Description
The Jihlava International Documentary Film Festival is the largest event of its kind in Central and Eastern Europe with a history of 18 years. It focuses on the promotion of Czech documentary filmmaking and helps to create an institutional background for the development and distribution of Czech cinematography. This DOC.STREAM project will help further develop the Jihlava Festival. The objective of the project is to promote collaboration between Czech and Norwegian cultural entities, presenting Czech and Norwegian documentary cinematography to Czech and Norwegian audiences and film professionals from among commissioning editors, producers, directors, festival representatives, art house operators, film distributors, journalists, academicians, film institution representatives as well as cultural centres, while also ensuring that most of the activities are open to general public. Within the framework of the project, it is intended to follow up on the successful panels and workshops and to use experience to bring together the broadest possible group of film professionals from various areas and various types of institutions and organizations from Norway and the Czech Republic. As regards the project outputs, both partner festivals (Bergen and Jihlava) will feature a multilevel presentation of Norwegian and Czech cinematography, including screenings, classes, retrospectives and industry activities for film professionals. The Donor partners are the Bergen International Film Festival and the Western Norway Film Center. Within the framework of the project, Norwegian participants will take part in the existing programmes of Jihlava Festival: the Festival Identity, Emerging Producers and Inspiration Forum. The partners will positively affect the quality of the workshops. The participants will gain new experience, know-how and establish new contacts. Both partners will also benefit from mutual promotion using numerous tools and communication channels.
Summary of project results
The project "DOC.STREAM: New Impulses for Czech-Norwegian Documentary Environment" aimed at promotion of collaboration between Czech and Norwegian cultural entities and film professionals from among commissioning editors, producers, directors, festival representatives, art house operators, film distributors, journalists, academicians, film institution representatives as well as cultural centres. Most of these activities were also open to general public. The activities consisted of three basic parts: 1. Film and Industry program at Ji.hlava International Documentary Film Festiva (lDFF) in October 2015 and film program at The Bergen International Film Festival (BIFF) in September 2015. In both partner festivals a multi-level presentation of Norwegian and Czech cinematography including screenings, masterclass, debates, retrospective presentation of Norwegian and Czech documentary cinematography and two film breakfasts of Czech and Norwegian film professionals (moderated discussions on practical, theoretical and esthetical issues) took place. 2. CZ / NOR KNOW-HOW EXCHANGE. A five-day meeting of Czech and Norwegian film professionals in September 2015 (Oslo and Bergen) and in October 2015 (Prague and Jihlava) was held. 3. Echoes of the Jihlava IDFF in Bergen in February 2016. 6 documentary films were screened (3 feature-length and 3 short films) in 3 program blocks in 3 different locations. All levels of the project promoted the development of a broader culturally-social dialogue and the search for possible ways of how documentary filmmaking can help enhance social integration.
Summary of bilateral results
The project had 2 different partners from donor countries. The Bergen International Film Festival (BIFF) - the largest Norwegian film festival and The Western Norway Film Center (Vestnorsk filmsenter) - regional centre for the development of short and documentary film production and for the support of young filmmakers in the region. Within the framework of the DOC.STREAM project Norwegian participants took part in the existing programmes of Jihlava IDFF 2015: the Festival Identity, Emerging Producers and Inspiration Forum. Their participation positively affected the quality of the workshops and Master Classes. The participants gained new experiences, know-how and established new contacts. The Norwegian partners played a large part in the successful project implementation - the dramaturgic contribution of the partner was crucial (knowledge of the Norwegian documentary cinematography and also wide network of contacts). Thanks to this partnership, Czech filmmakers have been given the opportunity to present their work and the Jihlava IDFF and to promote the Czech documentary scene in Norway. Further collaboration with partners is planned.