Digital-First is No Longer Optional: Donata von Perfall Speaks to TellyCast

"[Documentary Campus is] very attuned with the digital transformation already. A year ago, we appointed a digital leader and multiplatform producer as our new head of Masterschool. We also have digital mentors advising projects. So in this '25 edition, we already have aligned our training programme towards the fundamentally shifting market. Therefore, it came very naturally to add to our flagship event, The Masterschool Pitch, this new summit [NEXTWAVE] and include a day on digital topics... At the core of what we do stands training the industry. With this step we want to take on the role of championing digital-first content on European mainland. We want to be the go-to place to discuss, to explore, and to exchange ideas on how the market is transforming. The traditional companies need to address it, and since they are used to coming to our event, we are very well-positioned to offer this focus on digital storytelling now."

Documentary Campus Managing Director Donata von Perfall tells Justin Crosby on his podcast TellyCast: The TV Industry News Review that digital-first storytelling is no longer optional – it’s central to the future of the industry. That focus is reflected in the upcoming DC Industry Training Days, which will feature NEXTWAVE: The Digital-First Production Summit alongside the flagship Masterschool Pitching Event. Designed to match the industry’s rapid transformation, the DC Industry Training Days are about more than inspiration; they’re about giving participants the tools, contacts, and insights they need to succeed in a shifting market. 

Plus, with applications for the Masterschool 2026 now open, emerging documentary talent have the chance to join this legacy programme, develop their projects with top mentors, and step onto the international stage at next year’s Pitch. And with the Silbersalz Science & Media Festival 2025 programme newly announced, Documentary Campus is shaping an autumn season that combines training, exchange, and innovation, equipping the industry to thrive in a rapidly shifting market. Click here to hear the full podcast, and click the hyperlinks above to learn more about Documentary Campus's programmes.

Registration is now open for the DC Industry Training Days happening this 31 Oct - 1 Nov in Halle (Saale), Germany. Click here to register today.