DocuDays Kyiv: Danish Xpertise Conveyed

How to pitch your upcoming documentary here and now? And how to successfully promote it once it’s completed? On June 11 and 12, the DOCU/PRO platform will host events that will help industry-accredited participants explore the tools of development, effective pitching, and PR for documentary films.
At the morning lecture on June 11, Danish expert in international documentary development Mikael Opstrup will reflect on unpredictability in the documentary filmmaking process — and how it shapes pitch preparation. He will guide the audience through key questions: What should you look for in a documentary story? Who is a character? Does a pitch trailer have its own dramaturgy? What’s the difference between stories and events?
Mikael Opstrup is a leading international expert and consultant in trailer creation, co-production, workshop planning, and delivery. He is the author of The Uncertainty – book about developing Character driven Documentary. From 2011 to 2019, he headed the training program at the European Documentary Network (EDN) and was the initiator and editor of the EDN Co-Production Guide.
The next day, June 12, PR consultant, journalist, and founder of Bilenberg PR, Line Bilenberg, will share PR strategies and approaches to help your film stand out. She will also explain the difference between working with a professional publicist and trying to promote a film on your own — especially at international festivals.
Line Bilenberg worked for many years as a journalist — on television, radio, news, and magazines. For the past 13 years, she has been an independent PR consultant providing public relations support primarily in the film industry. Her expertise includes PR strategy development, lobbying, promotional campaigns, press tours, media training, public outreach, and more.
Line has also worked with Ukrainian films — including 20 Days in Mariupol during its European premiere at CPH:DOX in Copenhagen.
If you’re interested in getting individual feedback on your project, this year DOCU/PRO industry-accredited participants will have the opportunity to book one-on-one consultations with Mikael Opstrup and Brigid O’Shea, tutor and director of the DAE – Documentary Association of Europe. Details – via the link.

These events are held by Docudays UA in collaboration with the Embassy of Denmark in Ukraine.

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Tue Steen Müller
Tue Steen Müller

Müller, Tue Steen
Documentary Consultant and Critic, DENMARK

Worked with documentary films for more than 20 years at the Danish Film Board, as press officer, festival representative and film consultant/commissioner. Co-founder of Balticum Film and TV Festival, Filmkontakt Nord, Documentary of the EU and EDN (European Documentary Network).
Awards: 2004 the Danish Roos Prize for his contribution to the Danish and European documentary culture. 2006 an award for promoting Portuguese documentaries. 2014 he received the EDN Award “for an outstanding contribution to the development of the European documentary culture”. 2016 The Cross of the Knight of the Order for Merits to Lithuania. 2019 a Big Stamp at the 15th edition of ZagrebDox. 2021 receipt of the highest state decoration, Order of the Three Stars, Fourth Class, for the significant contribution to the development and promotion of Latvian documentary cinema outside Latvia. In 2022 he received an honorary award at DocsBarcelona’s 25th edition having served as organizer and programmer since the start of the festival.
From 1996 until 2005 he was the first director of EDN (European Documentary Network). From 2006 a freelance consultant and teacher in workshops like Ex Oriente, DocsBarcelona, Archidoc, Documentary Campus, Storydoc, Baltic Sea Forum, Black Sea DocStories, Caucadoc, CinéDOC Tbilisi, Docudays Kiev, Dealing With the Past Sarajevo FF as well as programme consultant for the festivals Magnificent7 in Belgrade, DOCSBarcelona, Verzio Budapest, Message2Man in St. Petersburg and DOKLeipzig. Teaches at the Zelig Documentary School in Bolzano Italy.

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