The Baltic to Black Sea Documentary Network owes much of its success to timing. In 2014 there were many talented documentary filmmakers at work, but they had little experience with the EU documentary market. As a peer-to-peer network without any commercial interest, B2B Doc acted as a bridge between the filmmakers and the West European market. The goal was to establish co-production relationships that would allow the films to reach an international audience. During this period, at least 30 films from the network have premiered and received international acclaim. The market has evolved: all festivals now have industry programs, and filmmakers are pushing their rights internationally. B2B Doc needs a refresher, so join the event to celebrate 10 years of success and discuss future prospects!
Speakers: Malcolm Dixelius, Olha Beskhmelnytsina
Malcolm Dixelius is a senior producer, co-founder of the Baltic to Black Sea Documentary Network. Since 1993, Malcolm has worked with documentary films. Among his most notable works are Women with Cows, nominated by the International Documentary Association as one of the world’s five best documentary films in 2012. Malcolm also produced The Gas Weapon, a documentary about Russia’s use of fossil gas as an instrument of political pressure (2014). Together with Alex Shiriaieff, they launched the B2B Doc at DocuDays UA in March 2014.
Olha Beskhmelnytsina is a Ukrainian producer and a co-founder of a women-led, 2Brave Productions. Her works include award-winning movies such as Rules of two walls (Special jury prize at Tribeca FF 2023), Stop-Zemlia (Crystal Bear Generation 14+ at Berlinale 2021), Intercepted (Two special mentions award at Berlinale 2024), Collapse. How the Ukrainians ruined the Empire of Evil (2021 Documentary Series). Olha is also the Chairwoman of the board of the Ukrainian Film Academy.
B2B Doc is a peer-to-peer network for documentary filmmakers in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. More than 300 film projects within the network have been shown at film festivals or special events arranged by B2B Doc. Beginning with the civil unrest in Belarus 2020, followed by military activities over the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and in 2022 the Russian full-scale invasion in Ukraine, B2B Doc has been forced to arrange most activities in neighboring countries, which are also accessible for displaced or exiled filmmakers.
