A key characteristic of documentary film, which differs it from all other art forms, is that the main building blocks – aka life – are beyond control of the creators. This wonderful and frustrating condition makes the production process filled with uncertainties – even more so when pitching a film that doesn’t exist.

In my talk I will address what this means for the film process and for the pitching. This will include asking simple questions that hold complex answers, such as: What are we looking for? What is a character? Does a pitch trailer have a dramaturgy? What’s the difference between stories and events? How does a decision maker’s brain look? 

I’ll also give it a try with some answers – with the ambition to inspire you to exchange them with your own answers. Or even better, formulate your own questions.

Bearing in mind that questions, when it comes to art, are so much more interesting than answers.

Mikael Opstrup – a specialist in international documentary project development, trailer consultancy, co-productions, workshop planning & tutoring. Author of THE UNCERTAINTY – book about developing Character driven Documentary. Head of Studies at European Documentary Network, EDN (2011-2019), creator and editor of EDNs Co-production Guide.

Worked as expert, tutor, moderator for IDFA (The Netherlands), Hot Docs (Canada), Nordisk Panorama (Nordic), Institute of Documentary Film (Czech Rep.), Baltic Sea Docs (Latvia), Docs Barcelona (Spain), In-Docs (Indonesia), Dox Box (Syria & Germany) a.o. Developed and headed a number of international workshops. Produced international documentaries for a couple of decades, latest as co-owner of Final Cut Productions in Copenhagen, Denmark (2002-2009).

This event is held by Docudays UA in collaboration with the Embassy of Denmark in Ukraine.