VdR–Industry will once again take place during the 54th edition of Visions du Réel from April 23 to 27. This year Benelux will be the focus of the “Switzerland Meets…” programme, running 23/24 April. The Documentary & Audiovisual Forum, a think tank and discussion ground for the national industry, will be held on Sunday 23 April.
“Switzerland Meets…” is a special event enabling Swiss producers and representatives of public funds to meet with delegations from a specific region or country to foster co-production, networking and collaboration. After Scandinavia in 2022, it is now the turn of Benelux (Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg) to be in the spotlight. “Benelux is a fertile training ground for new talents as well as a region seasoned in co-production,” write organisers.
Partners are the Federal Office of Culture (FOC), Flanders Image, Wallonie Bruxelles Images, SEE NL and Film Fund Luxemburg, and the programme will unfold between the 23rd and the 24th. The first day will comprise an introductory roundtable discussion to present challenges and opportunities for co-production between Switzerland and Benelux, and discuss the country-specific aspects of coproduction and funding partnership (funds, broadcasters, tax incentives, etc.), and a presentation of the selected production companies (from both Benelux and Switzerland), their profiles and line-ups.
On the second day, business-focused individual meetings between the Benelux and Swiss professionals will take place, allowing participants to exchange on their own projects for potential co-productions.
The Documentary & Audiovisual Forum will be held on Sunday 23 April at the beginning of the festival’s Industry days. A think tank and place for discussion for the national industry, the Forum’s 2023 edition will look at issues relating to audiences, particularly young audiences, and their relationships with distribution.
“A think tank and discussion ground for the national industry, the Forum invites the sector in all the country’s linguistic regions to come together and exchange views in a setting that is conducive to reflection and the emergence of new ideas,” write organisers.
After focusing on the international distribution of Swiss documentaries, the Forum’s 2023 edition will look at issues relating to audiences, particularly young audiences, and their relationship with broadcasting. “VdR–Industry will propose a cross-disciplinary talk on how to match films and audiences, the strategies to implement or develop a wider spectrum of spectators and rejuvenating audiences, and on the place that documentary holds within this concern,” write organisers. The 54th edition of the Visions du Réel festival runs April 21-30 2023
