligence, the opportunities it provides and the ethical debates that the use of it in the production of documentary content opens up.
The Audio Dox programme is the novelty of this year’s ZagrebDox. It will present some of the most important radio reports from all over Europe, nominated and awarded at last year's Prix Europe. It is the largest European festival that annually awards the best European television, radio and internet production.