European film professionals out in force at Dijon Meetings
Traditionally attended by French film industry professionals, the Rencontres Cinématographiques de Dijon (Dijon Film Meetings, October 26-29), organised by ARP and which will be presided over by Costa Gavras, is opening its doors this year to predominantly European representatives.
The 400 professionals expected at the event – which will take place in the city of the Dukes of Burgundy after 15 years in Beaune (see news) – features over 30 European participants.
The event opens on Friday, October 27 with a debate on "Economic Necessities and Creative Freedom", held by director Claude Miller with participation from directors Fernando Trueba (Spain), Birgitte Staermose (Denmark), Peter Sehr (Germany, see interview) and the French-Romanian director Radu Mihaileanu, alongside French producer Denis Freyd (Archipel 35 ), scriptwriter Howard A. Rodman (Writers Guild of America) and Véronique Cayla (Director General of the CNC).
On Saturday October 28, the conference "Does the development of video on demand in Europe mark the beginning of the upheaval of film distribution means?" forms part of the preparation of the MEDIA 2007 programme. How to transform VoD into a real opportunity for European cinema and integrate the distribution of films online in the objectives of the MEDIA 2007 programme and which new economic models should it encourage?
All these themes will be debated by John Woodward (Chief Executive Officer, UK Film Council), Joaquin Garcia Orbea (Imagenio Telefonic, Spain), Henrik Nilsson (SF Anytime, VoD for Scandinavian countries, Bonnier Group) with Grégory Paulger (European Commission), Marie-Christine Levet (CEO, Club Internet and T-Online France) and director Jean-Paul Salomé under the leadership of Pascal Rogard (Director General, SACD).
Eurimages President Jacques Toubon will hold a debate on "What are the rules in the new cinema industry?". Speakers include ambassador Pierre Sellal, Alexis Dantec (Director, Cofinova), Costa Gavras and Patricia Langrand (France Telecom).
The panel on the morning of Sunday, October 29 will deal with What’s new in technology? Defining high definition.. Speakers include Bob Beitcher (CEO, Panavision), Philippe Reinaudo of Laboratoires Eclair and filmmaker Lionel Delplanque, among others.
Other Europeans invited to attend the Dijon event include: Aviva Silver (Director, MEDIA Programme) and filmmakers Antonia D. Carnerud (Svenska Regissorsforeningen), Sanna Saarikivi (Director, SELO Finnish Film Directors), Jon Jerstad (Directors Guild of Norway), György Gèm (Hungarian Society of Directors), Birch Hamilton (Director, Screen Directors Guild of Ireland), John Crome (Directors Guild of Great Britain), Peter Hledik (Slovak Film Directors Association), Igor Korsic (Directors Guild of Slovenia), Kurt Mayer (Austrian Directors' Association), Mikk Rand (Estonian Filmmakers' Union), Ieva Romanova (Latvian Filmmakers’ Union), Gabriel Baur (Swiss Film Directors and Scriptwriters’ Association), Francisco Avizanda (Asamblea de Directores Realizadores, Spain), Mircea Muresan (Societea Cineastilor Independenti, Romania) and Henning Carlsen (Association of Stage and Screen Directors, Denmark).
In addition, Carol Comley (Head of Strategic Development, UK Film Council), Cécile Despringre (General Manager, Federation of European Audiovisual Directors) and Charlotte Lund Thomsen (Director General, International Video Federation) will attend the meetings.
(Translated from French)
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