Round tables

The round table discussions bring together documentary associations from fourteen European countries. They are designed as public work sessions and their aim is to answer specific questions: how to free the author-documentary from the general format imposed by television company involvement in the production process? All propositions developed will be submitted to European institutions and the political world. Our intervention comes at a time when the European Union is looking to strengthen dialogue with professionals in the culture industry. The first European culture forum was held 26-28 September in Lisbon and was the first stage of a series of consultations enabling representatives of civil society to debate the Union’s cultural activities and formulate propositions capable of influencing political decision makers.

Free entrance, reservation asked : resa@addoc.net

Wendnesday december 5 | 10h00/13h00 | Goethe-Institut Paris

Spotlight on European aid for documentary making

In the presence of Eurodoc, the FERA (Fédération Européenne des Réalisateurs de l’Audiovisuel) and EDN (European Documentary Network)

The European Union is committed to promoting cultural diversity and intercultural dialogue. Its intentions are noble and generous, but how do they really apply to the domain of documentary making? For the time being, the media program’s criteria for aid are governed by economics. The search for a large number of international distributors is essential for work to be even considered. Does this situation really help the creation of author-documentaries?

*Eurodoc provides continued education courses for filmmakers and producers with documentary projects in the perspective of international co-productions.

**FERA is the European Federation for national associations of television and cinema directors. It was established in 1980 and now represents 32 associations as full members in 28 European countries. FERA is dealing with issues of major importance in the creation and promotion of audiovisual works. The federation's mission is to enhance the recognition of the cultural significance of audiovisual works and to defend their integrity. FERA regards safeguarding the craft, artistry and the creative and economic rights of the director as essential components to the diversity of the European audiovisual culture. So far, FERA represents mainly directors working in fiction films.

***EDN started in 1996 as a documentary organisation for filmmakers, producers, production companies, distributors, associations, film institutions & boards, universities, festivals, broadcasters and film & television agencies. Now over 900 members from more than 60 countries have joined EDN. EDN provides documentary consulting and informs about possibilities for funding, financing, development, co-production, distribution and collaboration across borders (EDN's well known training in "pitching sessions").

thursday december 6 |10h00/13h00 | Maison de l’Europe de Paris

Close-up on three European documentary support initiatives

Rallying and networking initiatives have already been established across Europe. They are crucial in their role combating the threats to author-documentaries. These Europe-wide initiatives could inspire others.

Documè (Italie)
Giuliano Girelli, chair of Documè, will tell how an alternative distribution network for cinemas in Italy was set up by non-professional documentary enthusiasts, who wanted to make amends for the absence of any national policy. Projections are organised through a grassroots structure based on the commitment and enthusiasm of Documè, directors and local organizers. Since it was formed, Documè has grown and is also exploring the Internet as a means of distribution. After 1000 screenings all around Italy and more than 200 films on the catalogue, they are also looking to expand their network into Europe.

Online Film AG (Allemagne)
Presented by C. Cay Wesnigk, CEO of Online Film AG , vice-chair of AG DOK, and a documentary producer-director. In Germany, filmmakers, authors and producers founded a company based on shares together to built up a market place for their films on the internet in 2001. The project www.onlinefilm.org has now become a European venture with partners in several European countries, supported by the Media pilot project funding scheme. Since November 2007 the first films are online to be downloaded against micropayment the official roll out is planned for February 2008 (Berlinale).

Ateliers de production et d’accueil (Belgique)
Guy Vandenbulcke is a representative of the Franco-Belgian audiovisual and multimedia body, the Service Général de l'Audiovisuel et des Multimedias du Ministère de la Communauté française de Belgique. Here he presents the workshop structure that has existed in Belgium for twenty years. The workshops are supported by public subsidies coming for an essential part from the Belgian Communauté française and have enabled the production and co-production of nearly 50% of documentaries produced in the last five years. Furthermore production does not require the support of a television station. Belgian state television, RTBF, is nevertheless one of their broadcast partners.

friday december 7 | 10h00/13h00 | Maison de l’Europe de Paris

Preserving diversity and artistic quality in documentary creation

The filmmakers’ associations are eager to work on a proposal for a European creation fund linked with a VOD platform. With à la carte subtitling of European languages, films would become accessible to the whole of the European Union. This research fund would take into account writing, location, and development before filming. It would not depend on broadcaster commitments and would enable author projects to exist without pressure from television channels.

friday december 7 | 15h00/18h00 | Maison de l’Europe de Paris

Summary - elaboration of a common position