An interview with Jasper Boon, producer for Dutch company boondocs and selected for the 2023 Emerging Producers programme. Read his EP profile here.

Why do you produce documentaries? Do you see documentary cinema as an instrument of social and political change?
Jasper Boon: Although I undoubtedly recognise its power to be an instrument of social and political change, my main reason for producing documentaries is exploring cinematic languages. I was drawn into documentary for its ability to be conceptual and expressive, and still understandable for a wider audience. Especially one man band productions, where the director uses cinematic tools to invite us to share their experience, resonate a lot with me.

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Where do you find audiences for your films?
I find audiences at our Dutch Public Broadcaster, in the Dutch theatres, on streaming platforms and on film festivals worldwide. We have a good infrastructure for films here, but I find it more challenging to connect to the audience that isn’t already there. 

What films have you seen recently and would recommend watching?
I was very happily surprised by the series How To with John Wilson streaming on HBO max. It’s so playful and smart use of the documentary genre.

What projects do you have underway (including fiction films and other projects)?
The newest release later this year will be a short documentary about people who sleep outside. It takes place on the edge of sleep and wake. I am also starting a new career from April onwards. The future will tell what this will mean for my film career, as I am not sure I could part with filmmaking for good.

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EMERGING PRODUCERS is a leading promotional and educational project, which brings together talented European documentary film producers. The programme is organised and curated by the Ji.hlava International Documentary Film Festival.

Deadline for applications to the EMERGING PRODUCERS 2024 edition is 31 March 2023.