On the Slate

The third annual Toronto Documentary Forum (May 1 and 2), which runs alongside the Hot Docs International Film Festival, was all about variety. Among the 39 projects pitched were stories about brave women in Afghanistan, the origins of Ska music, a geneticist who wants to clone his girlfriend and experts on sex. Reaction from commissioning editors was generally positive, and a handful offered up commitments on the spot. Moderators Mark Johnston (Toronto-based Nomad Films), Karolina Lidin (Filmkontakt Nord), Jan Rofekamp (Films Transit in Montreal) and Louise Rosen (Boston-based Louise Rosen Ltd.) encouraged the positive vibes, but cracked the whip when necessary. The following is a sampling of the TDF's 2002 offerings.

Australia

Seven card stud

When playing poker, the psychological upperhand is key. Some players bring attractive ladies to the table to distract competitors, while others use drugs to tone down tensions. In Lucky Kings, a one-hour doc, Australia's Handmade Films will trace the history and language of the game by following poker afficionados Arthur Reber, Carlo Citrone and Mike Caro as they play their hearts out to make it to the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas in 2003. The prize for World Champion: a gold bracelet and a shoebox filled with up to US$2 million. The film has confirmed 77% of its US$270,000 budget.

Mette Hoffmann Meyer, commissioning editor and head of sales and coproduction for TV2 Denmark, said she has seen a lot of films about casinos and found them superficial, but wants to talk more about Lucky Kings, since she found it amusing. Laura Fleury, director of doc programming for A&E, wanted to be sure that most of the film will take place in the U.S., and asked to discuss the project further as a potential subject for Investigative Reports. Rudy Buttignol, director of docs, drama and network for Canadian regional channel TV Ontario, said he was also interested in talking further about the project. Directed by Maciek Wszelaki (Original Schtick), Lucky Kings has a delivery date of November 2003.

Canada

Hear her roar

Dr. Sima Samar is a remarkable woman. During the Taliban's reign of terror in her home country of Afghanistan, she risked her life daily to help other Afghan women - sheltering a girl who became pregnant after being raped, then giving the baby to a woman about to be stoned for her inability to conceive; keeping a Taliban's mother in a hospital until he provided the institution with power generators; and operating clandestine schools for young girls. Now that the oppressive regime has been deposed, Samar is the deputy prime minister of Afghanistan's new government.

In Daughters of Afghanistan, director Robin Benger will tell Samar's story and, through her, those of other Afghan women. Unprecedented access has been secured through Sally Armstrong, a Canadian journalist who has covered the plight of women in Afghanistan for five years and has a close relationship with Samar. Several Canadian broadcasters have already signed on, led by CBC Newsworld.

Moderator Mark Johnston congratulated producer Barbara Barde, Armstrong and CBC Newsworld commissioning editor Catherine Olsen on a "slam-dunk pitch". Jennifer Hyde, CNN's director of development, praised the production team and promised to consider the project, while Bjorn Arvas, head of doc acquisitions for Sweden's SVT, said he thinks the film will do well on his channel. ARTE commissioning editor Pierre Merle was interested, but wanted to know more about the story structure. Both Danny Cohen, editor of docs for Channel 4, and Fiona Murch, editor of BBC2's 'Correspondent' strand, expressed admiration for the program but not interest, since they have each done similar projects.

Daughters of Afghanistan, a one-hour one-off from Toronto-based Take 3 Productions, needs about 45% of its US$148,000 budget. The project is slated for delivery in September.

France

A view from within

Over the past 30 years, Afghanistan has endured 10 heads of state, four systems of government and more than two million casualties. Throughout most of this time, the rest of the world knew little, if anything, about this land that once belonged to the Persian Empire. Now, the international spotlight has turned on Afghanistan and everyone is curious.

In Afghanistan, An Impossible State?, director Atiq Rahimi will offer a perspective rarely considered - that of Afghans. Rahimi plans to interview Afghani politicians, past and present, about the evolution of their country since July 1973, when King Zaher Shah was forced into exile.

With more than 70% of its financing secured (from ARTE France and NMO in the Netherlands, among others), Afghanistan, An Impossible State? seemed like a sure bet for support. However, the pitch - led by producer Mahmoud Chokrollahi and ARTE France's Pierre Merle - got a lukewarm reception. Nick Fraser, commissioning editor for the BBC's 'Storyville' slot, said the project will be a tough sell unless it addresses the upheavals caused by international players, such as Russia. SVT's Bjorn Arvas said he might consider the program as an acquisition, but added that he thinks it will be hard to place in the schedule. Christoph Jorg of ARTE France countered that he cannot understand why the film would be a tough sell, since broadcasters are pouring money into other projects that relate to the fallout from the September 11 tragedies.

Afghanistan, An Impossible State? is being produced by Paris-based Play Film and carries a budget of about US$207,000. The film is scheduled for delivery later this year.

Germany

Concrete blonde

In the year 2201, Paivi Kärismätti will be the last blonde baby born. Not really, but that's the faux futuristic tableau The Colour Blonde humorously employs to examine what it means to be flaxen-haired in modern-day society.