DCampus Exchange Munich

An official welcome and keynote

A presentation of a mix of successful documentaries and factual formats which were funded by alternative sources, including brand-funding, high-value crowdfunding and not-for-profit organisations.

Grab a coffee and a pretzel!

How do documentary filmmakers fund bold, independent stories beyond traditional grants and broadcasters? This panel dives into the real-world strategies behind alternative financing, drawing directly from the case studies presented in the first Funding session. Featuring filmmakers and producers who have successfully collaborated with brands, mobilised crowdfunding communities, and secured support from not-for-profit organisations, the discussion goes behind the scenes of what actually works and how. Expect candid insights, practical lessons and honest reflections on the creative, commercial and ethical questions around new funding models and how to turn them into opportunities.

As brands become commissioners, build their own channels and editorial strategies, the boundaries between broadcasters and brand-funded content are shifting rapidly. But what does that mean for documentary and factual makers and for broadcasters navigating a changing ecosystem? Why are many European broadcasters still cautious about brand-funded projects, while others are finding ways to collaborate? What models work in practice, and where are the red lines around editorial policy and integrity, audience trust, and distribution? Drawing on hands-on experience from both traditional broadcasting and the digital brand space, this conversation offers practical insights into how filmmakers, producers, and broadcasters can engage more strategically with brands, while safeguarding public value and creative independence.

How can filmmakers cut through the noise and strategically distribute content across platforms like YouTube, TikTok Instagram and Facebook? This presentation breaks down the digital ecosystem into its core mechanics: platform needs, audience targeting, geo-blocking, content budgets and transparent funding structures. Each platform follows distinct distribution dynamics and audience expectations, making it essential to tailor assets (format, length, tone) to market relevance. While the digital landscape is often perceived as complex, its foundations are surprisingly straightforward once the connections between content, budget and platform strategy are clearly understood.

Presented by: Nils Franck, Marco Wagner, Little Dot Studios Germany

What does it really mean to produce and commission factual content for digital-first platforms? This panel takes a close look at the day-to-day realities of digital-first production, unpacking how projects are developed, financed and delivered outside traditional broadcast workflows. From questions of IP ownership and audience-building to the practical mechanics of commissioning for digital platforms, the session explores how broad online reach - often driven by strong social media followings - can translate back into public broadcaster Mediatheken (on-demand players). With contributions from digital producers and broadcasters, the discussion offers concrete insights into figures, funding pathways, and decision-making processes, helping filmmakers and producers better understand how to navigate digital-first commissioning.

Time go grab a coffee and a pretzel and network.

AI is not your enemy. Nor is it simply a bunch of tools. When engaged with optimally, it serves as a Creative Partner and a dynamic interlocutor in a creative conversation in which you go places you never would have reached alone. In this framing, original human ideas have primacy more than ever.

Brands and documentary filmmakers need each other more and more to make content that cuts through in an increasingly noisy world — yet they often operate in quite different contexts.

While brands are searching for fresh, authentic storytelling to sharpen their identity and meaningfully advance their CSR goals, they often rely on agencies, larger production companies and familiar collaborators. At the same time, documentary filmmakers possess powerful storytelling skills, access to compelling characters, and deep knowledge of distribution and audience engagement. However, they frequently lack insight into how brands actually operate, how brand-funded projects are initiated, and how creative collaborations can be structured without undermining artistic integrity.

This workshop brings both sides into direct conversation. Selected brands will present how they collaborate with filmmakers, while participants gain clarification on creative control, financing structures, potential broadcaster involvement, and the realities beyond product placement.

We will unpack questions like:

• how do brand-funded factual projects originate?
• what do brands actually look for in storytelling partnerships?
• what are the editorial issues when it comes to journalistic documentaries?
• how can filmmakers retain creative control while working with brand partners?
• is the fear of product placement justified?
• how can broadcasters be involved?
• Important deal points to consider when making a deal with a brand
• where do mission-driven storytelling and brand identity genuinely intersect?

Designed for documentary/factual filmmakers and producers exploring new funding models, the session creates a safe, honest and practical space for dialogue, practical insight, and potential collaboration.

Led by Brian Newman (Sub-Genre).

Enjoy your lunch

A research presentation giving an up-to-the-minute overview of today’s distribution realities.

YouTube has become impossible to ignore—but how important is it really for producers, distributors and documentary filmmakers? This session explores what kinds of factual formats thrive on the platform, and how visibility and discoverability can make or break a project. Filmmakers will gain insights into what works in terms of channel strategy, audience engagement and content optimisation, while also learning about the challenges of building and sustaining factual channels in a crowded digital space. By bringing together creatives, platforms and broadcasters, the discussion offers practical guidance on navigating YouTube’s ecosystem and turning online presence into real impact for documentaries.

Time to grab a coffee and pretzel.

A presentation of a rich mix of successful documentaries and factual formats which were either produced digitally or used innovative AI technology, attracting substantial online audiences.

Understanding audience behaviours and preferences is central to the future of documentary and factual storytelling, especially in a digital-first landscape. This session explores how digital platforms, brands and broadcasters each build, analyse and engage their audiences, and what documentary makers can learn from these different approaches. While brands have become highly adept at identifying and nurturing specific communities, public broadcasters are actively seeking new ways to reconnect with younger audiences who have moved beyond linear TV. Bringing together insights from BR Audience Lab, ZDF’s streaming platforms and ZDFneo, alongside digital players such as Little Dot Studios and HBO Max, the discussion examines where audience strategies converge or diverge, and what opportunities lie in between. For filmmakers and producers, the session offers practical takeaways on digital media personas, targeting strategies, and how a deeper understanding of audiences can inform development, commissioning and distribution decisions.

A wrap-up of the two days