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2024 Recap

Highlights of the past year at Lightdox

As we close out another year at Lightdox, we take a moment to reflect on the milestones and unforgettable moments that we celebrated in 2024. Our passion for bringing impactful films to global audiences is as strong as ever, and we’re excited to look back on the past year as we gear up for the next one. Join us as we revisit the highlights that made 2024 special.

Films

In 2024, we added five remarkable titles to our catalog, four of which are directed or co-directed by women and two are impressive feature debuts.

In January, we welcomed onboard As the Tide Comes In by Juan Palacios, co-directed with Sofie Husum Johannesen, ahead of its Nordic premiere at the Göteborg Film Festival. The film had its world premiere at IDFA in November 2023, where it was selected for the International Competition. As the Tide Comes In beautifully captures the daily lives of the residents of Mandø, Denmark, as they struggle with the pressing challenges of climate change, offering an intimate and poignant look at the unique community and their resilience.

In February, Intercepted by Oksana Karpovych premiered in the Forum Section at the Berlin International Film Festival 2024, where it received Special Mention for the Amnesty International Film Award and Special Mention by the Ecumenical Jury. Intercepted offers a unique look at the devastating effects of war, contrasting quiet moments of daily life in Ukraine with intercepted phone conversations between Russian soldiers and their families.

In March, Marching in the Dark by Kinshuk Surjan had its World Premiere in the HUMAN:RIGHTS Competition at CPH:DOX 2024, earning a Special Mention. Set amidst India’s farmer suicide crisis, it follows a young widow as she discovers strength and joy in unexpected community with others like her while navigating grief and breaking cultural taboos. 

In June, At the Door of the House Who Will Come Knocking by Maja Novaković, an enigmatic portrait of life in rural Bosnia and Herzegovina, premiered at Sheffield DocFest 2024, winning the Grand Jury Award in the International Competition.

Though premiering in April in the National Competition at Visions du Réel 2024, we kicked off our collaboration on Francesca Scalisi’s Valentina and the MUOSters before its International Premiere in October at DOK Leipzig, where it won the Prize of the International Film Critics (FIPRESCI Prize). The film presents an intimate and visually stunning exploration of one woman’s journey towards emancipation, set against the backdrop of an environmentally and politically ravaged Sicilian landscape.

Crédit photo: Maryse Boyce

Awards

2024 has been a celebratory year for our titles, with numerous awards and recognitions highlighting their impact on the international documentary landscape.

Intercepted by Oksana Karpovych has had a remarkable year, garnering widespread recognition and accolades. Following its World Premiere at the Berlin International Film Festival, where it received Special Mentions for the Amnesty International Film Award and from the Ecumenical Jury, the film continued to shine. At Hong Kong International Film Festival, it earned another Special Mention in the Documentary Competition, while BAFICI honored Karpovych with both the SIGNIS Award and Best Direction. At Krakow Film Festival, Intercepted was awarded the Silver Horn for Best Film on Social Issues alongside the FIPRESCI Award. Further cementing its international acclaim, it received the Best International Documentary Award at Galway Film Fleadh and the Peace Film Award at Filmfest Osnabrück. The film went on to win the Main Competition at European Film Forum SCANORAMA and the Grand Prix in the National Feature Film Competition at RIDM. At WATCH DOCS IFF, it secured the Best Feature-length Documentary Award, while its impact was underscored by a nomination for the 2024 Gotham Film Awards for Best Documentary Feature.

Marching in the Dark by Kinshuk Surjan has captivated audiences and juries alike. After receiving a Special Mention in the HUMAN:RIGHTS AWARD Competition at CPH:DOX 2024, the film continued its impressive journey, winning the Best International Film Award at Docaviv. At the Biografilm Festival, it secured both the Young Critics Award and the Audience Award in the International Competition, a testament to its broad resonance. The film earned further recognition with a Special Mention in the Documentary Competition at Zurich Film Festival and was honored as Best Film in the Emerging Filmmakers Competition at Nepatogus Kinas / Inconvenient Films Festival. Closing the year with yet another meaningful accolade, Marching in the Dark received the Gender Sensitivity Award at Dharamshala International Film Festival, solidifying its impact on both audiences and critical platforms.

Valentina and the MUOSters by Francesca Scalisi has been equally recognized, winning the Special Jury Award in National Competition at Visions du Réel 2024, the Prize of the International Film Critics (FIPRESCI Prize) at DOK Leipzig 2024, and the CG Entertainment Distribution Award to the Best Italian Film at Festival dei Popoli 2024. The jury at Festival dei Popoli praised the film: “In a world that seems to reward only those who prove to be strong and imperturbable, the protagonist of this film claims her right to be fragile, and to make this fragility, that of the territory in which she lives and of the people around her, the emotional starting point for a path of growth towards freedom, resistance, the construction of a better future.”

As the Tide Comes In by Juan Palacios, co-directed with Sofie Husum Johanessen, also made waves this year. The film won the Best Film Award in Green Competition at Inconvenient Films 2024, with the jury stating: “This film is a unique cinematic experience that not only satisfies a sense of curiosity but also keeps us alert. A clear directorial vision pushes the boundaries of cinema as far as this medium allows and tries to engage in a non-didactic, meaningful conversation with the audience. As you’re watching a small community going about their lives, while their island is being swallowed by the sea, you start to feel as if also slowly drawing together. It is melancholic to witness something that soon will be gone, but also there is the joy that it all existed. This film is almost a statement, a time capsule for the future – see how we lived! And see how we drowned.” The film also earned the Best Spanish Feature Film Prize at Gijon International Film Festival 2024, with the jury commending its “extremely powerful visual universe full of poetry and environmental reflection” and “sensitive perspective with a sense of humour.” Additionally, Juan Palacios received the Premio “RCSERVICE” Award for the Director of the Best Spanish Feature Film at Gijon International Film Festival 2024.

Additionally, TOXICILY by François-Xavier Destors and Alfonso Pinto received Special Mention for Best Documentary at the Athena Nike Award 2024 and the Special Prize “Sergio Granata” for Best Investigative Documentary at Festival Internazionale Nebrodi Cinema DOC 2024.

The Mechanics of Things by Alessandra Celesia received the Best Photography Award for François Chambe at the Rome International Documentary Festival 2024.

The Other Profile by Armel Hostiou won the Audience Award at Sicilia Queer Filmfest 2024.

BYE BYE TIBERIAS by Lina Soualem has garnered remarkable recognition across the international festival circuit this year. Nominated for Best Documentary at the Film Independent Spirit Awards and by the International Cinephile Society (ICS), the film has captivated audiences and juries alike. It received the Jury Prize in the International Competition at Festival de cinéma En Ville! and triumphed at the Antenna Documentary Film Festival with both the Best Feature Documentary Award and the Audience Award. The jury at Antenna described it as “a profoundly affecting, tender film” that explores themes of statelessness, exile, and intergenerational healing through storytelling, resonating deeply as a microcosm of modern Palestine. The film continued to earn accolades with the Best Documentary and ICCL Human Rights Awards at Dublin International Film Festival, the Stefan Jarl International Documentary Award at Tempo Documentary Film Festival, and the Cultrera Cuts Editing Award at Salem Film Fest. It was celebrated with the Best Feature Award at MujerDOC and the Nesnadny + Schwartz Portrait Documentary Competition at Cleveland International Film Festival. Other highlights include the Outstanding Jury Prize at Annaba Mediterranean Film Festival, Best Non-fiction Film at Malmo Arab Film Festival, the Feature Documentary Award at DOXA Documentary Film Festival – praised for its “courage and artistry” – and the Best Feature Film Award at FCAT. Adding to the already long list, BYE BYE TIBERIAS received the Audience Award at Some Prefer Cake.

In 2024, we were incredibly honored to have two of our films selected for the European Film Awards: MARCHING IN THE DARK by Kinshuk Surjan and Bye Bye Tiberias by Lina Soualem. BYE BYE TIBERIAS went on to receive nominations for Best Documentary and Best European Film.

As we close out this year, we are thrilled to share that we have two titles running for the prestigious César Awards in France – On the Edge by Nicolas Peduzzi and Bye Bye Tiberias by Lina Soualem.

Additionally, Intercepted continues to screen across Europe as one of the five nominated films for the LUX Audience Award 2025.

Releases

2024 saw several of our films reaching audiences across the globe, bringing powerful stories to the big screen.

  • In April, How to Save a Dead Friend by Marusya Syroechkovskaya toured cinemas in 7 cities in Italy.
  • Toxicily by François-Xavier Destors and Alfonso Pinto started its theatrical run right at home in Sicily in April, continuing on with Italy and later France in September.
  • It was a remarkable year for Bye Bye Tiberias by Lina Soualem – the film screened in cinemas in Canada, Switzerland and Netherlands in April. In France, distributed by JHR Films, the film was shown in 90+ theaters, garnering 50 000 spectators. In June, TAPE collective steered a successful theatrical release in the UK and Ireland. Women Make Movies was a terrific partner in bringing Bye Bye Tiberias to cinemas across the US. Select theaters screened the film in Australia and Germany too.
  • Intercepted by Oksana Karpovych had its theatrical premiere in Ukraine on August 29, then had a French release in September before hitting US theaters in October, being distributed in the US by Grasshopper Film.
  • The Mechanics of Things by Alessandra Celesia had a theatrical run in Germany.
  • Dreamers by Luc Peter and Stéphanie Barbey was released in Switzerland in October.

Throughout the year, it has been our pleasure to partner with Bertha Doc House in London and show several titles from our catalog – Motherland and Museum of the Revolution in February, As the Tide Comes In in November and Bye Bye Tiberias in December.

Industry

We have been delighted to connect with industry professionals, showcase our latest titles, and support emerging projects at some of the most prominent festivals dedicated to non-fiction filmmaking throughout 2024.

At Visions du Réel this April, we continued our valued partnership by presenting the Lightdox Award for the project with the highest international potential at the VdR–Work In Progress showcase. This year, the €3,000 cash prize was awarded to At Least to See the Ocean by Pablo Lozano, a project from the Dominican Republic produced by Juan Bisonó and Pablo Lozano.

Once again, we were thrilled to be an Exhibitor at the Marché du Film, presenting our latest titles in Cannes and engaging with an incredible network of film professionals. Intercepted had a special market screening organized by ARTE as part of their Generation Ukraine program.

In October, we happily continued our partnership with the Balkan Documentary Center. At this year’s BDC Discoveries the Lightdox Award went to a Ukrainian project – Step Into the Comfort Zone by Yuriy Dvizhon, produced by Olesya Lukyanenko, a co-production with Labyrint Film in the Netherlands.

This November at IDFA we celebrated the Dutch Premieres of Valentina and the MUOSters and Intercepted. We were also proud to extend our partnership by co-sponsoring the Docs for Sale Happy Hour.

As we look back on a remarkable year, we are filled with gratitude for the opportunities to celebrate, collaborate, and connect. Here’s to an inspiring 2025 ahead!