How do film festivals impact the career trajectory of young filmmakers, particularly in terms of networking opportunities, industry recognition, and subsequent professional development and collaborations? This is the research question of the research chapter “Emerging Talents and Film Festivals”, prepared by FIDMarseille for Doc Alliance network. Through bibliographic and historiographic research, questionnaires intended for the festivals of the network (including guest festivals) and emerging filmmakers, interviews with filmmakers and film festival professionals, we have developed an extensive report on film festivals’ contribution to the career of up-and-coming filmmakers. The research includes an analysis of the film festivals’ influence on emerging filmmakers in terms of exposure and recognition, networking opportunities, learning and inspiration, continued support, as well as offers prospects for further improvements.
In 2024, the Doc Alliance network fostered five research areas related to the following practices in their festivals: Sustainability, XR and new technologies, Inclusion and gender, Educational programmes and Emerging talents. Anastasiia Kleshchenko (FIDMarseille) presents the results of the latter.
