From 14 – 19, August, several hour long CineLink Talks will be presented as part of the 27th Sarajevo Film Festival CineLink Industry Days.
All will run via Zoom and feature a live Q&A in which audience members will be able to ask questions of the panellists. Topics include filmmaking during the pandemic, working with streamers, female filmmaker quotas, mental health in the film industry and new models for distribution. The line-up also includes masterclasses with filmmakers Mads Brugger and Alexander Nanau.
Here, we look at all the documentary-specific events on offer at Cinelink Industry Days 2021. Find the full programme – HERE
Saturday, August 14
In conversation with filmmaker Mads Brugger – 15:00 CEST – REGISTER
Moderator: Damir Šagolj
Mads Brugger is a Danish filmmaker, journalist, TV host and author who is renowned for his distinctive methods of “performative journalism”. His feature-length documentaries include Sundance winner The Red Chapel (2009) as well as The Ambassador (2011) and Cold Case Hammarskjöld (2019), which were also selected for Sundance. His feature fiction debut The Saint Bernard Syndicate(2018) won two awards at the Tribeca Film Festival.
Sunday, August 15
Working with streamers (presented by Documentary Campus) – 18.00 CEST – REGISTER
Moderator: Alexandra Lebret, managing director, European Producers Club
Speakers: Chris Marcich (Croatia), CEO of the Croatian Audiovisual Centre; Lars Loge (Norway), Norwegian Film Institute; Martichka Bozhilova (Bulgaria), producer, AgitProp; Pauline Durand-Vialle (Belgium), CEO, FERA Federation of European Screen Directors
Moderator: Alexandra Lebret, managing director, European Producers Club
Is there a way to ensure sustainability for the indie sector within the streaming model? Given a context in which less IP is retained and there is uncertainty about the chance of creating libraries and rights’ exploitation, as well as project ownership, independent producers and funders discuss fair practice in the ecosystem involving streamers and content creators.
Monday, August 16
A new take: new models and possibilities for distribution (presented by Documentary Campus) – 18:00 CEST – REGISTER
Moderator: Paula Vaccaro (UK), producer, Pinball London
Speakers: Amy Hobby (US), producer, Tangerine Entertainment and executive director at Tribeca Film Institute; Andy Caley (UK), distributor, Bohemia Media; Ester Bernal (Mexico), head of distribution, Piano Distribution; Ryan Harrington (US), head of film, Kinema
With Covid-19 accelerating the transition from cinema to platforms, and more scheduled releases on the horizon, what does an alternative distribution model look like? This blue-sky session provides ideas, prompts and new questions, continuing a conversation begun at last year’s CineLink Talks.
Tuesday, August 17
Staying sane: Mental health in the film industry (presented by Documentary Campus) – 18:00 CEST – REGISTER
Moderator: Paula Vaccaro (UK), producer, Pinball London
Speakers: Rebecca Day (UK), psychotherapist and documentary producer, Film In Mind; Malikkah Rollins (US), co-founder, Documentality; director of industry and education, DOC NYC; Victoria Thomas (UK), writer/director, credits: A Birthday Party
What does our industry need to do to make sure those employed within it enjoy good mental health? Filmmakers and two qualified therapists working in film discuss strategies and suggestions for a healthier industry.
Wednesday, August 18
In conversation with Alexander Nanau (presented by Balkan Documentary Center) – 15:00 CEST – REGISTER
Moderator: Martichka Bozhilova (Bulgaria), producer, AgitProp
Renowned documentary filmmaker Alexander Nanau will discuss his film Collective, which was nominated for two Academy Awards, and discuss the process and methodology of his work.
Are Critics Still Needed? (presented by Documentary Campus) – 18:00 CEST – REGISTER
Moderator: Paula Vaccaro (UK), producer, Pinball London
Speakers: Uzma Hasan (UK), producer, Little House Productions; Dina Iordanova (UK/Bulgaria), professor of Global Cinema, DinaView ; Heleen Gerritsen (Germany), head of festival, goEast – Festival of Central and Eastern European Film; Pedro Tinen (Brazil), film critic; Aashna Thakkar (Canada), programmer/critic
Mostly white, and still mostly male, film critics are part of a highly concentrated power structure when it comes to trade reviews and market success. If transparency and diversity at film festivals are not enough to open the doors to the industry, is it time we ask ourselves: “Are film critics even needed?”
