DOK Leipzig announces program and events

DOK Industry:
DOK Leipzig International Documentary Industry Gathering 2009

In the past three years, DOK Leipzig has developed into the central German documentary film industry meeting place with a major international aura. An important function of DOK Leipzig is to offer the documentary film industry a lively platform for current debates, financing new projects and the distribution of finished works. DOK Leipzig offers international industry professionals both a window on the world of German documentary film-making as well as an annual meeting place where film-makers, producers, commissioning editors and distributors from Germany and overseas can get to know one another or strengthen existing relationships.

Leipzig Forum: Programme Director Announces Details on the Future of ARTE

The 2009 Leipzig Forum on Innovative Non-fiction Television is devoted to the future perspectives of a TV channel whose name is a by-word for creative and demanding documentary films: ARTE. Established in 1991 through a Franco-German agreement, ARTE quickly became renowned for high-quality television – especially through its innovative programme concept and bravery to experiment. However, after 18 years in the relative seclusion of public service broadcasting, the voices demanding increased reach and higher ratings are becoming louder. Against this background, the Programme Director of ARTE G.E.I.E. in Strasbourg, Dr Christoph Hauser, and several departmental heads will present the planned programme reform for 2010 and discuss their strategy with industry professionals.
>> Thursday, 29 October, 15:00-17:30, Zeitgeschichtliches Forum Leipzig, Grimmaische Str. 6

The Leipzig Forum is a jointly organized event by DOK Leipzig and Documentary Campus e. V.

Leipzig Screening: German Documentaries Exclusive

The Leipzig Screening offers international commissioning editors, film distributors and sales agents the opportunity to discover new German documentary productions in exclusive, private cinema screenings. At the same time, producers have the rare opportunity to personally present their films to a select group of experts and make important contacts. Moreover, Leipzig Screening participants are invited to view further German documentaries at DOK Leipzig and the DOK Market. This year television channels, distributors and other specialists from the following countries are represented: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Great Britain, Italy, Poland, Sweden and the USA.
>> Monday and Tuesday, 26/ 27 October 2009, Passage Kinos Filmeck, Grosse Fleischergasse 11

The Leipzig Screening is supported by German Films and organized by DOK Leipzig in cooperation with the AG DOK, the German Documentary Association.
The DOK Summit Panel Discussions 2009: From Africa to Video-on-Demand

The DOK Summit panel discussions are open to professional visitors and the wider festival public alike. In the sessions, current trends in the realm of international documentary film are debated and controversial aspects of the Special Programmes discussed.

Farewell to Television? How Documentary Films Can Be Financed Independently
Alternative financing strategies for documentary films: International film-makers, producers and initiatives present their models and report on their successes, failures and visions. Afterwards the AG DOK, the German Documentary Association, invites all participants to a DOK Lunch.
>> Wednesday, 28 October 2009, 11:00-13:00, Zeitgeschichtliches Forum Leipzig, Grimmaische Str. 6

Who is the Best on the Internet? The VOD-Platform-Pitch
Distribution of documentary films via online platforms: International providers pitch their VOD-platforms and give information on inclusion criteria, user numbers, revenue modes and specifics to the legal arrangements. Afterwards MEDIA-Antenne Berlin Brandenburg invites all participants to a DOK Lunch.
>> Thursday, 29 October 2009, 11:00-13:00, Zeitgeschichtliches Forum Leipzig, Grimmaische Str. 6

Making History – The Battle of Images and Symbols
DOK Summit on the Special Programme “Transit `89. Gdansk-Leipzig-Bucharest”
Not only in Germany but also in Eastern Europe, the process of analyzing and interpreting recent history shows how bitter battles over symbols and images can be. The summit wants to reflect on the question how and by whom symbols and images are “made” into history.
>> Friday, 30 October 2009, 19:30-21:30 Zeitgeschichtliches Forum Leipzig, Grimmaische Str. 6

Reflections: Africa and Europe in the Perception Trap
DOK Summit on the Special Programme “T.I.A. - This is Africa”
Do we in Europe genuinely appreciate and recognize the changes taking place in sub-Saharan Africa? And does the African view of Europe concur with our social realities?
>> Saturday, 31 October 2009, 11:00-13:00, Polnisches Institut Leipzig, Markt 10


New at DOK Leipzig: The German Day

No other country has more public service broadcasting stations than Germany. Especially for foreign producers and young film-makers it is not always easy to identify the most appropriate contact person for a new project. To bring a little clarity to the matter, DOK Leipzig has invited Jutta Krug from WDR, Martina Zöllner from SWR, Walter Greifenstein from BR, Dirk Neuhoff from NDR and Katja Wildermuth from MDR and asked them to present their documentary slots and to show some examples of work aired on their channels. The focus is put on slots for longer, creative documentaries and the possibilities for international co-productions.
>> Wednesday, 28 October 2009, 14:00-18:00, Zeitgeschichtliches Forum Leipzig, Grimmaische Str. 6


Digital DOK Market is Expanding

As in previous years DOK Market – the digital video library of DOK Leipzig – offers accredited visitors access to all films in the current festival programme as well as 150 other selected works. Due to the overwhelming interest last year, DOK Leipzig has increased the number of the DOK Market viewing stations from 25 to 30 and, therefore, can ensure even more comfortable and professional working conditions. Since its establishment in 2005, DOK Market has regularly exchanged current productions with film markets at renowned festivals and trade fairs. For 2009, DOK Market has found an important new partner who will significantly strengthen the presence of Anglo-Saxon documentary films: DOK Leipzig is looking forward to a fruitful cooperation with the British “Sheffield Doc/Fest”.
In addition, the highly successful and productive partnerships with the following institutions will be continued: “East Silver Caravan“ in the Czech Republic, “Guangzhou International Documentary Film Festival” in China, “Krakow Film Foundation” in Poland, “Taiwan International Documentary Film Festival” as well as “Visions du Réel” and “Swiss Films” in Switzerland.

The digital DOK Market is based at the Museum der bildenden Künste, Katharinenstraße 10, and will be open from 25 until 31 October, daily from 10:00 to 22:00. On 1 November it closes at 14:00.


The International Opening: The Documentary Campus Masterschool Pitching 2009

The 2009 Documentary Campus Masterschool Pitching takes place at the start of DOK Leipzig on the 24 and 25 October 2009. The pitchings are the high point of the European Master Class, in the course of which 16 producers and film-makers develop new documentary film projects for an international audience. During the pitchings these projects will be presented to about 50 international television executives and distribution companies with the aim of persuading them to help with the financing. Up to 150 industry professionals may observe the pitchings and as such receive an unique view inside the international documentary film industry. In addition, Documentary Campus offers two observers the chance to win a Surprise Pitch. More information can be found at www.documentary-campus.com

>>Saturday and Sunday, 24/ 25 October, MDR headquarters, Kantstraße 71-73

5th International DOK Leipzig Co-production Meeting: Information, Exchange, Meetings

At the International DOK Leipzig Co-production Meeting producers have a podium through which to find international co-production partners for their new projects – and that in an exclusive atmosphere: On 26 and 27 October 2009 DOK Leipzig brings about 40 producers from Scandinavia, Eastern Europe and Germany together to help them build contacts with potential partners and financiers. On both days participants will get a qualified overview of the Scandinavian and German markets and the respective co-production opportunities. Representatives of public service television and film institutes from Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden and Germany will be present.
At the conclusion of the two days, participants will be able to present their projects to television executives and distribution companies from Austria, Belgium, Canada, France, Great Britain, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Switzerland and the USA.
>>Monday and Tuesday, 26/ 27 October, Villa Rosental, Humboldtstraße 1

DOK Leipzig organizes the International DOK Leipzig Co-production meeting in close cooperation with EDN (European Documentary Network, Denmark), Filmkontakt Nord (Denmark), the IDF (Institute of Documentary Film, Czech Republic), the Dragon Forum (Poland) and the AG DOK (German Documentary Association).