Submissions to the 47th edition of Visions du Réel Festival international de cinéma Nyon (15-23 April 2016) are now open.
Visions du Réel selects films that, through their formal and aesthetic choices, provide personal and singular descriptions of past and present realities.
The selected films – traditional narratives, experimental films, essays, diaries, works of contemporary art, family videos, historical investigations or even fragmented stories – are characterized by a free form that reinvents genres and incorporates stylistic devices that may be influenced by “direct cinema” or fiction.
The criteria adopted by the festival director and the selection committee include the respect for the people filmed and the spectator, the deep involvement of the filmmakers in their work and the actual relevance of the film's existence. Other criteria are the originality of the project, the coherence in the film between the subject and the form, the treatment of time through editing and «mise en scène», the composition of the frame, the beauty of the shots, etc.
Competitive Sections:
International Competition
Composed of three sections – feature films, medium-length films and short films –, the competition seeks to present the best of contemporary documentary film productions. Only world, international or European premieres are eligible. Priority is given to world premieres.
Regard Neuf
A selection of first feature films which focuses on discovering new talents. Only world, international or European premieres are eligible. Priority is given to world premieres.
Helvétiques
A selection of contemporary feature and medium-length films that are (co)produced by Switzerland. Only world, international or European premieres are eligible. Priority is given to world premieres.
Premiers Pas
A selection of first short films created by film schools. Only world, international or European premieres are eligible. Priority is given to world premieres.
Grand Angle
A selection of the best of contemporary world cinema to be introduced to a large audience. This section presents films directed by renowned filmmakers and possibly already presented at other film festivals, preferably outside of Switzerland.
Non-competitive Sections:
Ateliers
Tributes to renowned filmmakers known for their creativity and in-depth research. Retrospectives and master classes open to the public are included.
Maître du Réel
Section dedicated to the work of an internationally renowned filmmaker, who will be awarded a prize for her/his career. This section includes a retrospective and a master class open to the public.
Focus
An overview of contemporary documentary film productions of a Southern or Eastern country, the Focus section is organized together with Visions du Réel’s Doc Outlook - International Market (DOCM). This section is developed in cooperation with the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), the Swiss government and the Swiss fund visions sud est. It includes a selection of films from the guest country and in addition the DOCM organizes panel discussions, a pitching of projects and coproduction meetings.
Doc Alliance selection
A selection of three films amongst the ones nominated by the seven Doc Alliance festival partners.