Two ESoDoc participants have been selected from 16 projects worldwide to pitch their projects during the FIFDH Impact Days, which will be held from March 8 to 10, 2026.
Carlotta Piccinini (ESoDoc 2023) has been selected with her project "A Search for Love". The story follows Sereti, a young and tireless activist fighting for the rights of Masai women in Kenya. A survivor of female genital mutilation, which she underwent at the age of twelve, she carries within her the pain of broken intimacy and a self-love yet to be fulfilled. She decides to travel to Europe to explore the possibility of clitoral reconstruction, a political act, but also a deeply personal quest, in pursuit of healing and reclaiming her body on her own terms. Her encounter with Michela Villani, a Swiss sociologist and expert in gender and sexuality who is herself on a journey of recovery from trauma, ignites a dialogue about the body as a space of freedom, pleasure as an act of resistance, love as action, and care as revolution.
Flavia Cappellini (ESoDoc 2025) will pitch her project "Gaza Sundbirds". The documentary follows Ala’a, a young Gazan cycling champion whose life changes forever when he’s shot by an Israeli sniper. Determined to rebuild, he sets his sights on the Paralympics, inspiring others to join him. Together, they defy immense challenges—not just lost limbs, but war, blockade, and societal limits. As their journey unfods with unexpected twists, their story transcends politics and sport, proving that their disability isn’t their biggest obstacle—the world is. At its heart, this is a story of resilience, unity, and the unstoppable desire to live, dream, and rise above.