TALKS & SESSIONS 2016 FESTIVAL REPORT The 2016 Doc/Fest Talks & Sessions programme was co-produced for the sixth year running with Documentary Campus and reflected key industry topics of the day. The industry sessions shone a spotlight on both long and short form documentary for all platforms, as well as the brave new worlds of commissioning, marketing and distribution - from traditional broadcasters to the increasingly important digital platforms offering new funding pots and greater audiences, as well as the disrupting and empowering world of self-publishing. 334 panellists took part in the 96 talks and sessions over the 6 days and topics included theatrical documentaries, working with nonprofits, branded content, documenting the refugee crisis, working in danger zones, female trailblazers and zero-carbon filmmaking, the future of public service broadcasting (both in the UK and across Europe) and the implications of leaving the EU for both the UK and European film and TV industries. Countries represented included UK, USA, China, Germany, Australia, France, Greece, Austria plus many others and from many different diverse backgrounds. Further to this, four talks were British Sign Language interpreted for deaf audiences.
96
Sessions
334 Speakers
45%
Percentage of female speakers
Top 10 Rated Industry Sessions 1. Female Trailblazers: New Ways of Working in Media 2. Documentary and Trauma: a Survivor's Guide 3. Viva la Revolucion: Video Activism and Citizen Journalism 4. The Whicker's World Foundation Pitch 5. Surviving Dangerzone Docs 6. Roadmap to Film Funding Success: Unlocking the Mysteries of Grant Proposals 7. IBT Climate Change Pitch 8. There’s Something About Muslims 9. A Reasonably Adjusted Debate: Disability On and Off Screen 10. In Conversation with HBO's Sheila Nevins
19
Countries Represented
The Talks & Sessions programme also included a strand of talks that were open to public as well as delegate audiences. For this strand we welcomed the world's star filmmakers and on-screen factual talent, to hear about their work and find out what inspired them. One of the highlights was Sir David Attenborough, in conversation with the BBC’s Controller of Channels and iPlayer, Charlotte Moore. A sold out Crucible Theatre heard Sir David discuss his long and illustrious career and reflect upon the future of TV. Elsewhere, actor and activist Joanna Lumley entertained with stories from her travel documentaries, snooker legend Ronnie O’Sullivan talked about other documentaries that have inspired him, Reggie Yates and Professor Green discussed the documentaries they make for BBC Three and England cricketer Freddie Flintoff talked about his travel series for SKY. The public talks culminated with acclaimed, award-winning writer and filmmaker Shane Meadows and producer and CEO Mark Herbert of Warp Films, discussing their recent and future work. “If you want a quick primer on the key trends in factual TV, look no further.” - Televisual
Top 10 Rated Public Talks 1. Sir David Attenborough in Conversation 2. The Absolutely Adventurous Joanna Lumley in Conversation
6. D.A. Pennebaker & Chris Hegedus in Conversation 7. The BBC Interview: Reggie Yates
3. Adam Buxton presents a BUG Special: David Bowie 4. Our BBC, Our Channel 4: A Future for Public Service TV? 5. The Channel 4 Interview: Michael Moore
8. Ronnie O'Sullivan in Conversation 9. Professor Green: Documentaries and Me 10. Freddie Flintoff & Robert Penn Talk Docs & Chips