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dok.connect
• 5 days | open program
• 2 days | co-production forum (application closed)
• 6 projects meeting decision makers (application closed)
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dok.connect is a series of open sessions accessible to the documentary professionals and a networking event for 20 selected producers and postproduction houses from Central Europe (CZ/SK/HU/PL/DE/AT) searching for contacts and collaborations for film projects. The program consists of a co-production forum, where each company gets a space for presentation and one-to-one meetings upon requests. All participants can visit Open program lectures about current industry changes, take part in networking events with international industry, and 6 producers selected with a project also get individual meetings with European sales, festivals and broadcasters.
Anyone interested in the film industry can apply to the Open program which consists of lectures led by industry professionals. These sessions cover film marketing and distribution, bring together festival representatives and sales agents, and help the participants to navigate in the process of bringing their films to the audience. This program also invites producers from Central Europe to network, find new possibilities for future co-productions and discuss their projects.
The event takes place in the frame of the second dok.incubator session in Olomouc.
open program deadline: June 11
Timeline
Producers with a project
Take part in the dok.connect event with your project! Find the partners for minority coproduction, get co-production involvement from postproduction houses, information from V4 film funds, and consult your film with sales agents, broadcasters and festival representatives.
If selected, you will have a chance to present your production company to producers, post-production houses, and film funds from the Central European region (June 27). Subsequently, one-on-one meetings will be scheduled for the co-production forum participants.
If your film is among the 6 selected we’ll schedule individual meetings with the decision-makers attending the workshop for you and your project will be part of the official catalog.
Every participant of dok.connect is invited to attend open lectures, panel discussions, and festival presentations on the program between June 25-29 (detailed program TBA) and a networking dinner on June 26.
Producers without a project
If selected, you will have a chance to present your production company to producers, post-production houses, and film funds from the Central European region (June 27). Subsequently, one-on-one meetings will be scheduled for the co-production forum participants.
Every participant of dok.connect is invited to attend open lectures, panel discussions, and festival presentations on the program between June 25-29 (detailed program TBA) and a networking dinner on June 26.
Open program
Join open lectures, panel discussions, and festival presentations between June 25-29, which are open to anyone interested in the current industry. The program covers film marketing and distribution, brings together festival representatives and sales agents, and helps the participants to navigate in the process of bringing their films to the audience.
PRELIMINARY PROGRAM (TBC):
MONDAY, JUNE 24
9:00-11:00
Unfold Your Film! Broaden your audience through smart marketing | Freddy Neumann (Neumann Strategy & Communication/DK)
Create your crucial marketing tools (poster / trailer / synopsis / stills) for clever positioning of your film in the market.
TUESDAY, JUNE 25
9:00-11:00
Introduction to Distribution | Peter Jaeger (Jaeger Creative/BE)
Not only piracy but now also Netflix and digital media changed the distribution chain completely. The excess of content is overwhelming and social media are changing their means of targeting audiences. How should the needs of films be assessed to prepare a long and successful career for your film? The intro guidance into the jungle of current distribution in Europe and North America and a glance at the future provided by Peter Jaeger.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 26
9:00-9:45
The New Documentary Landscape | Peter Hamilton (Peter Hamilton Consultants/US), moderated by Christine Le Goff (Zed/FR)
The distribution expert Peter Hamilton breaks down the latest statistics and trends in the documentary film industry. Learn what broadcasters are looking for, how digital platforms are shaping sales, and the evolving habits of your audience. Get the insights you need to position your documentaries in a post-COVID world strategically.
10:00-11:30
Navigating the New Normal | moderated by Andrea Prenghyová (dok.incubator)
Six key decision-makers from various sectors of the documentary industry tackle pressing questions about the post-COVID landscape. Listen to the KEYNOTES of leaders from festivals, sales, broadcasting, and marketing, where they share their experiences with current industry trends, strategies for adaptation, and visions for the future. Discover the challenges they currently face and their advice for independent producers.
12:00-13:30
Adapting to Change: Strategies for Small Production Companies | Liisa Karpo (napafilms/FI), Vadim Jendreyko (Mira Film/CH), Anas Abdel Wahab (Al Jazeera/EG), Maëlle Guénégues (CAT&Docs/FR) | moderated by Christine Le Goff (Zed/FR)
How does the evolving documentary landscape look from the perspective of small production companies and what are the effective strategies for navigating the contemporary creative documentary market? Experienced sales agents, producers and broadcasters will at the panel share insights on how to adapt and reshape your approach, think long-term, and leverage current changes to your advantage in a rapidly changing industry.
15:00-15:30
Introduction of dok.incubator projects
Learn more about the films being developed within the 2024 dok.incubator program.
15:30-17:00
Festival Map of Europe and North America | Maëlle Guénéguess (CAT&Docs/FR), Anja Dziersk (Rise & Shine/DE), Susanne Nodale (Cinephil/IL) | moderated by Liisa Karpo (napafilm/FI)
Which festivals are important and how can they help your film? Three experienced sales agents will show you how festivals work, explaining the conditions and rules of the most important European and North American festivals. They will guide you on how to plan an effective festival strategy and highlight which festivals are best suited for different types of films.
17:30-19:00
Festival's Backstage | moderated by Christine Le Goff (Zed/FR)
+ Stephanie Owens (Sundance), Sarah Dawson (IDFA), Marie Erbs Ørbæk (CPH:DOX), Anna Petrus (Docs Barcelona), Emmanuel Chicon (Visions du Réel), Yorgos Krassakopoulos (Thessaloniki IFF), Tomáš Poštulka (One World), Adriana Belešová (Jihlava IFF), Ondřej Kazík (AFO)
Programmers of prestigious competitions of European and North American festivals will present themselves, their festivals’ selection rules and strategies, and reveal more about how to use the festival’s potential to its best once your film is selected.
SATURDAY, JUNE 29
9:30-12:30
Morning with sales agents | moderated by Christine Le Goff (Zed/FR)
+ 3 sales agents (TBC)
Being in the catalog of one of the prestigious sales companies can get your film to the best festivals, draw attention and secure a bright future for your film. How to get to this point and how to work successfully with a sales agent? What are their conditions, and what do they expect from you? Christine Le Goff is questioning three different sales agents on how they select the films, how they deduct money from revenues and how to negotiate a good contract with a sales agent.
How we work
In dok.connect open program we are looking for film professionals interested in joining lectures reflecting the current situation of the industry.
In dok.connect co-production forum we are looking for producers who are searching for partners within the region of central Europe (CZ/SK/HU/PL/AT/DE), producers with a project to be discussed with decision-makers.
If you are selected to participate in the co-production forum (June 27), you will receive instructions on how to prepare a 5-minute PowerPoint presentation of you and your company based on 10 questions. The finished presentation has to be uploaded in the form by June 19.
We also provide you with access to the online catalog containing profiles of other participating producers and their projects, post-production houses, and film funds from the Central European region upon which you can select the companies you want to meet.
If your film is among the 6 selected for the meetings with decision-makers, you will be asked for your preferences in advance.
The schedule of your meetings will be available 3 days before the event.
How to apply
The applications to the dok.connect open program (lectures only) can be submitted until June 11.
Submit your application to dok.connect co-production forum before May 7. The selected producers will be informed by the end of May and they will receive further information regarding booking their one-to-one meetings and presentation of their company.
Fees & scholarship
The participation in Open program (lectures) is free and it doesn't include meals.
The co-production forum participation fee is 50 EUR per person/2 days.
Apart from the program, the fee includes two lunches on Wednesday, June 26, and Thursday, June 27 at the workshop venue and one networking dinner on Wednesday, June 26. If your project is selected for meetings with the decision-makers, its profile will be included in the catalog and you will receive a printed copy.
