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At Sheffield 2023 Business Doc Europe spoke with Irena Taskovski, CEO and founder of Taskovski Films, a production and sales outfit based in London and currently celebrating its 20th year of activity. The company CEO described her journey so far and shared insights into her current editorial policy and approach to the business of doc.

According to Taskovski, their company is not solely a sales agency; they function as a documentary hub that integrates production, sales, a PR and Publicity agency, and the #DocsConnect Training program.

Taskovski Films began its journey as the producer of the acclaimed documentary comedy Czech Dream directed by Filip Remunda and Vit Klusak. The film explores the manipulative techniques employed by the advertisement and marketing industry. Taskovski recalled facing challenges while searching for a sales agent for the project. However, undeterred by the prevailing sentiment that the film was intelligent and humorous but difficult to sell, she took matters into her own hands.

Czech Dream became a European hit, securing theatrical distribution in 18 countries and landing broadcast deals with major TV stations in 2004. Since then, Taskovski Films has emerged as a pioneering sales company for author-driven and thought-provoking documentaries, showcasing and selling works by talented filmmakers from around the world. Notable directors in their catalog include Firouzeh Khosrovani, winner of the top prize at IDFA 2020 with Radiograph of a Family, Brazilian Oscar nominee Petra Costa with Olmo and the Seagull, Helena Trestikova, Tilda Swinton, Barbara Paz, Radu Jude, Roman Bondarchuk, Ivan Osnovikoff, Bettina Perut, Nishtha Jain, and many others.

Managing approximately 10-15 films each year, Taskovski Films operates with two main editorial policies. Firstly, they actively seek out “something surprising, very authentic” author-driven, creative documentaries. Secondly, they stay up to date with the latest market trends and acquire high-end, topical documentaries with notable figures attached. Some recent titles handled by Taskovski Films include Natasa Urban’s CPH:DOX winner The Eclipse in 2022, Daniel McCabe’s Grasshopper Republic from the USA in 2023, and Pau Faus’ Fauna from Spain in 2023.

Discovering new voices, especially those of female talent, holds crucial importance for the company. Taskovski emphasized the need to bring unique and diverse cinematic languages to audiences, expanding their perspectives and inspiring them to think differently. While acknowledging the popularity of format-based content like Netflix, Taskovski stressed their role in challenging audiences and broadening horizons through their films. This strong vision has remained constant for the company.

However, Taskovski Films also selects films on a more commercial slate not solely based on their market potential but because they possess the power to convey significant messages to society. Taskovski cited examples like Sanctuary, in which Javier Bardem and his brother join a Greenpeace campaign to save parts of Antarctica. Additionally, their catalog includes films like The Seasons in Quincy: Four Portraits of J. Berger, co-directed by Tilda Swinton, which opened Sheffield a few years ago, and the recent Homecoming: Marina Abramovic and Her Children, a stronger and more commercial title.

While primarily involved in sales, Taskovski Films also serves as a producer for select projects. One such example is Nishta Jain’s The Golden Thread (2022), a co-production involving partners from the UK, Bosnia and Herzegovina, France, Norway, and the Netherlands, with Taskovski Films serving as the main European producer. Their catalog also features Pieter van Ecke’s climate change-focused feature Holding Up the Sky, set in the Amazon and created through a collaboration between Belgium, the Netherlands, and Brazil. Other notable titles include Maurizio Sciarra’s Help Me to Do By Myself: The Montessori Idea, an Italian production, and Cem Kaya’s Panorama Audience Award winner Love, Deutschmarks, and Death (2022).

Taskovski Films is currently engaged in one of the new projects being pitched at the MeetMarket, a Ukrainian documentary titled Up in the Air and directed by Oksana Syhareva.

Regarding the company’s business model, Taskovski emphasized the importance of building long-term ecosystems with collaborators, striving to maintain a balanced editorial catalog, combining hard work and time off, and consolidating various services under the Taskovski label. Taskovski Films often works with the same directors and producers on multiple projects, providing a range of different services. Their PR and publicity agency, which serves both documentary and fiction films, recently represented the acclaimed fiction film She–Hero at the Berlinale, where it scooped the main award in the Generation Kplus section. Taskovski Films can also be hired as publicists by production companies working with other sales agents or those selected for their distribution catalog.

Taskovski Films believes in “collaboration rather than competition”, Taskovski recognizes the film industry’s power to effect change and inspire individuals and society. In line with this belief and adopting a holistic approach to filmmaking, they have launched their training program called #DocsConnect. This international professional training and networking hub, led by award-winning industry experts, aims to empower filmmakers and creative industry entrepreneurs to grow personally and professionally. The program covers all aspects, from development and co-production to impact strategies and distribution.

Recent training initiatives managed by Taskovski #DocsConnect include pitch mentoring sessions for the upcoming edition of Sunny Side of the Docs, impact strategies for FilmKraft Norway, and the implementation of innovative marketing, distribution, and mental health strategies for the Western Norway Film Fund.

When asked about the current climate for sales, Taskovski expressed an overall positive outlook. They adapt their strategies for each film, constantly adjusting to market changes and seeking new opportunities. Taskovski Films collaborates with major players such as Netflix, Arte, and the BBC, while also embracing partnerships with platforms like MUBI. Additionally, the company actively contributes to enhancing the impact of issue-driven documentaries by working with cultural, educational, and philanthropic institutions, grassroots organizations, and NGOs.