by Valerie Blankenbyl (Switzerland, Austria 2021)

In the “Villages”, the world’s largest retirement community, there are not only supermarkets, bars and restaurants. From belly dancing to synchronized swimming, everything that a pensioner’s heart desires is offered. But what at first glance appears to be the fulfilment of the American dream, cracks upon closer inspection. After all, maintaining this bubble has a price not only for its inhabitants, but also for the world around them. Premiere at Visions du Réel 2021.

“I worked with RCS on several projects so far and I am always very grateful for the wonderful and stimulating sessions. In case of The Bubble, my director and I had the chance to work with Erez, Maya and Per on very important questions regarding dramaturgy but not only. The sessions also enabled us to rethink our intentions and made them more transparent in the film, which was a crucial step towards the finishing line.” Nela Märki, editor.

by Volkan Üce (Belgium, The Netherlands, France 2021)

Ismail and Hakan leave their village to start working in a gigantic all-inclusive hotel on the Turkish Riviera. They observe the colourful bikinis, the un-emptied plates, the different ways of addressing people, and gradually discover new opportunities to move ahead in life. ALL-IN explores a coming-of-age within the European dream, but at what cost? The hotel functions as a microcosm for a more universal story about the loss of innocence in capitalistic first-world societies. Premiere at CPH:DOX 2021.

by Alba Sotorra Clua (Spain, UK 2021)

With unprecedented access the film enters the prison camp Roj in Syria, which holds families of ISIS fighters. Among them Shamima Begum (UK) and Hoda Muthana (US) who made it into worldwide headlines when they left their countries as teenagers to join ISIS. Now they want to return but their countries don’t want them back. Premiere at SXSW 2021.

by Jan Sikl (The Czech Republic 2021)

Director Jan Šikl collects private film archives of different families and has found professionally filmed material that captures the invasion of the Warsaw Pact armies to Czechoslovakia on August 21, 1968. Nobody has ever seen this footage. Jan begins to search who is captured in the footage and where it takes place. This becomes a film about our ability to reflect the past and about a form of the memory itself.

by Celina Escher (Sweden, El Salvador 2021)

Fly So Far follows Teodora Vásquez, the spokesperson of the women accused of aggravated homicide and imprisoned in El Salvador for having had a miscarriage. Teodora’s case has become a symbol of the extremism in the criminalization of abortion and the cruelty against women within the Salvadoran system. But also, of empowerment, resilience and solidarity. Premiere at Tempo Documentary Festival 2021.

“We are eternaly grateful to Rough Cut Service. From the first to the last step we got the support and advice that we needed. Having Jordana’s and Joelle’s help through a long and difficult editing process was the best that could happen to our film. They saw the potential of the film and understood our vision directly, which created a safe space for us to share and discuss. RCS really helped us to make a film that fulfills our goals cinematographically, politically and emotionally.” Mónica Hernández Rejón, producer.

by Hogir Hirori (Sweden 2021)

In this observational film, directed, shot and edited by Hogir Hirori, viewers meet Mahmud, Ziyad and their group, who armed with just a mobile phone and a gun risk their lives trying to save Yazidi women and girls being held by ISIS as Sabaya (sex slaves) in the most dangerous camp in the Middle East, Al-Hol in Syria. Premiere at Sundance Film Festival 2021 – Directing Award: World Cinema Documentary.

“This was the third time and the third documentary where I turned to Rough Cut Service. I will definitely seek help there again for my future projects. I am so grateful for all the feedback, tips and advice we received from the amazing Iikka and Erez from RCS. It helped us make the story in the film clearer, shorter. It helped us think differently and took the documentary to another level.” Hogir Hirori, director.

by Gorki Glaser-Müller (Sweden, Denmark 2021)

In 2014 Patricio Galvez’s daughter Amanda and her husband Michael Skråmo left Sweden to join ISIS in Syria. Five years later they were both killed, leaving behind seven small children. Deep in sorrow over his daughter’s death, Patricio makes a pledge to save his grandchildren. Premiere at CPH:DOX 2021.

“It was of great help having genuinely committed and super talented editors to scrutinize the film. Cherishing the vision but pushing and developing it. Loved it and will for sure do it again!” Gorki Glaser-Müller, director.

by Khalid Shamis (South Africa, Libya, Qatar 2021)

For 40 years, Ashur Shamis lived in exile in a quaint London suburb, organizing against the Libyan government and Muammar Gaddafi. After the 2011 Libyan revolution and fall of Gaddafi, Shamis finally returned home to his beloved country, but upon arriving, he realized the land he desperately worked to liberate was not the same one he left behind many years ago. Now, nearly a decade later, his son Khalid picks up the camera to direct this personal and political story about undying patriotism and what it means to fight for a country that no longer needs you. Premiere at Hot Docs 2021.

by Nahid Persson (Sweden 2020)

In Be My Voice filmmaker Nahid Persson follows journalist and activist Masih Alinejad, who has gained 4.5 million followers on Instagram after urging Iranian women to rebel against the forced hijab on social media. Premiere at Göteborg Film Festival 2021.

“During all my years as a documentary filmmaker, I have always wanted a group like RCS. They were the best thing that ever happened to my documentary, Be My Voice. I got help from three talented people. They did the job not only professionally but also with heart. They were very fast and were always ready to help me, even if it was weekends or late nights. I am eternally grateful for their help. I hope they can help me with my upcoming documentaries.” Nahid Persson, director.

by Antonia Kilian (Germany, Finland 2020)

Hala, a young Arab woman, joins the Kurdish women’s movement to flee the Islamic State. After months, she returns to her hometown to help build a free society. She encounters resistance not only within the patriarchal traditional society, but also within her own family. Premiere at CPH:DOX 2021.

“I’ve just got positive things to say. The RCS team worked really hard and they were also very flexible/collaborative (timeframe) and professional.” Merja Ritola, co-producer.