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)