Italian pubcaster RAI announced October 12 its decision to join the Global Doc Initiative, which now comprises 8 major national broadcasters, and unveiled details of a new project on nuclear fusion, to be co-produced with France Télévisions. Both announcements were made at the MIA market, running October 11-15 in Rome, during an event moderated by the MIA Deputy Director and Head of Doc & Factual Marco Spagnoli.
Also in attendance were Caroline Behar, France Télévisions Head of International Co-pro and Acquisitions, and Rai Documentari’s Director Fabrizio Zappi.
RAI will join the Global Doc Initiative as its 8th member, alongside France Télévisions, Channel 4 (UK), Germany’s ZDF, Canada’s CBC, Austria’s ORF, SVT (Sweden) and Australia’s ABC. The initiative, modelled after pubcaster alliances in scripted TV, launched in 2018.
At Sunny Side of the Doc 2022 the Global Doc Initiative launched a call for documentary proposals within two categories, the first focusing on ancient civilisations, archaeology, paleontology, geology and space exploration while the second addresses subject of how cutting-edge science can provide solutions to save the planet.
Zappi highlighted how the subject of RAI’s new project made it a “natural co-production.” The show will concern a community of almost 5,000 European scientists who are building a prototype for future fusion exploration. Behar explained how the project could be beneficial to revamp the image of science, often mistreated by press and public opinion, showing how rigorous their work is.
Addressing the wider call for projects, France Télévisions’s Behar reminded producers both in attendance and online of the imminent deadline for submissions, set for October 14.
The jury, which includes reps from all the eight broadcasters, will pick up to three projects, two from the first category and one from the second. Budgets will be up to €350,000 per documentary, and the winners will be revealed at the World Congress of Science and Factual Producers unspooling in Glasgow running 28 November – 1 December.
