Five documentary festivals have hatched their very own pan-European programming initiative.

'Doc Alliance,' as the scheme is called, involves Switzerland (Visions Du Reel), the Czech Republic (Jihlava International Doc Festival), The Poles (Doc Review Warsaw), The Germans (Dok Leipzig) and the Danes (Copenhagen Documentary Festival). The idea is for each partner to select an 'outstanding' documentary which will then screen at all five festivals.

Here in Berlin, Visions Du Reel (April17-23) has announced further details of its programme. Among the titles that will unspool in competition in the lakeside town of Nyon will be British director Molly Dineern's epic The Lie Of The Land.

Festival director Jean Perret has also confirmed details of the festival's 'Ateliers' (workshops.) One will be held by critic and film theorist Jean-Louis Comolli. Also hosting an Atelier will be legendary German documentary maker Volker Koepp.

Visions Du Reel will be screening a special season of Russian films. This will be headlined by the world premiere of The Bear And The Wolf, a polemical documentary about Russian-Chechen relations.

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