European Commission
Poster of the MEDIA events in San Sebastian
European Film Forum
Beyond COVID-19: Revitalising the European Audiovisual Industry
Tuesday 22 September, 15.00 > 16.45
The EFF will reflect on the challenges and opportunities faced by the European audiovisual industry in the context triggered by Covid-19. It will also make an in depth analysis of how this situation is affecting the European audiovisual sector, which was already undergoing a process of transformation in its business models and structure due to the digital revolution.
The discussion will start by analysing the effect of the crisis on the sector and by setting the scene for the new landscape. In addition, Next Generation EU will be explored to see how the audiovisual industry can best benefit from it.
Along the same lines, the first panel will look at further incentives and measures for recovery; especially those to encourage the creation and renewal of the fabric of the European audiovisual industry. The second panel will focus on the transformation that the sector is experiencing. After COVID 19, the crisis in the production and distribution structures of independent cinema will probably require some changes.
Masterclass with Ted Hope
(Host: John Hopewell, from Variety)
Thursday, 24 September – 18.00 > 19.00
Few people know today’s cinematic landscape in the same depth as Ted Hope. Having garnered 12 Academy Awards during his career, Hope has been a witness and leading light in the main transformations
experienced by the film industry in recent decades.
His masterclass in San Sebastian coincides with his return to the world of independent production and with the publication of a revised and extended edition of his book Hope for Film (Counterpoint Press), with two new chapters on his experience in the world of platforms and the dilemmas, successes and failures he faced in this new territory that has transformed today’s film industry.
During the masterclass, Hope will talk about his perspective on independent film production and creation at the present time
when the emergence of the OTT platforms has changed the traditional structures of the independent film landscape in both the USA, and more specifically, in Europe. His knowledge and experience as an independent producer and more recently, Head of Movies at Amazon Studios, will be both interesting and inspiring for creators and professionals in the film industry.
Zinemaldia & Technology
Friday, 25 September – 10.00 > 12.15
Zinemaldia & Technology represents a strategic commitment for the San Sebastian Festival, which aims to position itself
as a benchmark space for technological and audiovisual innovation. Given the situation caused by COVID-19, the complete third edition of Zinemaldia & Technology will run virtually. It will include a masterclass and presentation of the projects selected for the Zinemaldia Startup Challenge, the competition intended for entrepreneurs and recently created European startups proposing new business projects based on the application of digital technologies to the audiovisual field. The five finalist projects will defend their proposals online and the jury will decide the winner of the Zinemaldia Startup Challenge Award, revealing their names at the Industry AwardsAnnouncement on the afternoon of Friday 25 September.
More information about these three events
Events organised by the Creative Europe MEDIA desks:
Building audiences beyond Europe
Monday, 21 September - 17.00 > 18.00
Organised by the Creative Europe MEDIA Desks from Denmark, Bari (Italy), Portugal and the Basque Country, this event will address how documentary distributors, festivals, exhibitors and distribution platforms face the crisis generated by the covid-19 pandemic and how they will manage to maintain and increase audiences. Sharing high quality documentaries with audiences around the world is especially important in a world of fake news and when democracy and the freedom of speech is challenged many places around the world.
The round table will be moderated by Alex Navarro (Creative Europe Desk Cataluña) and will be joined by:
- Mette Hofmann Meyer from Why Foundation, a charitable organisation that produces and distributes documentaries & multimedia content about human rights, democracy, justice and equality.
- Inti Cordera, executive director of DocsMx, a documentary film festival & platform from México, which serves as a communication medium for cultural gathering.
- Miguel Ribeiro, one of the directors from Doclisboa, a film festival that beyond its daring programme fosters a bridge for the distribution of non-fiction films both in local cinemas, as well as in VoD platforms.
- Diana Tabakov from The Doc Alliance Films, the result of a creative partnership of 7 key European documentary film festivals: CPH:DOX, Doclisboa, Millennium Docs Against Gravity FF, DOK Leipzig, FIDMarseille, Ji. hlava IDFF and Visions du Réel.
More info on how to join to follow - stay tuned!
30 MEDIA-tips from the perspective of the MEDIA Desks
Tuesday, 22 September - 12.00 > 13.15
In 2021, the MEDIA sub-programme of Creative Europe will celebrate its 30th anniversary. The professional know-how collected during the years is a true treasure which deserves to be shared.
The MEDIA Desks from Catalonia, Andalusia, Spain and Euskadi, organise a conference aimed at newcomers and professionals who plan to impulse their projects on the international stage.
The round table will be composed by Àlex Navarro (Creative Europe MEDIA Catalonia), Victoria Fernández Andrino (Creative Europe MEDIA Andalusia), Peter Andermatt (Creative Europe MEDIA Spain) and Ainhoa González Sanchiz (Creative Europe MEDIA Euskadi), who will tackle key concepts and recommendations when addressing MEDIA.