1st Symposium 2008

The Fight Is On: Saving Public Service Docs

A Discovery Campus Symposium organised in the framework of the European Media Event: 3-9 March 2008

Over 2 days, you’ll be taken on a whirlwind tour of what’s happening in the world of docs, the challenges they’re facing, and how they’re fighting back. Leading filmmakers, senior executives from broadcasters across the world and expert commentators will discuss how we can keep Public Service programming alive.

The weekend kicks off with two of the world’s most acclaimed commissioning editors for Arts discussing how they are trying to protect their subject as the modern environment makes life harder and harder. A case study and screening of The Human Footprint, an innovative and award winning film, provides them with a great example of how it can be done.

At another case study, Man on Wire, winner of two prizes at the Sundance Film Festival, you will meet the films’ key players who’ll divulge the secrets of how they made the film, and how they sell it.

At the heart of the debate will be questions about funding. With less money available for documentaries every year, filmmakers are having to work harder and harder to fund their projects. A special session will see representatives from other funding bodies explaining how they can help, and what strings are attached…

Funding is also getting tougher for the broadcasters themselves. So, we will also dive into the case of BBC Storyville, which this year fought off proposed 50% cuts to its budget. Storyville’s legendary editor Nick Fraser will explain how he managed to keep this flagship documentary strand alive, and argue that we all have to evolve if we are to survive.

Evolving new ideas will also be the theme of an exciting panel on New Media Platforms. As broadcast diversifies onto the web, mobile phones and user-generated-content, a selection of experts will talk through what this means for producers, and what new opportunities it presents.

Too often, producers have to sit and listen as commissioners talk. This weekend will end differently as a broad range of commissioners line up to answer the criticisms and frustrations levelled at them by Europe’s producers. In the final session of the weekend, they get a chance to answer back, and give valuable tips as to what they need to keep documentaries on the air.

Take a look at the inspiring sessions we have lined up with special experts from all over Europe and North America – including Claire Aguilar from ITVS, Nick Fraser and Greg Sanderson from BBC, Olaf Grunert from ARTE, Adam Gee, Tabitha Jackson and Jan Younghusband from Channel 4, Stephen Hunter from National Geographic Channels, International, Martin Pieper from ZDF/ARTE, Andrea Meditch from Discovery Film, Lisa Plasco from Discovery Networks Europe and many more.

You don’t want to miss this Open Training Session! Secure your seat now! We are looking forward to welcoming you in Brussels!

The 1st Open Training Session is is organised in the framework of the European Media Event taking place from 3-9 March 2008 and in partnership with Injoy Productions. For further information on the European Media Event, please go to www.europeanmediaevent.com or contact Inge Rochette at:
eme@injoyproductions.com
www.injoyproductions.com

The Discovery Campus Masterschool 2008 is supported by:
- MEDIA Programme of the European Union
- Bavarian State Chancellery
- Mitteldeutsche Medienförderung (MDM)
- Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg
- MFG Filmförderung Baden-Württemberg
- Sächsische Stiftung für Medienausbildung.

topDates & Programme

register Fri, 7 Mar 2008 - Sat, 8 Mar 2008

topLocation

BOZAR
Centre for fine Arts
Rue Ravenstein 23
1000 Bruxelles, Belgium

Public Transport
- Train Gare Centrale 2 minutes on foot via the Galerie Ravenstein
- Tram Palais 92 - 94 / Bus Beaux-Arts 38 - 71
- Underground Gare Centrale or Parc 1 A - B

>> download location map

topFee

Participation Fee: € 170.00 (incl. catering)
East Europeans & Students: € 100.00 (incl. catering)

topExperts

  • Claire Aguilar Vice President of Programming, ITVS Independent Television Service, San Francisco, USA
  • Krishan Arora Independents Executive, BBC Commissioning, London, United Kingdom
  • Christine Camdessus Producer, Alegria, Paris, France
  • Nick Fraser Commissioning Editor, BBC Storyville, London, UK
  • Monica Galeriu Project Manager - MEDIA Programme - TV Broadcasting, Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency, Brussels, Belgium
  • Adam Gee Cross-platform Commissioning Editor, Channel 4, London, UK
  • Olaf Grunert Director Development and Events, ARTE G.E.I.E., Strasbourg, France
  • Jonathan Hewes Deputy Chief Executive, Wall to Wall, London, UK
  • Stephen Hunter Vice President of Production & Senior Executive Producer, National Geographic Channels, International, Washington, D.C., USA
  • Tabitha Jackson Commissioning Editor, More4, London, United Kingdom
  • Christoph Jörg Producer, Pumpernickel Films, Paris, France
  • Wilbur Leguebe Head of Documentaries, RTBF, Brussels, Belgium
  • James Marsh Director "Man on Wire", , New York, USA
  • Soon-Mi Peten Project Manager - MEDIA Programme - Development, Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency, Brussels, Belgium
  • Martin Pieper Head of Culture & Science, ZDF/ARTE, Mainz, Germany
  • Gregory Sanderson Commissioning Executive & Executive Producer , BBC Storyville, London, UK
  • Neil Sieling Acquisitions, New Media, and Special Projects, Link Media, New York, USA
  • Jan Stevens Channel Manager, VRT Canvas, Brussels, Belgium
  • Nick Watts Creative Director, Burning Blue Media Ltd., Bath, UK
  • Lisa Weinbrenn Head of Development & Production, EMEA, Discovery Networks Europe, London, UK
  • Reinhilde Weyns Head of Programming: Culture, Science & History, VRT Canvas, Brussels, Belgium
  • Sandra Whipham Editor, More4, Channel 4, London, UK
  • Peter Wintonick Producer, Necessary Illusions Productions, Montréal, Canada
  • Femke Wolting Managing Director, Submarine, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
  • Jan Younghusband Commissioning Editor, Arts and Performance, Channel 4, London, UK

topHotels

To find good hotel rates in Brussels for the weekend, even if you decide to come last minute, please go to www.brures.be!!

Otherwise, room reservations for a special price can be made in the following hotels by mentioning European Media Event:

Hotel Aux Arcades
36-38 Beenhouwersstraat / rue des Bouchers 36-38
T: +32-2-5112876
F: +32-2-5112652

option valid until 25.01.08
single room week rate: EUR 55.00 / breakfast: EUR 7.00
distance to the symposium venue “Palais des Beaux Arts”: 5 min walk

Hotel Sabina
Contact: Ms Karin Lundgren
Rue du nord 78
1000 Brussels
T +32 2 2182637
F +32 2 2193239
info@hotelsabina.be
www.hotelsabina.be

option valid until 08.02.08
single room week rate (Thursday - Friday): 77.00 €
single room weekend rate (Friday - Sunday): 52.00 €
double room week rate (Thursday - Friday): 90.00 €
double room weekend rate (Friday - Sunday): 60.00 €

distance to BOZAR: 10 minutes walk or 5 minutes with tram 94/92
distance to Gare Centrale: 10 minutes walk or 5 minutes with tram 94/92

Hotel Mozart
Rue Marché aux Fromages 23
1000 Brussels
T +32 2 502661
F +32 2 5027758
hotel.mozart@skynet.be
www.hotel-mozart.be

single room weekend rate: 80.00 €
double room weekend rate: 100.00 €

distance to BOZAR: 5 minutes walk
distance to Gare Centrale: 3 minutes walk

Want another hotel? Deadline passed?
Call RESOTEL: +32-2-7793939

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