The Swedish documentary film Blood Sisters supported by Nordisk Film & TV Fond and Finnish film Leaving Africa are among 12 international titles selected for HotDocs’ International Spectrum competition programme.
Blood Sisters directed by Malin Andersson tells of the twin sisters Julia and Johanna, abused during their childhood in Azerbaijan who find refuge in Sweden. Their unbreakable bond transcends trauma, but it is put to test when the girls become women and have to part ways. The film was produced by the director’s own company Malin Andersson Films in co-production with Solas Productions (Ireland), Final Cut for Real (Denmark), Avanton Productions (Finland), Mechanix Film (Norway), and Les Films du Tambour de Soie (France).
Leaving Africa by Iris Härmä is the story of friendship and empowerment between the Finnish Riitta and the Ugandan Catherine and the conflicts they face while giving sexual education in Ugandan villages. The Guerilla Films production won the Audience award at Helsinki’s recent DocPoint Film Festival.
HotDocs’ Special Presentation section will screen the Danish titles The Circus Dynasty, The Arms Drop, Democrats, the Norwegian Drone and Swedish Foodies; the World Showcase has the Swedish/Danish Pervert Park and Danish Warriors from the North and Night Vision will screen Michael Madsen’s The Visit.
The industry event HotDocs Forum (April 29-30) has selected 19 projects for the pitching sessions such as Finland’s Post-Punk Disorder by Jukka Kärkkäinen and J-P Passi, follow up to the award-winning The Punk Syndrome, and Iceland’s The Vasulka Effect by Hrafnhildur Gunnarsdottir.
For the full programme check: www.hotdocs.ca