AT THE HEART OF THE 3RD EDITION OF THE DOC DAY

The 3rd edition of this full day event will take place on Tuesday May 15. Conferences and discussions will gather documentary film professionals and non-fiction lovers under one crucial theme: EXPLORATION(S) – to reflect on the near future of documentary and to listen to filmmakers in selection talk about their work. This year, the Doc Day offers an exciting program including morning, afternoon and evening gatherings.

The morning session will be introduced by the Marché du Film – Festival de Cannes and the CNC (Centre National du Cinéma et de l’Image Animée) at the Plage du Gray d’Albion.

The day will start with an Opening Keynote by ESA astronaut Thomas Pesquet – a filmmaker in space. One year after his 6-month mission on the International Space Station, he will discuss Europe's exciting ongoing programs that go even beyond 2001: A Space Odyssey's visionary promises. Including a presentation on the multi-format documentary project about his mission in space.

« Opening the Doc Day with ESA Astronaut Thomas Pesquet gives the tone to this 3rd edition of the Doc Day: EXPLORATION(S)!, » said Jérôme Paillard, Executive Director. « We are very excited to welcome him and the multi-media documentary project about his mission. The project includes notably virtual reality experiences Being An Astronaut (Part 1 & Part 2). This first ever VR experience made with images shot in space by Pesquet will be presented by HP at NEXT, the venue for innovation at the Marché du Film. »

Then, Paul Pauwels, the director of European Documentary Network (EDN) and André Singer (Producer, Spring Films) will introduce EDN’s initiative: “Media & Society: European Documentary in a Changing Media Landscape.

This short presentation will be followed by a round-table with renowned industry experts Orwa Nyrabia (Artistic Director – IDFA), Fabrice Puchault (Director, Society and Culture Unit, ARTE), Tom Quinn (Founder & CEO, NEON) and Diane Weyermann (President, Documentary Film & TV, PARTICIPANT MEDIA). They will share their views with moderator Wendy Mitchell (Screen International) on the 3 biggest challenges and 3 opportunities lying ahead for the industry and the filmmakers in the next 5 years.

In the afternoon, the Doc Day will continue at the Olympia theatre.

Filmmaker Julie Bertuccelli, President of La Scam, will start by presenting L’Œil d’Or-Documentary Award, to be awarded by a Jury presided by Emmanuel Finkiel to a documentary film presented in one of the Cannes’ selections (Official Selection, Un Certain Regard, Cannes Classics, Special Screenings and Out of Competition, Short Films, Quinzaine des Réalisateurs and Critic’s Week).

Filmmaker Marie Losier will then discuss with Artistic Director Catherine Bizern her latest film Cassandro the Exotico! (in selection, Acid), an intimate documentary portrait of one of the most renowned performers 2 in the astonishing world of Mexican Lucha Libre wrestling.

It will be followed by a discussion When Docs Get Animated: Exploring, Reviving & Preserving Memory featuring Stefano Savona, Director of Samouni Road (in selection, Quinzaine des Réalisateurs) and Anja Kofmel, Director of Chris the Swiss (in selection, Semaine de la Critique) moderated by the film critic and journalist Stéphane Dreyfus (La Croix).

Pierre-Alexis Chevit, Manager of the Doc Corner, added: « EXPLORATION(S) is clearly a good theme when it comes to talk about the work of Marie Losier, Stefano Savona and Anja Kofmel. It is a pleasure and an honor to have them all three together for one afternoon to talk about documentaries in Cannes. »To close this afternoon session, Joan Simon, Co-Writer and Executive Producer of Be Natural: The Untold Story of Alice Guy-Blaché (directed by Pamela B. Green, in selection, Cannes Classics), will give a tribute to Alice Guy-Blaché, the first woman director in the history of cinema.

In the evening, the Doc Day will close with a networking event and a closing screening.

The Doc Lovers Mixer, sponsored by CPH:DOX, DOK Leipzig, IDFA and Connect4Climate - World Bank Group, will bring everyone together to pursue sharing ideas and passions over drinks, bringing the Doc Day to a friendly conclusion out by the sea.

The Doc Day will close with the screening of 16 Sunrises, a feature documentary directed by PierreEmmanuel Le Goff. The film is part of the multi-format documentary project about Thomas Pesquet’s space odyssey. The film documents his mission in space: On November 17th 2016, Thomas Pesquet takes off for his first mission in space. 450 kilometers from Earth, over six months during which the world seems to fade into the unknown, a dialogue is woven between the astronaut and Saint Exupéry's visionary works which he took with him on the space station.

The Marché du Film – Festival de Cannes will take place from Tuesday, May 8 to Thursday, May 17, 2018.