Docs on the Spot

Within the framework of the "Media & Society" initiative, EDN - European Documentary Network will meet members of the European Parliament on 27 September 2018 in Brussels, Belgium, in order to present the preliminary results of EDN's recent survey on the state of the documentary industry and discuss potential support structures for the documentary sector. The session, organized by Member of the European Parliament (MEP) Rebecca Harms and EDN, will be attended by several invited MEP's, EDN director Paul Pauwels and representatives of the Media & Society study group.

The meeting at the European Parliament will focus on the challenges and opportunities that the documentary film sector is currently facing. Based on the findings of EDN's "Media and Society" survey, the session will allow EU policy makers to gain insights into the current state of the documentary film industry, which entails topics such as the financing and distribution of documentary films, their cultural impact on our societies and many other related fields that were subject of the EDN survey. The rise of new platforms and business models in the film sector, including related challenges and opportunities, will also be touched upon during the meeting. The overall aim will be to identify possible solutions and discuss potential support structures for the documentary sector within the media industry.

The first results of the "Media and Society" combine facts and figures from a broad spectrum of industry players and stakeholders, including broadcasters, distributors, sales agents, producers, directors and many others who are part of the value chain of the documentary industry.

EDN director Paul Pauwels states, "We very much look forward to this meeting since it allows policy makers to get involved in our comprehensive initiative. Equipped with the first results from our Media & Society survey, we will be able to provide unique insights regarding the current state of the documentary film industry in Europe. I believe this is a necessary step in order to start an informed discussion about where we are today, as documentary professionals, and where we're headed in future. The media landscape is changing fast and we need initiatives and opportunities like these in order to ensure that high quality documentaries have their proper place in this new environment."

A first report and evaluation of the survey results will be publicly presented at the International Documentary Filmfestival Amsterdam (IDFA) in November.

More information about the initiative "Media & Society - European Documentary in a Changing Media Landscape" is available here.