During the second session the workshop participants focus on building specific marketing strategies, precising a proper distribution plan and expanding their knowledge of the international film market.
The near-finished films are "test screened" to an international audience: producers, distributors and sales agents, who then lead the discussion and provide the participants with fresh feedback on the content and structure of the film, as well as on the specific strategy of release and distribution. Editing sessions and individual meetings follow.
The workshop tutors share their know-how on how to break into the international market even without big budgets. Marketing specialists introduce the specific ways how and where the documentaries can be promoted effectively, how to use festivals and opportunities of the guerrilla marketing strategies. Afterwards, they work individually with the participants on their marketing ideas, developing them into specific strategies. The end of the workshop is dedicated to legal issues of distribution – pre-sale and sale contracting, dealing with the rights and providing the participants with a detailed overview of the European sales landscape.
Shane Smith is Director of Programming at Hot Docs, North America's largest Festival and Market for documentary film. Smith previously worked at the Toronto International Film Festival as director of Special Projects, and director of Public Programs. Prior to TIFF he was Executive Producer, In-Flight Entertainment, Spafax, overseeing all entertainment on Air Canada, Director of Programming at Channel Zero Inc, Director CFC Worldwide Short Film Festival, Short Film Programmer for Sundance Film Festival, Programmer for Inside Out LGBT Film Festival. Smith has served on juries, or participated on panels at festivals and events around the world including Sundance, Cannes, Sheffield Doc Fest, DocNYC, IDA, Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television, Guadalajara International Film Festival, Sao Paulo and Rio Short Film Festivals, Encounters Film Festival Bristol and Bangkok International Film Festival.
Joost Daamen is the Senior Programmer of IDFA, The Netherlands. Over the past twenty seven years, IDFA has become one of the world's leading documentary film festivals, screening up to 300 documentaries to an audience of over 250.000. IDFA offers two professional markets – Docs for Sale (online), a market backed up by an extensive database and catalogue, and the FORUM, Europe's largest pitching FORUM and gathering of commissioning editors and independent producers. IDFA Bertha Fund, formerly known as the Jan Vrijman Fund, supports documentary filmmakers and festivals in developing countries. IDFA 2015 takes place from 18-29 November.
Alex Szalat has directed short films, documentaries and TV series since 1977. His filmography is extensive, covering a full range of aspects dealing with European life, culture, and society. In 1987, Szalat founded KS VISIONS, an independent producers' organisation, and has produced over a hundred documentaries and TV series for Canal +, Arte, FR3, FR2, TF1, Planete, IBA, RTBF, Dutch Channel 1 amongst others. In 2005, Szalat became Commissioning Editor for Geopolitical Europe and Society department of Arte France, and in 2008, to the Head of Current Affairs, Social Issues and Geopolitical department. Since September 2011, he has been Deputy Manager of the Society and Culture department of Arte France.
Born and raised in Slovakia, I work in the Programme Department of Ji.hlava International Documentary Film Festival in the Czech Republic. I work closely with the programme board, as I handle all film submissions, film fees negotiations and coordinate film traffic. Before joining Ji.hlava, I worked for The Cinematheque, a nonprofit arthouse theatre in Vancouver as a theatre manager. My interest mostly focuses on American independent cinema, and besides watching too many films to count, my other work experience includes the screening committee for DOXA – Documentary Film Festival and contributions as an assistant curator for Vancouver Foreign Film Society.
After working at different festivals in France (Les Rencontres du Cinéma, Sunny Side of the Doc, FIPA), Maëlle has started working in international distribution with Point du Jour International and Doc&Co (now Doc & Film International). Then she has joined Catherine Le Clef and in 2009 she has started her own company CAT&Docs. CAT&Docs is dedicated to promotion & distribution of all types of docs in all media around the world: pertinent and impertinent docs on topical questions and timeless subjects; docs that are carefully researched, audacious, question the world and propose new ways of looking at it. Recent acquisitions include: Sonita, Cameraperson, Don Juan, A Syrian Love Story, CITIZENFOUR, My Love don't Cross That River, Of Men and War, The Shelter, Tea Time, The Oath, Planet of Snail, Last Train Home.
After her master degree in journalism and political science Salma started to work as international tv sales manager at Autlook in 2005. In 2010, she took over all operational matters and acquisitions as Autlook' as managing director and propelled digital distribution for documentaries. Salma speaks on panels, gives lectures and workshops at major film festivals with focus on rights management and distribution.
Born in Belgium, Peter studied Law and Philosophy. He was Commercial & Marketing Director of a film magazine and Marketing & Acquisitions Consultant for several major independent film distributors and film exhibitors. In 2005, together with Austrian producers, he has founded and become CEO of Autlook Filmsales. Peter is a distribution panel member of MEDIA Programme and an expert-panelist for several major Festivals as well as a jury member of the Vienna and Flemish Film fund, regularly invited as guest-lecturer on International Distribution & Marketing to Film academies & National Film Institutes.