Big in Gazi Baba
feature-length documentary
dir. & prod.
Sadije, a 14-year-old wrestling champion in North Macedonia, navigates expectations to fulfill a male role, defying traditional gender norms and ethnic barriers in her Albanian-Muslim community
Creative Team:
Director: Pauline Blanchet
Production Companies: Pauline Blanchet / Aral Sea Productions (GB), Avdi Thachi / Lumiere Films (MK), James Collie and Jan Dunn / Violet Pictures (GB), Aymeric Isnard / Futur Anterieur (FR)
Editor: Avdi Thachi
Workshops and Pitchings:
Pristhina, Kosovo, PriFest Forum - September 2023 (Vanessa Redgrave Award for Best Pitch)
Tirana, Albania, Balkan Film Market Pitching - December 2023
East Doc Forum | East Doc Platform - March 2024 (Docs Ireland Award)
Go East East West Talent Lab and Pitching | goEast - April 2024
Sheffield Doc Fest Meet Market - June 2024
DocIreland June - June 2024
Beyond Borders Audiovisual Pitch Lab - August 2024
AJB Industry Days Main Pitch - September 2024 (Al Jazeera Balkans Award Main Pitch), (Cannes Docs – Marché du Film Award), (IDF – East Silver Caravan Award), and (Eurodoc Award for the Best Pitch)