Davide Abbatescianni

“There are events in the history of Italy that mark a before and after. Because they shape History. And, because of them, the world will never be the same,” reads the beginning of the MIA project synopsis of Seveso – The Italian Chernobyl. At MIA 2024, Business Doc Europe caught up with the Fandango team to unpack the 4x50-minute documentary series about the notorious 1976 Seveso disaster, an industrial accident that occurred in a small chemical manufacturing plant.

The Greek-Italian co-pro The Discreet Charm of Forgery by Dimitris Gotsis is a 5x30-minute investigative documentary series delving into the complex world of art forgery, where the lines between authenticity and deception blur. Ioanna Davi, from Chania-based firm Indigo View, is producing the project with Claudio Esposito, of Rome and Bari-based outfit The Piranesi Experience. Davi talks deception with BDE.

At MIA 2024, Business Doc Europe caught up with Vincenzo Filippo of Lupin Films, one of the producers involved in the making of Reborn – Perfect Love, helmed by Giovanni Conte and Francesco Pascucci, currently in development. The project concerns ‘reborn’ dolls that closely resemble children. “They exist for one purpose: to allow the women who cradle them to fill a void that work, a husband, or [their own] children cannot fill.”

The La Rochelle conversation sought to explore the different programming strategies for nature and wildlife docs and shows, while acknowledging that humans are taking centre stage within the content, forging emotional connections to convey a powerful conservation message, with Indigenous communities leading the way. But are stories with human characters connecting wider audiences with nature?

On June 25 Sunny Side of the Doc hosted a "Meet the Executives" session during which National Geographic (NatGeo) reps took centre stage to share insights into the factual needs of the Channel, commissioning opportunities and to explain who commissions what. The session also sought to “deep dive” into some of the series that work best for the channel as well as provide sneak peaks at new content in production.

On 26 June, Sunny Side of the Doc hosted a panel focusing on documentary and factual programming funding titled "Show us the Money! " The talk, moderated by The Bridge Managing Director Amanda Groom, sought to explore some of the more successful examples of innovative new financial structures and commercial models that are already working for documentary and factual producers.

After snagging the Best Pitch award in the Global Issues section of this year’s Sunny Side of the Doc (24-27 June), Business Doc Europe spoke to Renaud Lavergne, Factstory producer of Inside Gaza, helmed by Hélène Lam Trong and the Agence France Press (AFP) Gaza team. Lavergne and his crew embarked on the project after the events of October 7.

BDE takes a closer look at one of the buzziest projects pitched in the Science section of Sunny Side of the Doc 2024 as seasoned producer Massimo Arvat unpacks the core themes and features of his new project Unconventional Gardeners, helmed by Alessandro Bernard and Paolo Ceretto. The feature is being produced by Italy’s Zenit Arti Audiovisive and Germany’s Dirk Manthey Film with backing from Italy’s Ministry of Culture, the Piemonte Doc Film Fund and the Trentino Film Commission.

At Sunny Side of the Doc 2024, Business Doc Europe caught up with Frankie Fenton, director of the feature-length project How to Stop a War. Fenton’s latest effort will be pitched in the History strand of the French industry event on June 27. During our chat, Fenton touched on the project’s inception, its visual look and style and the timely themes it tackles.

Business Doc Europe speaks to Clara Vuillermoz, producer at Paris-based outfit Solent Production about François-Xavier Destors’ bold feature-length doc project Edgar Hilsenrath – The Masturbator, which showcases June 25. “At La Rochelle, we expect to put the project on the map for securing co-producers, broadcasters and a sales agent,” says Vuillermoz.