Documentary Campus’ Post

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHT: EUROPEAN PERSPECTIVES IN A GLOBALIZED MEDIA WORLD 🌍 📅 THURSDAY, JUNE 6TH | 🕟 16:30 - 17:15 | 📍 CINENOVA, THEATRE 1 The recent downturn of the series market, partly triggered by nervous investors, slump in SVOD subscriptions and jittery valuation of media companies, is still felt in the European production landscape. On a national level each country is following its own guidelines to strengthen its industry and to create sustainable growth. Depending on respective strengths of unions and associations as well as on national film funding legislature, the perspectives in Europe may differ greatly. With the reform of the German film funding law on the horizon and with the current global media landscape in mind, questions arise on the core of film policies on the European and national level: What effects will the reform of the German law have and how does it compare with European neighbors? Is the European industry and its producers and writers protected from the whims of a more and more globalized media world? Or does the new status quo bring benefits to producers and writers? Supported by Film und Medienverband NRW e.V.! 🎟 Need a last-minute accreditation? Get it here: https://lnkd.in/ePEdmyCT 🔗 Check out our complete program: https://lnkd.in/es5ih2QN We would like to thank our main funding partners Staatskanzlei des Landes Nordrhein-Westfalen and Film- und Medienstiftung NRW, as well as our main partner ZDF Studios for their support - see you on Wednesday!🎬 #seriencamp #seriencampconference #europeanperspectivesinaglobalizedmediaworld

TICKETS ARE OUT for our Emerging Creatives 'Speed Dating' event on the 21st November, in partnership with Prodigies held at FOMO House. 🎞️ If you are a female or non-binary emerging creative in the film industry, pick up a free ticket while you can: https://lnkd.in/e5xrbw9K This event brings together industry experts stationed at various tables, each specialising in a different area of the filmmaking world. We'll have a mixture of directors, DPs, producers, art directors, editors, creative and more joining us as experts for this event. You’ll have the opportunity to move between stations, engage in focused conversations, and gain insight from each expert about their craft, tips for success and their journey. It’s a chance to build valuable connections and gather advice 💡 Why Attend? 🤔 Engage Directly with Industry Experts: Get valuable time with professionals from different areas of the industry, ask questions and receive personalised advice. Expand Your Network: Meet like-minded emerging creatives and start building your network. Inspiration & Knowledge: Walk away with new ideas, practical tips and actionable tools to help you make the next step in the industry. 🚨 Tickets are limited due to venue capacity, so be sure to secure your spot early. If you no longer need your ticket, please let us know so we can open a spot up for a different emerging creative. See you there!

🎬 LOVE THIS! Hollywood, we can create impactful stories and be profitable - let's keep going. 💪 George Clooney, Regina King, Michael Keaton and More Call on Hollywood to Make ‘Films With Purpose’ After Participant Closure. “Values-based storytelling is needed now more than ever,” an open letter organized by the National Domestic Workers Alliance says (excerpt from the open letter) "As we say goodbye to Participant, we must underscore that values-based storytelling is needed now more than ever; to expand the room for debate, to open our hearts to experiences vastly different from our own, to immerse us in the beauty of humanity’s complexities. And in the face of unprecedented change and uncertainty, we need deep partnerships between great storytellers, advocates and movements for change now more than ever, to remind us of our agency in shaping the future and the power of our actions. The future and health of our culture and democracy requires more of us to participate, spread hope, and humanity. Democracy is a living, breathing being that we, as participants, give life." "As we reflect on the accomplishments of Participant, we look forward to championing the next generation of producers that will build upon Participant’s extraordinary body of work, integrating learnings it has offered, seeding new partnerships and innovating within this new media landscape. We call upon Hollywood to meet the moment. There is a whole ecosystem of people, connected by the work of the last 20 years of Participant, ready to work with you..."

Remembering Göteborg In mid-October, I had the chance to attend the MEDICI workshop in Göteborg, brilliantly organised by the Swiss organisation FOCAL Film Training and the Swedish film fund Film i Väst. This annual workshop provides a platform for executives from international, national and regional film funding organisations to exchange knowledge and share experiences. The atmosphere reminded me of Eurimages - Council of Europe's Board of Management meetings, with many current and former Board members in attendance and in the organisation: a lot of dedicated professionals committed to supporting and developing the film industry having exciting formal and informal conversations. The workshop featured stimulating discussions and constructive debates, even when opinions diverged. Besides the outstanding presentations from expert speakers which covered this year's key topics: AI, innovation, cultural mission, and the balance between automatic and selective support mechanisms, I have three main take-aways: # Supporting independent filmmaking extends beyond mere financial backing—it encompasses training, knowledge sharing, collective action and standard setting. South Korea's success in developing its cultural and creative industries serves as an excellent example of this comprehensive approach. ## A highlight was Katri Manninen's entertaining and pedagogical presentation demystifying creativity and AI. She reminded me that we were fellow participants in the EAVE European Audiovisual Entrepreneurs Producers Workshop many, many years ago, unearthing photos that I'd rather kept buried! Looking at those images, though, I realised how many of those young faces have since made their mark in the film industry. This success story likely extends to other similar training programmes, reinforcing how education, knowledge sharing and network building are crucial for the sector's success - which is also what MEDICI embodies. ### The workshop culminated in a thought-provoking keynote by Dr Natalie Sabanadze , Senior Research Fellow at Chatham House, who explored whether film can save democracy. By examining the connections between film and politics, she deconstructed the 'illiberal' playbook and reminded us that public decisions, even in the cultural sector, are inherently political. As part of the Council of Europe, Eurimages understands that every supported film makes a political statement. Therefore, we must uphold our core values: freedom of expression and diversity. I would like to thank again Focal and Film i Väst, as well as Susan Newman Baudais for this huge opportunity! #independentcinema #internationalcooperation

The new year beckons, and you can bet there’s so much Nollywood has in store. Could 2025 be the year everything falls into place? As we step into 2025, Nollywood stands on the edge of unprecedented global recognition. Recent years have seen groundbreaking innovations: compelling storytelling, international collaborations, and Nigerian films lighting up the screens at major festivals and platforms. But greatness isn’t static—consistent excellence demands growth and intentional change. Here’s a look at 10 bold resolutions Nollywood can adopt in 2025 to spark innovation, captivate hearts worldwide, and solidify its place on the global stage. 1. Invest in Script Development Great films start with great scripts, but Nollywood often wrestles with rushed narratives. This is the year to slow down and prioritize refining scripts. Encourage screenwriting workshops. Allow for longer pre-production timelines. Promote deeper collaboration between writers and directors to build layered characters and unforgettable arcs. 2. Strengthen Distribution Channels Piracy and limited cinema screens still plague the industry. Nollywood must tackle these hurdles head-on by: Expanding Nollywood-focused streaming platforms. Building partnerships with international cinemas. Introducing community screenings in rural areas to increase accessibility and exposure. 3. Dive into Untold African Stories Why stick to predictable plots when Nigeria has a treasure trove of history, folklore, and untold cultural narratives? From hidden historical events to epic legends of different ethnic groups, 2025 is the time to spotlight Africa’s rich storytelling heritage. 4. Empower Independent Filmmakers Indie filmmakers are the heart of creativity, but they often face funding and distribution barriers. To amplify their voices, Nollywood should: Organize funding competitions for short films. Offer easier access to cinema slots and streaming platforms. Foster international collaborations through indie festivals. 5. Dream Bigger, Work Smarter 2025 is the year Nollywood stops dreaming small. With intentional efforts, the industry can cement its position as a storytelling powerhouse that resonates worldwide. This is the moment for Nollywood to innovate, elevate, and dominate the global scene. Let’s make 2025 the year everything changes. Ready to witness Nollywood’s evolution? The revolution starts now.

Nothing like a night at the #movies to bring people together and spark meaningful conversation! #IUSPHB faculty member Jessica Eise in IU Environmental & Occupational Health who joined us this academic year, is already making waves in Bloomington to bring the serious effects of #climatechange into the public eye. Dr. Eise’s article for noted academic journal Nature, “How I created a film festival to explore climate communication”, chronicles her journey—from grant funding via the National Science Foundation (NSF) to building a relationship with B-town’s Buskirk-Chumley Theater—to create last July's Earth Connection Film Festival to inspire the public to take action for our environment. “There are a range of challenges that people face in American society to address climate change—from misinformation to endless doomscrolling on social media to a sense of apathetic despair,” shares Dr. Eise. “One key challenge is the loss of a sense of unity, hope, and efficacy…in other words, many people have lost the belief that we are important to one another, that our actions matter.” It is Dr. Eise’s hope that the winning films from the festival will show the public a different, more #hopeful side of climate change—highlighting the hometown heroes who do their part every day to make a difference and bring back a sense of #optimism to the topic, rather than inevitability. “Films are incredibly powerful because we are #storytelling creatures. Our brains respond to stories differently than any other form of communication,” adds Dr. Eise. “Also, media has the unique power of creating snowball momentum of public attention on an issue. But what’s more, films can immerse us info the experience, creating empathy and understanding in different ways.” Dr. Eise is already setting the stage for another film festival in 2026; stay tuned for more details! Read more: https://lnkd.in/gmxpzwBh Patricia Silveyra

The #freebook is the result of a four-year research project into the methods and strategies of sharing knowledge within #audiovisual archives, which was initiated by the Austrian #Film Museum and the Slovenian Cinematheque, joined by colleagues from 11 other audiovisual archives, and supported by the Austrian government and #FIAF. The goal of Share that Knowledge! was to find better strategies for sharing knowledge within our profession of audiovisual preservation. The final publication, a "road map", focuses on finding the right methods for transferring knowledge and skills that are at risk of being lost (organizational, technical, #preservation, and collection knowledge), the situations and scenarios that need our attention when it comes to knowledge transfer (starting a job, leaving a job, during daily work, and when knowledge has left), as well as successful practices that we found in the examples of the colleagues we interviewed Go to the website to download the free book pdf

This week, I had the pleasure of leading a seminar on International Producing for fifth-semester production students at Hochschule für Fernsehen und Film München (HFF München). International co-productions offer incredible opportunities—but also unique challenges. There’s no one-size-fits-all formula for success; each project must be carefully assessed for its feasibility in terms of content, timing, legal framework, and financing. Some key questions we explored: 🎬 Which genres are best suited for international co-productions? What are international partners looking for? 🌍 Where can you find development and production funding? What are the key co-pro initiatives? 💰 How can tax incentives be leveraged strategically? 🇩🇪 What role does GERMAN FILMS play in this ecosystem? Another key takeaway? Common mistakes in international co-productions often include misaligned creative visions, underestimated legal complexities, and financial structures that don’t serve all partners equally. Avoiding these pitfalls requires careful planning and open communication from the start. A big thank you to Corinna Mehner, Joëlle Hébert, and Stefanie Tomann for your support! 💡 For those who have worked on international co-productions—what was the biggest hurdle in bringing partners together across different markets, and how did you overcome it? Let’s share insights! Hochschule für Fernsehen und Film München (HFF München), GERMAN FILMS , Boxworks Media

The World Day for Audiovisual Heritage is annually observed on October 27 to build global awareness of issues on preserving audiovisual material, such as sound recordings and moving images. Many #soundrecordings, #movingimages and other #audiovisual material are lost because of neglect, natural decay and technological obsolescence. #Organizations such as UNESCO felt that more audiovisual documents would be lost if stronger and concerted #international action was not taken. A proposal to commemorate a #WorldDayfor AudiovisualHeritage was approved at a UNESCO general conference in 2005. The first World Day for Audiovisual Heritage was held on October 27, 2007. The #World #Day for #Audiovisual #Heritage aims to raise general awareness and also focuses on acknowledging the importance of audiovisual documents as an integral part of national identity. _________________________ The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (#UNESCO) works with organizations, governments and communities promote the World Day for Audiovisual Heritage on #October27 each year. Activities and events include: 🔴 Competitions, such as logo contest, to promote the #World #Day for #Audiovisual #Heritage. 🔴 Local #programs organized as a joint effort between national film archives, audiovisual societies, television or radio stations, and #governments. 🔴 Panel discussions, #conferences, and public talks on the importance of preserving important #audiovisual documents. 🔴Special film screenings.

Calling all archivists and sound experts! Whether creating the soundtrack of a new work, or transferring the magnetic tracks of a film classic, the Academy Digital Preservation Forum's Audio Ad Hoc Group seeks your feedback regarding the recently published AUDIO WORKFLOW CONSIDERATIONS guidelines, and template. Please review and tell us what you think! The Audio Workflow Considerations: https://lnkd.in/gcsT88i2 Please register and address comments in the forum: https://lnkd.in/gPPd8_Wu #MovingImagePreservation #AudioPreservation #AudioWorkflows