POLISH CO-PRODUCTION QUALIFIES FOR CPH:LAB
Scratching the Surface, a Polish-German collaboration between Alexander Mettin and Wiktor Filip Gacparski, has secured a spot among nine projects chosen for this year's CPH:LAB.
Running since 2009, CPH:LAB has made its overarching goal to develop talent, champion creative risk-taking, unconventional collaborations, and boundary-pushing approaches in documentary filmmaking.
For its latest edition, organisers sought documentary projects and filmmakers eager to explore the potential of digital technologies in both film production and distribution. In return, CPH:LAB offers space for experimentation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and innovative ways to merge art with technology and social engagement.
Selected projects will benefit from six months of workshops under the guidance of international mentors and supervisors, alongside peer support from fellow LAB participants.
This year's selection comprises nine diverse projects, each offering unique perspectives on contemporary life – from deeply personal narratives to collective experiences, as well as local stories and universal themes. The projects demonstrate the depth and variety possible within documentary filmmaking, with many embracing immersive approaches.
There is also a Polish-German co-production among the selected works. Scratching the Surface is an innovative VR project that immerses viewers in the intersection of analogue and digital art as seen through the eyes of renowned artist and illustrator Line Hoven. This hybrid experience masterfully combines 180° documentary footage with an interactive 360° 3D environment, exploring profound questions about life, technology, and art. Through cutting-edge VR technology, Scratching the Surface promises an emotionally engaging and thought-provoking experience that pushes documentary storytelling into new, hybrid territories.
The complete list of selected projects can be found here.