Doc Day

In partnership with Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland, Cork Film Festival continues to develop its focus on high-quality Irish and international documentary cinema. Doc Day seeks to inform, inspire and connect established and emerging directors, producers and writers with international producers, directors, programmers, sales agents, distributors and film sector leaders to further understand and develop opportunities in the documentary landscape.

Sessions

Screen Ireland Platform: The Future of Irish Documentary Film

James Hickey, Chief Executive of Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland, discusses the future of Irish feature documentary filmmaking and funding in Ireland, including Screen Ireland’s strategic objectives for the long-term ambitions and sustainability of the sector following the publication of Ireland 2040 earlier this year.

Presented by: James Hickey – Chief Executive, Fís Eireann / Screen Ireland

Documentary as the Cinema of Social Concern

The panel aims to examine the experience of filmmakers who tackle social issues in their filmmaking: what inspires their efforts, how do they choose their projects, and navigating the politics of this type of non-fiction filmmaking.

Speakers:

• Thomas Dumican – Director, No Greater Law
• Cynthia Lowen – Director, Netizens
• Lea Marin – Producer, What is Democracy?
• Treasa O’Brien – Director, Town of Strangers
• Astra Taylor – Director, What is Democracy?

Through the Lens: challenges and opportunities for Irish filmmakers internationally

International documentary film industry players, including leading financiers, sales agents and distributors, discuss how Irish documentary filmmakers can engage and collaborate with them, and strategically promote their work on an international level.

Speakers:

• Isabel Davis – Head of Production / Producer Pulse Films
• Calum Gray – Head of Sales, Embankment Films
• Katie Holly – Producer, Blinder Films
• Greg Phillips – President of Distribution, Kew Media Group

Building a Sustainable Model for Irish Feature Documentary Production

A case study of Northern Irish production house Fine Point Films, exploring how the company has built a sustainable documentary specific company model within the domestic and international markets, and the opportunities and challenges involved in producing a non-fiction specific remit in their output.

Speakers:

• Trevor Birney – Producer, Fine Point Films
• Brendan Byrne – Director, Fine Point Films
• Sarah Dillon – Development Manager, The WRAP Fund

What We Talk About When We Talk About Documentary

The documentary film landscape has changed significantly over the last decade, with innovative and creative new approaches to creating non-fiction film coming to the fore; through techniques including animation, docu-drama and hybrid filmmaking; which blur the lines on how documentary film traditionally has been seen. Our panel discuss how these methods are changing the nature of documentary film, current trends, and what the future holds for the form.

Speakers:

• Sarah Dawson – Film Programme Manager and Associate Programmer, Sheffield Doc/Fest
• Michael Hayden – Programme Director, Cork Film Festival
• Donal Mosher – Co-director, The Gospel of Eureka
• Justine Nagan – Executive Director, American Documentary / Executive Producer, POV and America ReFramed
• Michael Palmieri – Co-director, The Gospel of Eureka

Doc Day Networking Drinks

The Imperial Hotel, 76 South Mall