Dokumentale’s d’Hub set to offer a jam-packed programme of panels, pitches and workshops for industry professionals
- The industry platform of the new Berlin-based non-fiction festival will run from 14-16 October
Dokumentale, a brand-new international film and media festival based in Berlin, will celebrate its inaugural edition from 10-20 October (see the news). From 14-16 October, it will also host d'Hub, a hybrid platform offering panels, pitches and workshops exclusively for professionals.
Day 1 of d’Hub will open with a networking breakfast and a conversation entitled “Documenting Reality”, set to explore the vital role of documentation in the age of fake news and social-media threats. The panel will see the participation of Askold Kurov (director of Of Caravan and the Dogs), Anna Alboth (Media Minority Rights Group), Ramona Diaz (director of And So It Begins) and Börris Nehe (editor of Beyond Molotovs).
Next, d’Hub will host the workshop “Sound as Storytelling”, where participants will be able to explore the power of sound to convey emotion, build tension and enhance storytelling, from background effects to the artful use of vocal nuances.
Another highlight of day 1 is the talk “Partnerships for Impact”, which will focus on informing participants about how to effectively partner with NGOs, activists and non-film organisations. In detail, the event covers approaches, communication strategies and how impact-driven distribution intersects – and sometimes collides – with traditional distribution strategies in the film industry. The speakers taking part in this discussion are Rūta Švedkauskaitė (Films Boutique), Corinne van Egeraat (producer of I Am the River, the River Is Me [+see also:
film review
film profile]), impact producer Hasse van Nuunen, and director and non-profit consultant Rieneke van Santen.
On day 2, The Good Media Pitch will take centre stage. The event will train a spotlight on six projects presenting their strategies to potential partners from media, politics, business and civil society. The main goal of this initiative is to secure sustainable partners for project implementation. This year’s selected projects are Sisterqueens, Offside – Eichi and the FC Pio, In Our Backyards (working title), Ice Builders, Children of Korntal and The Family Approach.
Day 3 will open with two events focusing on archival material for documentaries, and burnout prevention and collective care, respectively. In particular, the first panel will delve into the ethical considerations surrounding the use of archives in documentary making, and how to create works that are not only artistically compelling, but also historically responsible and socially impactful. Confirmed panellists include Ado Hasanovic (director of My Father's Diaries) and Barbara Kurowska (research associate, Oral History Archive Documentation Centre for Displacement, Expulsion and Reconciliation).
At midday, d’Hub will host the talk “Facing Repressions”, during which the panellists will explore the challenges and costs of working in high-risk environments, and touch on strategies for self-protection, safeguarding protagonists, and navigating the complexities relevant to both filmmakers and journalists in dangerous settings. The event will see the participation of Debra Aroko (director of Searching for Amani), Karl Malakunas (director of Delikado [+see also:
film review
film profile] and Asia-Pacific deputy editor-in-chief for Agence France-Presse), journalist Milan Vukelic and Ibrahim Na'shat (director of Hollywoodgate [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile]).
The next talk, titled “Transnational Filmmaking” and slated to take place at 2pm, will explore the unique experiences of transnational filmmakers who have found a home in Berlin. In detail, it will examine how filmmakers from different cultural backgrounds have used their experiences to create powerful and authentic narratives, zooming in on the challenges and opportunities that arise from cross-cultural communication and collaboration.
Coming up next will be the talk “From Journalism to XR”, led by Emmy-nominated creators Felix Gaedtke and Gayatri Parameswaran, of NowHere Media, in conversation with journalist and documentarian Juan Francisco Donoso. The speakers will disclose their journeys from journalism to documentary filmmaking and immersive storytelling, and discuss how they use different styles to drive social change, tackle human rights issues and build communities.
Day 3 will be rounded off by the workshop “Redesigning Revolution”, led by Spiral Tribe artist Mark Angelo Harrison. The hands-on workshop will focus on symbolism in cultural movements. After a brief intro to Harrison’s creative journey, attendees will dive into discussions on the free party scene, marketing and anti-iconography. Participants will also design their own symbols, with guidance and support, to “redesign the revolution” together.
d’Hub accreditations are on sale now. Each accreditation allows access to ten selected events, and it includes a daily complimentary breakfast and networking lunches. Regular accreditations are priced at €82, reduced accreditations at €72 and those for members of partner organisations at €70. Online attendance is free of charge. You can find out more here.
d’Hub is backed by MBB - Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg, AGDok and The StoryBoard Collective.
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