The participants with the following types of badges will have access to the DocumentaryTank@AFF program:
- Industry
- Jury
- Film delegate
- University
Priority of access will be given to Industry guests. Due to limited number of spaces, participants with University badges will only have access if there are available places.
For participants with a press accreditation, access will be granted only to those who have requested access to the industry program
AstraFilmLab
DocumentaryTank@AFF will host AstraFilmLab, which gives documentary filmmakers, who are currently developing stories originating in this part of Europe, the opportunity to present their ongoing work to an audience of both local and international film professionals, in order to attract possibilities of finance, co-production and distribution. Aiming to support new voices and bridge the gap between new talent and decision makers, AstraFilmLab will offer documentary filmmakers the opportunity to further develop their projects and gain the support meant to help finalize their films.
The AstraFilmLab program is structured into three separate events, which will give the opportunity to ten projects to meet potential partners and receive feedback on their documentary films. All projects will participate in training workshops, will have the opportunity to be pitched in front of an audience that will consist of producers, distributors and festival representatives. Following the pitch, all participants with a project will have the opportunity to have individual meetings with established experts in the field of production, funding and distribution of documentaries.
Talks and networking opportunities
Several lectures in the DocumentaryTank@AFF 2019 program will be dedicated to discussing the challenges and concerns that documentary filmmakers usually face when putting together a strategy for their project and the opportunities that some of the film industry forums in Europe are offering in this direction.
This year, Astra Film Festival is launching an exciting series of special live events that celebrates the art of documentary by exploring the work and philosophy of filmmakers who have made a major and distinctive contribution to the development of the form.
A Life in Documentaries: Peter DaleThe series opens with a very special guest, Peter Dale, one of the most important and respected figures in British documentary. As director and producer at the BBC, Head of Documentaries at Channel 4, creator and Head of digital channel More 4 and founder of independent production company Rare Day, Peter has unique and vast experience of all facets of documentary filmmaking. He has been a key player in the production of quality films in Britain over the past four decades and has supported and inspired generations of filmmakers. He is currently Head of Documentary at the world-renowned National Film and Television School (NFTS). Peter will discuss his prestigious career and storytelling philosophy with Bafta-nominated director Liviu Tipurita and will also take questions from the public. The event will be filmed and broadcast on AFF’s website.
with Katarzyna Szarecka and Adam Paplinski
A good pitch can get a film made, while a bad pitch can leave a project withering on a shelf. DocumentaryTank@AFF is pleased to partner with Pitch the Doc, an online pitching platform, for a workshop on how to present your project in order to maximize your chances of success. Participants in the workshop will be involved in the discussions, and will have the opportunity to talk about their own individual pitches, and pitch strategies with our experts. If you have a project you are working on, or if you are looking for some tips on how to best present and pitch your project, join the discussion! Making your first documentaryA roundtable discussion between students and debut documentary filmmakers present with their films in the Astra Film Festival 2019 selection, this program will address good practices of documentary filmmaking as well as possible challenges and pitfalls of completing your first feature documentary. This dialogue will facilitate the sharing of experiences, regarding the possibilities for development, applying for workshops and grants, how to manage a project, and what to do once you have completed your film. Join us and share your own experience!
Valentina Miu, coordinator of Creative Europe – Media Romania will present European opportunities available for documentary filmmakers within the European Union, Creative Europe MEDIA program, focused especially on project development support. She will be joined by Irina Malcea, a producer with Luna Film, who will share her experience in applying for funding and producing successful projects, including the feature documentary Profu / Teach (dir. Alex Brendea) that will have its premiere at Astra Film Festival 2019.
From Script to Screen: best practices of documentary developmentEven for experienced filmmakers, the development of a documentary film can prove to be an unpredictable and difficult journey. This panel discussion will detail some of the current conditions, opportunities and issues that European filmmakers face. Moderated by Brendan Culleton and including contributions from established industry professionals who will share from their experience in developing and producing documentaries, this forum will facilitate the dialogue between emerging and experienced filmmakers present.
By Alles Schick
Sebastian Basti Jaensch and Alvaro Martin Treviño, are two multidisciplinary digital artists dedicated to the world of visual experiences and interactive environments. They are constantly working around new forms of visual atmosphere, interactive and audiovisual shows; always researching to expand the possibilities of audiovisual and integration in space as a new and suggestive vehicle of communication with the viewer. The common interest in aesthetics, communication, art, new forms of show and entertainment and the application of new technology to them, are the principles that drive their projects. With the aim of integrating visuals in the physical environment, they use different projection techniques adapted to each project and space. They will talk about how messages converse with the space in which they are exposed to be fully integrated into the architecture through digital techniques, which allows a total video adaptation of the three-dimensional space.
Meet the expertsDocumentaryTank@AFF guests are available for short individual meetings. An opportunity to receive personal advice and meet future partners. Meet the experts provides the opportunity to festival accredited guests for 10-minute meetings booked on site, on a first-come first-served basis.