18/11/2005

Excellent results were recorded for Italian Doc Screenings 2005, the first market dedicated exclusively to Italian documentaries, held earlier this month in Venice (see article). 33 foreign buyers and commissioning editors were present at the event, along with 165 Italian professionals. Over 300 Italian titles from the market library were viewed by foreigners and 121 "pitching one to one" sessions were held by the 16 Italian companies that requested them.

Representatives from all European as well as some US broadcasters spoke at the market – organised by DOC/IT thanks to an agreement signed by the Ministry of Production Activities and the National Institute for Foreign Commerce, with contributions by the Veneto Region – and were openly shocked by the absence of RAI representatives. The production agreements and acquisitions resulting from this event will not see the fruits of their labour, as far as network programming is concerned, until 2007, although they will obtain some precise results over the course of the following year.

Thus was confirmed the positive trend for Italian documentaries with respect to their increased presence on networks of many countries in Europe and beyond. Unfortunately, only a nominal part of these films will be broadcast in Italy and almost none of them on free TV.

Another step forward with respect to large international documentary markets was the opportunity that foreign representatives had in getting to know the small and medium-sized Italian companies operating in this sector, capable of producing highly professional, high quality products. These local companies were in turn able to examine approximately 20 programming slates by as many broadcasters: A strategic encounter for Italian films wanting to break out onto the international market.

(Translated from Italian)