European Movie Promotion has revealed the seventh version of Altering Face of Europe, an excerpt that is part of the Toronto documentary competition Sizzling Docs, which runs from April 25th to May 5th.
The section features nine European documentaries, chosen by the Hot Docs programming team, that “illustrate and look at a new and contemporary Europe from a cultural, social, geopolitical and financial perspective”.
In addition to participating in the contest’s screenings and commercial programming, film administrators and producers will participate in in-person and online events hosted by EFP, including networking classes and one-on-one meetings with North American distributors, sponsors and contest programmers.
“Kelly – Somebody Else’s Dream” follows Estonian freestyle skier Kelly Sildaru. She was just 13 years old when she won the gold medal at the 2016 Winter X Games in Aspen. After breaking some other information, she broke her silence and accused her father and coach of abuse. Helen Löhmus and Leana Jalukse’s film has its world premiere at Sizzling Docs.
In “Norwegian Democrazy,” directors Fabien Greenberg and Bård Kjøge Rønning approach the head of the Islamophobic hate group Cease Islamization of Norway, Lars Thorsens, and offer a revealing glimpse of the provocation for provocation’s sake, which is exposed in a battle for democracy in streets. This is a global first.
“Ladies of God” by Maja Prettner follows the evangelical pastor Jana. Torn between family, religion and personal traumas, she searches for a path to freedom. The Slovenian film makes its world premiere.
North American premieres in this year’s program include Apolena Rychlíková’s “Limits of Europe,” about Czech journalist Saša Uhlová who spends two years undercover as a traveling public servant. She reveals what life is like for financial migrants who are pressured to leave their children and families.
“Pelikan Blue”, by Laszló Csaki, a fun animated film, tells the little-known story of how three young Hungarians purchased training tickets in the late 1980s so that an entire generation would be able to discover the Western world.
Edoardo Morabito’s second feature film, “The Outpost”, is a portrait of Christopher Clark, a Scottish eco-warrior who dedicated his life to saving the Amazon rainforest. To achieve his ambitions and force the government to act, Chris always comes up with unconventional ideas, such as organizing a Pink Floyd concert in the heart of the forest.
In “Stray Our Bodies,” director Elina Psykou asks questions about life and the loss of life. She follows people who travel to other European countries to escape national laws, in an attempt to maintain control of their own bodies, whether it is euthanasia, abortion or synthetic insemination.
The Canadian debut is “Echo of You”. In her sensual, life-affirming film, director Zara Zerny tenderly portrays nine elderly Danes who talk about what it’s like to live at home without their family by their side. They share their heartaches and express their loneliness and describe with great sensitivity and wonder what it means to live with reminiscences.
In “Such a Resounding Silence,” which celebrates its Ontario debut, French actress Emmanuelle Béart reveals her personal abuse. Joined by three other survivors, Béart co-directs this deft critique of how French laws and social ethics enable a national child abuse crisis.
