DocuRegio- Second Edition
You might sigh when you hear about another training programme for documentary producers in Europe… but this one is different and adds to Discovery Campus, Ex Oriente, Eurodoc and many others supported by the EU MEDIA Programme. In a very creative way, as the initiative that was taken by general manager Vincent Leclercq from CRRAV in Tourcoing in the North of France, focuses on bringing the regional film funds together to develop a production collaboration across the borders. And to train the local producers to go international.
In times where the tv channels do not really increase their budgets for creative documentaries – on the contrary it can be witnessed almost all over – the public funding is crucial. And if the independent production companies on an international scale are able to not only help each other creatively, but can also profit from financial support from regional fund outside their own country, there is a vision for the future.
In Tourcoing this week, at the DocuRegio pitching session led by Cecilia Lidin from EDN and pitching guru Sibylle Kurz, we had the pleasure to meet representatives from regional funds from France, Austria, Sweden, Germany, Ireland, Finland, Italy, Belgium and Denmark. There is still a long way to go to bend the local rules, but it is possible and several producers left the session with the intention to coproduce their project with a colleague company from another company, in order to open the door to local funding. And make a creative collaboration as well. Also with those, not to forget, broadcasters (YLE, Lichpunt, Arte, ZDF/3sat, ORF etc.) who fight for the survival of the creative documentary at tv.
