The three days of Bio to B | Doc have come to a close, the professional industry program dedicated to European documentary filmmaking within Bio to B – Industry Days, which brought together in Bologna directors, producers, commissioning editors, institutions, and audiovisual professionals in a dense schedule of presentations, discussions, and networking moments.
The program opened with Docs4Real – Nuovi sguardi sul territorio, a new format developed in collaboration with Bellaria Film Festival – BFF Industry, dedicated to fostering the growth of new voices in Italian documentary filmmaking in the Emilia-Romagna region. The presentation of the four selected under-35 projects offered a glimpse into a new generation of filmmakers, accompanied through a training and mentoring pathway aimed at strengthening the dialogue between territory and industry.
The day continued with the first edition of the Co-Production Corner, a speed-meeting format dedicated to selected European and Italian producers, designed to encourage encounters between complementary production profiles and to initiate potential collaborations and co-production pathways.
In the evening, Bio to Meet, gathered accredited professionals of Bio to B – Industry Days | Doc&Drama in an informal networking and exchange moment, accompanied by a DJ set by Segreta and supported by The Walrus | IP-To-Screen Bureau.
The second day opened with the panel “Il documentario italiano nell’ecosistema europeo dei finanziamenti”, which brought together broadcasters, producers, institutional representatives, and Film Commissions to reflect on the ongoing transformations within the European documentary funding system, between new production strategies and market challenges.
This was followed by the Pitching Forum, the core of the program, with the presentation of the selected projects of the 2026 edition. Authors and creative teams presented their works in development before an international audience of industry professionals, leading to Q&A sessions and one-to-one meetings with experts present at the market.
In the afternoon, Past Forward – Archive Film Lab, in collaboration with Archivio aperto, presented the seven selected projects of its second edition, confirming its role as a development space dedicated to the creative reuse of archive materials and the exploration of new forms of documentary storytelling.
The day continued with the panel “INA: archivi francesi, coproduzioni franco-italiane e nuove narrazioni”, which explored the role of audiovisual archives as a driving force for new co-productions and shared imaginaries between Italy and France.
The day concluded with the Make It Real Award 2026, dedicated to Marco Visalberghi, producer and director and one of the most significant figures in Italian and European documentary filmmaking, celebrated for his long-standing career spanning production, innovation, and support for emerging filmmakers.
The third day once again featured the Pitching Forum with the presentation of the second session of projects, followed by the Development Room, a working and exchange space dedicated to the early-stage creative development of documentary projects, guided by transversal and unconventional perspectives.
In the afternoon, the talk “Il documentario character-driven tra factual e autonarrazione” explored new forms of factual storytelling, increasingly shaped by hybrid narrative approaches and a strong focus on characters.
The program concluded with the Pitching Forum 2026 Award Ceremony, the final moment of the industry days celebrating the most promising projects and creative teams of the edition.
Through training, development, pitching, and international networking, Bio to B | Doc once again confirmed its role as a strategic platform for European documentary filmmaking, connecting creativity, industry, and new production perspectives.
