Called “What are commissioning editors looking for?”, the event’s new round table will be broadcast on Tuesday September 8, featuring renowned speakers from around the world. In addition, the event launched 15 pitching sessions focused on documentaries.
As part of the 26th edition of the Rendez-Vous Bi@rritz, taking place from 7 to 9 September, TV France is launching a new format: “What are Commissioning Editors looking for?”.
The round table will be broadcast on the Rendez-Vous 2020 platform www.rdvbiarritz.com on Tuesday 8 September at 16.30 and will be available on replay until 30 September.
“An increasing number of distributors are becoming involved in, and investing or looking to invest in projects to support them from their beginnings” said Sarah Hemar, Executive Director of TV France. “Our role is to support them in this, and this has led to the creation of this event where we invite commissioners, and particularly broadcasters, to come and present their expectations to our members” she added.
During this round table, moderated by Variety journalist Elsa Keslassy, there will also be a discussion on commissioning editors’ editorial strategies in the light of the consequences of Covid-19. How has this health crisis impacted their choices and how do they see the future?
The speakers on stage will be: Catherine Alvaresse, Head of Documentaries, France Télévisions; Richard Maroko, Head of Programming, Mediawan; Christophe Sommet, Head of Themed Channels, Groupe TF1.
In addition, speakers joining by video link will be Kinu Miyano, Senior Producer BS World Documentary – NHK (Japan); Jens Monath, Commissioning Editor, Terra X – ZDF (Germany); and Gaspard Lamunière, Commissioning Editor & Buyer – RTS (Switzerland).
A round table launched this year on the theme of documentaries, echoing the 15 pitching sessions also initiated this year as part of the Rendez-Vous Bi@rritz 2020. “68% of our members work on French documentaries, which are acclaimed around the world, particularly in the fields of science (Dream the Future, Homo Sapiens…) and history (Apocalypse, The Rise and Fall of Versailles…),” said Sarah Hemar. “They immediately came on board to follow us in this initiative”.
15 pitching sessions for ambitious French documentary projects
Taking advantage of this year’s unique digital offer, Le Rendez-Vous Biarritz has, for the first time ever, invited its members to share pitches for new documentary projects with the buyersand commissioning editors set to attend the event (already 314 to date). Fifteen recorded pitches of four minutes each will be available between September 7 and 9 on the Rendez-Vous Bi@rritz 2020 digital platform.
The 15 documentary projects chosen:
• Who Cares? When Big Tech takes over our Health – ARTE Distribution
• Trump Almighty – Kwanza
• Agrochemicals vs Life – The Mass Extinction of Insects – AndanaFilms
• Tank Tech: Evolution of a War Machine – Balanga
• Animal Democracy – Terranoa
• Of Vaccinations and Science – AndanaFilms
• Charlie Parker – Illégitime Défense
• Europe Rebooted – Point du Jour International
• 1942, the World at War – Lucky You
• Anti-Semitism, 2 000 Years of History – ARTE Distribution
• Genius Plants – ZED
• The Altruistic Enterprise: a Realistic Utopia? – Beliane
• The Zimov Experiment – CLPB Rights
• The Lost Ones – Season 2 – INA
• Virus Hunter – Only Distrib
The full program for Le Rendez-Vous Bi@rritz 2020, including new content, speeches and events, will be released in just a few days.
