The European Documentary Network (EDN) grants the EDN award 2006 to the Jan Vrijman Fund (JVF) for its outstanding contribution to the world wide documentary community. JVF plays a key-role in breaking the Western dominance on the documentary scene by securing that a diversity of films from all corners of the world are brought to our screens.
The EDN Award was presented by EDN Director Leena Pasanen at an award ceremony held in connection with the Thessaloniki Documentary Festival. To accept the award on behalf of the Jan Vrijmann Fund was Rada Sesic and Fleur Knopperts (see picture).
Since 1998 JVF has been a vital source of funding for documentary filmmakers from developing countries with otherwise very limited access to funding. JVF has supported numerous talented filmmakers, not only helped them to make the films, but also to get them distributed. In addition they facilitate building up the documentary business in the developing world by supporting training workshops and festivals.
Jan Vrijman Fund
The Jan Vrijman Fund provides financial resources for documentary projects from developing countries. It funds research and script development, production and post production, distribution and sales. In addition, other activities such as the organisation of workshops, documentary film festivals and other educational programmes, are eligible for support. JVF was initiated by IDFA in 1998 and many of the supported films are screened at the festival.
Films supported by JVF include In the Dark by Sergey Dvortsevoy (Russia), Estamira by Marcos Prado (Brazil), And Along Came a Spider by Maziar Bahari (Iran), The Immortal by Mercedes Moncada Rodriguez (Nicaragua/Mexico/Spain), The Inner Tour by Raanan Alexandrowicz (Palestine), The Wall by Simone Bitton (Israel), Children of the Decree by Florin Iepan (Romania), Story of a Beautiful County by Khalo Matabane (South Africa), Svyato by Victor Kossakovsky, This is not Your Song by Adela Peeva (Bulgaria).
Director of Jan Vrijman Fund is Ally Derks. Coordinator is Isabel Arrate Fernandez.
For further information about the Jan Vrijman Fund contact:
Isabel Arrate Fernandez
Tel:+31 20 6273329
janvrijmanfund@idfa.nl
Jan Vrijmann Fund web page
The EDN Award
It is the second time EDN has presented The EDN award. It is ment to honour and recognise special achievement in the world of documentary film. The 2005 award went to Finnish broadcaster YLE.
