Filmmakers Alex Gibney, Johan Grimonprez and Laura Huertas Millan, along with industry figures Jessica Harrop from Sandbox and Marie Nelson from Hot Docs will be among the speakers at CPH:CONFERENCE, the discussion program at documentary festival CPH:DOX.
The program, which is curated in partnership with the training initiative documentary Campus, has the theme “rebuilding narratives.”
The conference will kick off on March 18 with a collaboration with the DISCO Network – made up of Ambulante, AFLAMUNA, DocsMX, Doc Society, DocSP, Docubox, In-Docs and India Docs – who will present and workshop “Our Declaration of Independence.” This session, led by Jad Abi-Khalil (AFLAMUNA) and Beadie Finzi (Doc Society), is a result of an initiative aiming to “articulate the importance of independent documentaries to culture, society and democracy, and to advocate for the resources and platforms they deserve.”
In the mornings of March 19-21, there will be thought-provoking conversations with filmmakers featured in this year’s CPH:DOX program.
First, “A Morning With,” moderated by Thom Powers, will feature filmmakers Alex Gibney, Johan Grimonprez and Asmae El Moudir, who will “reflect on the creative challenges they face as filmmakers, the lessons they carry forward into their future projects and the innovative paths they intend to explore in questioning the status quo.”
Second, in “Filmmakers in Dialogue,” moderated by Wendy Mitchell, filmmakers will engage in discussions about their latest projects. Directors Alina Simone, Shiori Ito and Sissel Dargis Morell are among those taking part.
Under the banner “Re:Building Narratives,” the afternoons at CPH:ConFERENCE will explore accessibility and equity in documentary. These sessions will be led by Derren Lawford, Nanna Rebekka and Kat Cizek. Some of the confirmed names in the lineup include Victoria Thomas, Lizzie Gillet, Sigrid Dyekjær, Lisa Jackson and Mila Aung-Thwin.
A session on climate justice in storytelling on March 22 is the culmination of the inaugural program that brought together climate experts, activists and creatives from the Nordic countries to develop “impactful stories and engagement strategies to inspire meaningful action.” The panel discussions, curated by Diego Galafassi of Hum Studio Interactive and Anne Gerd of Differ Media, will explore the multifaceted nature of climate storytelling across biophysical, social and spiritual dimensions.
Mara Gourd-Mercado, head of industry and training of CPH:DOX, said: “Amid constant change, CPH:ConFERENCE carves out a moment to pause, reflect, and mobilize. It’s a space where the art of documentary filmmaking and the heart of activism intersect, challenging us to reimagine the stories we tell and the impact they have.”
Gourd-Mercado added: “This conference is a catalyst for those committed to exploring and addressing the pressing issues of our time. Here, we unite to rethink narratives and inspire action, embodying the belief that through understanding and creativity, we can forge a path forward.”
Donata von Perfall, managing director of documentary Campus, said: “It is the mission of documentary Campus to empower filmmakers and other media professionals to engage in meaningful conversations, create new partnerships, promote a more inclusive industry and bring important stories to audiences worldwide – to make a difference.”
The full conference program is here.
