2008 World Congress of Science & Factual Producers

This session will welcome members of Doc/it - Italy’s producers association of independent documentary and factual content - to the WCSFP and provide an introduction to the event and a mentoring program. It is a private session, and will be introduced by Sherin Salvetti, Vice President Factual Channels for Fox International Channels Italy, which is supporting the mentoring initiative.

Attendence is limited to pre-invited delegates.

Participating in conferences and markets takes a lot of work but it’s worth the effort. The WCSFP Guide to Congress for Dummies gives the rookie and the seasoned conference participant a few helpful tips on who’s who, what’s what, good outcomes and, most importantly, how to enjoy the Congress.

Session Producers and Moderators:
Robi Colangelo, CEO, International Sales and Co-Productions, Focus Documentaries (Italy)
Lilla Hurst, Founder, Lillavision Ltd. (UK)

Donatella Lippi and her colleagues are engaged in the “Medici Project.” Scientific research carried out on the corpses of members of the Medici family, exhumed from their burial sites in the Medici Chapels (Florence, San Lorenzo), is revealing a wealth of knowledge about the lives, the habits and the causes of death of members of this most famous family of the Italian Renaissance.

Sponsored by RAI

Moderator:
Werner Vennewald, Producer, Monaco Film GmbH (Germany)

Guest Speaker:
Donatella Lippi, Professor of History of Medicine and Bioethics, University of Florence (Italy)

Starting on Monday afternoon and continuing throughout Congress, a number of broadcasters will present an overview of their networks. WCSFP 2008 also offers between 30 and 40 small group meetings with individual commissioning editors and media executives, all of whom either commission science and history programs from independent producers outside their own territories or who provide significant funding. Designed to be intimate and interactive, the numbers will be strictly limited and will run on a first come first served. However, recordings of these meetings will be available to delegates on request.

Session Producers:
Diana Ingraham, Managing Director/Conference Director, US Independents/SILVERDOCS (USA) and Meg Villarreal, Director, US Independents (USA)

Starting on Monday afternoon and continuing throughout Congress, a number of broadcasters will present an overview of their networks. WCSFP 2008 also offers between 30 and 40 small group meetings with individual commissioning editors and media executives, all of whom either commission science and history programs from independent producers outside their own territories or who provide significant funding. Designed to be intimate and interactive, the numbers will be strictly limited and will run on a first come first served. However, recordings of these meetings will be available to delegates on request.

Session Producers:
Diana Ingraham, Managing Director/Conference Director, US Independents/SILVERDOCS (USA) and Meg Villarreal, Director, US Independents (USA)

Starting on Monday afternoon and continuing throughout Congress, a number of broadcasters will present an overview of their networks. WCSFP 2008 also offers between 30 and 40 small group meetings with individual commissioning editors and media executives, all of whom either commission science and history programs from independent producers outside their own territories or who provide significant funding. Designed to be intimate and interactive, the numbers will be strictly limited and will run on a first come first served. However, recordings of these meetings will be available to delegates on request.

Session Producers:
Diana Ingraham, Managing Director/Conference Director, US Independents/SILVERDOCS (USA) and Meg Villarreal, Director, US Independents (USA)

Starting on Monday afternoon and continuing throughout Congress, a number of broadcasters will present an overview of their networks. WCSFP 2008 also offers between 30 and 40 small group meetings with individual commissioning editors and media executives, all of whom either commission science and history programs from independent producers outside their own territories or who provide significant funding. Designed to be intimate and interactive, the numbers will be strictly limited and will run on a first come first served. However, recordings of these meetings will be available to delegates on request.

Session Producers:
Diana Ingraham, Managing Director/Conference Director, US Independents/SILVERDOCS (USA) and Meg Villarreal, Director, US Independents (USA)

Starting on Monday afternoon and continuing throughout Congress, a number of broadcasters will present an overview of their networks. WCSFP 2008 also offers between 30 and 40 small group meetings with individual commissioning editors and media executives, all of whom either commission science and history programs from independent producers outside their own territories or who provide significant funding. Designed to be intimate and interactive, the numbers will be strictly limited and will run on a first come first served. However, recordings of these meetings will be available to delegates on request.

Session Producers:
Diana Ingraham, Managing Director/Conference Director, US Independents/SILVERDOCS (USA) and Meg Villarreal, Director, US Independents (USA)

Starting on Monday afternoon and continuing throughout Congress, a number of broadcasters will present an overview of their networks. WCSFP 2008 also offers between 30 and 40 small group meetings with individual commissioning editors and media executives, all of whom either commission science and history programs from independent producers outside their own territories or who provide significant funding. Designed to be intimate and interactive, the numbers will be strictly limited and will run on a first come first served. However, recordings of these meetings will be available to delegates on request.

Session Producers:
Diana Ingraham, Managing Director/Conference Director, US Independents/SILVERDOCS (USA) and Meg Villarreal, Director, US Independents (USA)

Starting on Monday afternoon and continuing throughout Congress, a number of broadcasters will present an overview of their networks. WCSFP 2008 also offers between 30 and 40 small group meetings with individual commissioning editors and media executives, all of whom either commission science and history programs from independent producers outside their own territories or who provide significant funding. Designed to be intimate and interactive, the numbers will be strictly limited and will run on a first come first served. However, recordings of these meetings will be available to delegates on request.

Session Producers:
Diana Ingraham, Managing Director/Conference Director, US Independents/SILVERDOCS (USA) and Meg Villarreal, Director, US Independents (USA)

Join us for a drink on the house! Get in gear for Congress with fellow delegates at the American Bar, conveniently located in our host hotel, before heading out to the official opening night concert and reception at Palazzo Vecchio.

Location: American Bar, Ground Floor, Hilton Florence Metropole (Host Hotel)

RAI Presents A Special Opening Night Concert and Reception

The Mayor of Florence, Leonardo Domenici, joins host broadcaster RAI in welcoming delegates to Florence with a special concert in the stunning Salone dei Cinquecento at the Palazzo Vecchio, the massive Romanesque fortress-palace that serves as the city’s town hall. Built in 1494 as the seat of the 500-member Grand Council, and then enlarged to accommodate the court of Grand Duke Cosimo I, the Salone dei Cinquecento features large and expansive frescoes, painted ceiling panels by Vasari and, at the central niche at the south of the hall, Michelangelo’s famous marble group The Genius of Victory. Orchestra Dei Ragazzi Della Scuola Di Musica Di Fiesole conducted by Mº Edoardo Rosadini will perform selections from Italian composers, including Puccini and Vivaldi, and the concert will be followed by a reception at 7:30 pm.

Location: Salone dei Cinquecento (Hall of the Five Hundred), Palazzo Vecchio (transportation provided from Hilton Florence Metropole beginning at 5:30 pm)

Sponsored by RAI

session room: Savoy 3

Starting on Monday afternoon and continuing throughout Congress, a number of broadcasters with present an overview of their networks and this year WCSFP offers between 30 and 40 small group meetings with individual commissioning editors and media executives who either commission science and history programs from independent producers outside their own territories or who provide significant funding. Designed to be intimate and interactive, the numbers will be strictly limited and will run on a first come first served. However, recordings of these meetings will be available to delegates on request.

Session Producers:
Diana Ingraham, Managing Director/Conference Director, US Independents/SILVERDOCS (USA) and Meg Villarreal, Director, US Independents (USA)

Who is out there making great shows, breaking new ground and making people talk? What worked and what fell flat? And most importantly, what’s going to be the next big thing? Find out “What’s the Buzz?” as we look at some of ‘07 & ‘08’s best programming and look ahead to what’s around the corner next year.

Sponsored by RAI

Session Producers:
Maryanne Culpepper, Executive Vice President, Editorial & Business Development, National Geographic Television (USA)
Bill Margol, Director of Development, National Geographic Television (USA)

Moderators:
Justine Kershaw, Executive Producer, Blink Film and Television (UK)
Marco Visalberghi, Managing Director, DocLab (Italy)

Coffee Break.

Sponsored by Wall to Wall

In 2009, the spotlight again falls on the relationship between science and religion. As scientists search for the origins of the universe, broadcasters gear up for the Galileo & Darwin anniversaries and conflict persists over creationism and reproductive technologies such as embryonic stem cell research, the Catholic Church faces some of the biggest challenges to its doctrine in centuries. How is it responding to new scientific possibilities and to requests for spokespeople and access? This session looks at the intersection of science and faith past and present, explores the role the Vatican has played and still plays in the field of scientific research, and asks if the “mutual prejudice” that has historically existed between science and religion is resolving.

Sponsored by Wall to Wall

Session Producer:
Clare Handford, Independent Producer (UK)

Moderator:
Sara Ramsden, Creative Director, Cheetah Television, Endemol UK (UK)

Panelists:
Giovanni Bignami, Astronomer, Italian Space Agency (Italy)
Elena Cattaneo, PhD, Director, Centre for Stem Cell Research, Department of Pharmacological Sciences, University of Milano (Italy)
Brother Guy Consolmagno SJ; Jesuit Brother and Planetary Scientist; Vatican Observatory (Vatican City State)
Alberta Nokes, Executive Producer, Associated Producers (Canada)
Father Tomasz Trafny; Executive Coordinator; Science, Theology and Ontological Quest Project; Pontifical Council for Culture (Vatican City State)
Cristina Trebbi, Producer, Gruppe 5 Filmproduktion GmbH (Germany)

This session explores the most exciting and innovative ways of making history programming. We’ll look at how animation, comedy and creatively can be used to put a fresh slant on the past and make complex subjects accessible to wider audiences. We’ll hear from the makers of Waltz with Bashir – a massive success at Cannes this year – and 102 Minutes That Changed America which, despite the huge number of programs on 9/11, really stood out.

Sponsored by Jellyfish Pictures

Session Producer:
Alex Kiehl, Assistant Producer, Darlow Smithson Productions (UK)

Moderator:
Beth Hoppe, President & Executive Producer, Optomen Productions (USA)

Panelists:
Joseph Bullman, Halcyons Heart Films (UK)
Ian Duncan, Producer/Director, Windfall Films (UK)
Serge Lalou, Manager, Les Films d’Ici (France)
Susan Werbe, Executive Producer, History (USA)

Starting on Monday afternoon and continuing throughout Congress, a number of broadcasters will present an overview of their networks. WCSFP 2008 also offers between 30 and 40 small group meetings with individual commissioning editors and media executives, all of whom either commission science and history programs from independent producers outside their own territories or who provide significant funding. Designed to be intimate and interactive, the numbers will be strictly limited and will run on a first come first served. However, recordings of these meetings will be available to delegates on request.

Julia Harrington is looking for specialist factual series, singles and 90-minute specials, with an emphasis on present tense discovery, strong narrative and new information on iconic subjects.

Session Producers:
Diana Ingraham, Managing Director/Conference Director, US Independents/SILVERDOCS (USA) and Meg Villarreal, Director, US Independents (USA)

Moderator:
Robi Colangelo, CEO / International Sales & Co-Productions, Focus Documentaries (Italy)

Guest:
Julia Harrington, Commissioning Editor, History, Channel 4 Television (UK)

Starting on Monday afternoon and continuing throughout Congress, a number of broadcasters will present an overview of their networks. WCSFP 2008 also offers between 30 and 40 small group meetings with individual commissioning editors and media executives, all of whom either commission science and history programs from independent producers outside their own territories or who provide significant funding. Designed to be intimate and interactive, the numbers will be strictly limited and will run on a first come first served. However, recordings of these meetings will be available to delegates on request.

Session Producers:
Diana Ingraham, Managing Director/Conference Director, US Independents/SILVERDOCS (USA) and Meg Villarreal, Director, US Independents (USA)

Moderator:
Lilla Hurst, Founder, Lillavision Ltd. (UK)

Guest:
Caroline Behar, Head of Acquisitions and International Co-productions, France 5 (France)

Lunch sponsored by Mediaset.

Since forty years, mysterious sources have been known to pour their gamma-ray energy into our Galaxy, but remained largely unknown in nature.

Only one of them,”GEMINGA”, was finally understood as a new type of neutron star after a 20-year astronomical chase in space.

In the last year or so, however, an Italian gamma-ray astronomy mission and a NASA one, dedicated to Fermi, are solving the riddle, suggesting an extraordinary proliferation of these special neutron stars, as massive as black holes, but so far even more invisible. The talk will show these N.S.s (now known as “gamstars”) in action and will, eventually, reveal the origin of the name of their protoype, GEMINGA.

Moderator:
Ruth Berry, Producer/Director, Big Island Pictures (Germany)

Guest Speaker:
Giovanni Bignami, Astronomer, Italian Space Agency (Italy)

Starting on Monday afternoon and continuing throughout Congress, a number of broadcasters with present an overview of their networks and this year WCSFP offers between 30 and 40 small group meetings with individual commissioning editors and media executives who either commission science and history programs from independent producers outside their own territories or who provide significant funding. Designed to be intimate and interactive, the numbers will be strictly limited and will run on a first come first served. However, recordings of these meetings will be available to delegates on request.

National Geographic Channel covers many genres including science, history, action/adventure, and cultural programming. The channel looks for producers with unique access to topics and stories that will draw a wide audience. New information, stunning visuals, and compelling storytelling are key factors to programming decisions.

Session Producers:
Diana Ingraham, Managing Director/Conference Director, US Independents/SILVERDOCS (USA) and Meg Villarreal, Director, US Independents (USA)

Moderator:
Margie Bryant, Executive Producer, Serendipity Productions (Australia)

Guest:
Bridget Whalen, Vice President, Development, Co-productions, and Acquisitions, National Geographic Channel (USA)

Starting on Monday afternoon and continuing throughout Congress, a number of broadcasters will present an overview of their networks. WCSFP 2008 also offers between 30 and 40 small group meetings with individual commissioning editors and media executives, all of whom either commission science and history programs from independent producers outside their own territories or who provide significant funding. Designed to be intimate and interactive, the numbers will be strictly limited and will run on a first come first served. However, recordings of these meetings will be available to delegates on request.

Session Producers:
Diana Ingraham, Managing Director/Conference Director, US Independents/SILVERDOCS (USA) and Meg Villarreal, Director, US Independents (USA)

Moderator:
Julia Overton, Investment Manager, Screen Australia (Australia)

Guest:
Melanie Wallace, Senior Series Producer, NOVA, WGBH (USA)

Starting on Monday afternoon and continuing throughout Congress, a number of broadcasters will present an overview of their networks. WCSFP 2008 also offers between 30 and 40 small group meetings with individual commissioning editors and media executives, all of whom either commission science and history programs from independent producers outside their own territories or who provide significant funding. Designed to be intimate and interactive, the numbers will be strictly limited and will run on a first come first served. However, recordings of these meetings will be available to delegates on request.

Peter Arens and Alexander Hesse will discuss productions such as The Battle of Varus (fantastic re-enactments), Great India (adorable impressions) and Kieling (wildlife and adventure) to offer a sense of the types of programming ZDF is interested in.

*Session Producers:
Diana Ingraham, Managing Director/Conference Director, US Independents/SILVERDOCS (USA) and Meg Villarreal, Director, US Independents (USA)

Moderator:
Alberta Nokes, Executive Producer, Associated Producers (Canada)

Guests:
Peter Arens, Managing Director, Culture and Science, ZDF (Germany)
Alexander Hesse, Head of Department, History and Society, ZDF (Germany)

Starting on Monday afternoon and continuing throughout Congress, a number of broadcasters will present an overview of their networks. WCSFP 2008 also offers between 30 and 40 small group meetings with individual commissioning editors and media executives, all of whom either commission science and history programs from independent producers outside their own territories or who provide significant funding. Designed to be intimate and interactive, the numbers will be strictly limited and will run on a first come first served. However, recordings of these meetings will be available to delegates on request.

Session Producers:
Diana Ingraham, Managing Director/Conference Director, US Independents/SILVERDOCS (USA) and Meg Villarreal, Director, US Independents (USA)

Guest:
Tanya Shaw, Commissioning Editor, Channel 4 (UK)

Starting on Monday afternoon and continuing throughout Congress, a number of broadcasters will present an overview of their networks. WCSFP 2008 also offers between 30 and 40 small group meetings with individual commissioning editors and media executives, all of whom either commission science and history programs from independent producers outside their own territories or who provide significant funding. Designed to be intimate and interactive, the numbers will be strictly limited and will run on a first come first served. However, recordings of these meetings will be available to delegates on request.

Discovery Channel Canada is looking for a mix of innovative science series that are not presenter or host led, plus one-off blue chip docs (one hour to two hour) for their Sunday Night Presents slot. These can include docudrama.

Session Producers:
Diana Ingraham, Managing Director/Conference Director, US Independents/SILVERDOCS (USA) and Meg Villarreal, Director, US Independents (USA)

Moderator:
Bo Zuschlag, Commissioning Editor, Danish Broadcasting Corporation (Denmark)

Guest:
Teresa Hunt, Executive Producer, Programming, Discovery Channel Canada

This year we celebrate the 200th anniversary of Darwin’s birthday and the 150th year since Origin of Species was published. When a major event inspires producers and broadcasters around the globe, a multitude of proposals spawn, evolve and mutate. Which ones have survived? Are they better, more focused, different, original or simply made by the right people? Science and history commissioning editors will present projects that they have supported and explain why others were rejected. Producers will present their tactics to beat the others in their survival of the fittest in the television jungle.

Sponsored by ZDF Enterprises

Session Producer:
André Barro, Producer, Factual and Co-Production, Cirrus Communications (Canada)

Moderator:
Daryl Karp, Managing Director, Tattooed Media (Australia)

Panelists:
Michael Allder, Executive Producer, Science & Natural History Unit, CBC (Canada)
Paula Apsell, Senior Executive Producer, NOVA and NOVA scienceNOW / Director, Science Unit, WGBH (USA)
Hélène Coldefy, Head of Specialist and Factual, ARTE France (France)
Martin Davidson, Commissioning Editor, Specialist Factual, BBC (UK)
Bridget Whalen, Vice President, Development, Co-productions, and Acquisitions, National Geographic Channel (USA)

Participants:
Sue Clothier, General Manager, ScreenWorld (Australia)
David Dugan, Chairman, Windfall Films (UK)
Jill Fullerton-Smith, Creative Director, Specialist Factual, BBC Scotland (UK)
John Lynch, Head of Science, BBC Vision Productions, BBC (UK)
Dirk Neuhoff, Head of Documentaries, NDR Television (Germany)
Eike Schmitz, Director/Writer/Producer, Atlantis-Film (Germany)
Stuart Scowcroft, Executive Producer, Intomedia Limited (Australia)
Werner Vennewald, Producer, Mocaco Films GmbH (Germany)

We all know that 360 is the way forward and have heard ad nauseum of all the amazing ways that 360 can enhance our programming experience, but is it really working in the world of history, science and factual TV? Congress puts 360 on trial as we ask difficult questions like why are major games manufacturers not getting involved in broadcast ….or are they? And are producers and broadcasters too set in our ways, or too mean with our budgets to really embrace and design projects which are viable through all media?

Presented by The Wellcome Trust

Session Producer:
Gillian Mosely, Producer, medialab (UK)

Judge:
Caroline Behar, Head of Acquisitions and International Co-productions, France 5 (France)
Prosecuting Attorney:
Daniel Glaser, Head of Special Projects, Public Engagement, Wellcome Trust (UK)
Defence Attorney:
Martin Durkin, Managing Director, WAGtv (UK)
Witnesses:
Richard Bradley, Managing Director, Lion Television (UK)
Iain Dodgeon, Development Executive, Cheetah Television, Endemol UK (UK)
Bruno Felix, Producer, Submarine (Netherlands)
Paul Gasek, Senior Science Editor, Discovery Channel (USA)
Annie Valva, Director, Research and Development, WGBH Interactive (USA)
TBA

Starting on Monday afternoon and continuing throughout Congress, a number of broadcasters will present an overview of their networks. WCSFP 2008 also offers between 30 and 40 small group meetings with individual commissioning editors and media executives, all of whom either commission science and history programs from independent producers outside their own territories or who provide significant funding. Designed to be intimate and interactive, the numbers will be strictly limited and will run on a first come first served. However, recordings of these meetings will be available to delegates on request.

UKTV is launching two new factual channels in early 2009 and is looking for content that is refects or is relevant to the UK. Eden will be a natural history, exploration and adventure channel showcasing the best of BBC output. Limited co-production and co-funding opportunities. Blight will be a factual channel that celebrates all that is great about Britain. Small commissioning budget.

Session Producers:
Diana Ingraham, Managing Director/Conference Director, US Independents/SILVERDOCS (USA) and Meg Villarreal, Director, US Independents (USA)

Moderator:
Meg Villarreal, Director, U.S. Independents (USA)

Guest:
Adrian Wills, Channel Head, Eden & Blighty, UKTV Factual, UKTV (UK)

Starting on Monday afternoon and continuing throughout Congress, a number of broadcasters will present an overview of their networks. WCSFP 2008 also offers between 30 and 40 small group meetings with individual commissioning editors and media executives, all of whom either commission science and history programs from independent producers outside their own territories or who provide significant funding. Designed to be intimate and interactive, the numbers will be strictly limited and will run on a first come first served. However, recordings of these meetings will be available to delegates on request.

ITV Global Entertainment is the worldwide rights exploitation division of ITV, one of Europe’s largest commercial broadcasters. Richard Life and Gary McDonagh will inform producers of how they can benefit from ITV’s international co-financing and distribution expertise and access its deficit finance facility.

Session Producers:
Diana Ingraham, Managing Director/Conference Director, US Independents/SILVERDOCS (USA) and Meg Villarreal, Director, US Independents (USA)

Moderator:
Vivian McGrath, Chief Exec / Exec Producer, Gecko Productions (UK)

Guests:
Richard Life, Head of Factual, Acquisitions; ITV Global Entertainment (UK)
Gary McDonagh, Factual Executive, Acquisitions; ITV Global Entertainment (UK)

Tea.

Sponsored by ZDF Enterprises

Professional documentary filmmakers are like dinosaurs on the edge of extinction, threatened by a powerful meteorite called the law of copyright. Originally established to defend and support creative artists, copyright now operates mainly in the interest of big corporations, and threatens the survival of independents by starving them of images and source material. As if that wasn’t enough there’s the added danger of being swamped by the tsunami of “user generated content.” Professional filmmakers are facing unprecedented competition from non-professional film makers. In the last several years, these producers have benefitted from operating in a “copyright free” zone – although they, too, now are beginning to feel legal pressure. Is there a solution? In the United States, the “fair use” doctrine strikes a balance between access and protection. Finding an equivalent in European law will be a challenge. But filmmakers have no choice except to try.

Sponsored by Doc/It

Session Producers:
Giusi Santoro, Head of Factual, POPCult (Italy)
Marco Visalberghi, Managing Director, DocLab (Italy)

Moderator:
Marco Visalberghi, Managing Director, DocLab (Italy)

Guest Speaker:
Peter Jaszi, Professor of Law, American University Washington College of Law (USA)

Starting on Monday afternoon and continuing throughout Congress, a number of broadcasters will present an overview of their networks. WCSFP 2008 also offers between 30 and 40 small group meetings with individual commissioning editors and media executives, all of whom either commission science and history programs from independent producers outside their own territories or who provide significant funding. Designed to be intimate and interactive, the numbers will be strictly limited and will run on a first come first served. However, recordings of these meetings will be available to delegates on request.

Discovery Channel is looking for a variety of specials, mini-series, and series in all genres of non-fiction/factual entertainment programming: science, technology, archaeology, ancient history, anthropology, and more.

Session Producers:
Diana Ingraham, Managing Director/Conference Director, US Independents/SILVERDOCS (USA) and Meg Villarreal, Director, US Independents (USA)

Moderator:
Ann Julienne, Former Head of Acquisitions and International Co-productions, France 5 (France)

Guest:
Doug Bailey, Director of Development, Discovery Channel (USA)

Starting on Monday afternoon and continuing throughout Congress, a number of broadcasters will present an overview of their networks. WCSFP 2008 also offers between 30 and 40 small group meetings with individual commissioning editors and media executives, all of whom either commission science and history programs from independent producers outside their own territories or who provide significant funding. Designed to be intimate and interactive, the numbers will be strictly limited and will run on a first come first served. However, recordings of these meetings will be available to delegates on request.

Jan Ronca commissions factual content for two channels: The History Channel and Cult. The History Channel is looking for historical documentaries with an Italian relevance, with a low to medium budget and mostly archived based. It is usually suggested that non-Italian producers team up with an Italian producer. Looking for one offs and documentary series, the genres Cult tends to commission are non-fiction programs taking viewers from the little-known, hidden corners of society into incredible lives and shocking realities. In order to localize the channel at the moment we commission factual content with an Italian relevance.

Session Producers:
Diana Ingraham, Managing Director/Conference Director, US Independents/SILVERDOCS (USA) and Meg Villarreal, Director, US Independents (USA)

Moderator:
Robi Colangelo, CEO / International Sales & Co-Productions, Focus Documentaries (Italy)

Guest:
Jan Ronca, Director of Programming and Production, Fox International Channels Italy (Italy)

RAI is Italy’s public broadcaster. Channels include RAI Uno, RAI Due, RAI Tre, the rolling news channel RAI News 24, RAI Educational and Cable/Satellite services. Our main outlets for science and history programming are Super Quark Magazine and Specials for RAI 1; Voyager for RAI 2; La Grande Storia, Doc 3 and Ulisse for RAI 3, and La Storia siamo noi for RAI Educational. Also involved in science and history programs are RAI Trade ( home video marketing) and RAI International Relations.

Session Producer:
Diana Ingraham, Managing Director/Conference Director, US Independents/SILVERDOCS (USA) and Lorenzo Pinna, SuperQuark, RAI 1 (Italy)

Panelists:
Luigi Bizzarri, La Grande Storia, RAI 3 (Italy)
Piero Corsini, Commissioning Editor, La Storia Siamo Noi, RAI Educational (Italy)
Roberto Giacobbo, Manager, Voyager, RAI 2 (Italy)
Lorenzo Hendel, Commissioning Editor, Doc 3, RAI 3 (Italy)
Carlo Nardello, Archive Materials, RAI Trade (Italy)
Alessandra Paradisi, Head of International Relations, RAI (Italy)
Lorenzo Pinna, SuperQuark, RAI 1 (Italy)

Speed dating is a great way for independent producers to have a one on one chat with commissioners that they wouldn’t otherwise easily get access to. This year will involve some preliminary match making, to make the encounters more rewarding for both parties. However, in keeping with the spirit of WCSFP, which is more about building networks and contacts than an actual market, we will ask the participating CEs to pre-select the projects that they find interesting – but they won’t know who or where it came from until you meet face-to-face on the day.

Nominations for the Steering Committee are handed in to the Registration & Information Desk on the first full day of the Congress, Tuesday, December 2. Nominations close at 6:00 pm. A box will be provided in which to place nominations.

Candidates standing for election will have the opportunity to make a short presentation to the members at a session on the day voting opens, Wednesday, December 3, at 11:00 am.

At this time delegates will be provided with a list of candidates. In addition, a list of candidates will also be posted at the Registration & Information Desk.

Voting closes at noon on Thursday, December 4.

The primary role of the WCSFP Steering Committee is the co-ordination of programming and sessions at the annual Congress conference.

Steering Committee members are elected for two-year terms by delegates. There is no limit to the number of terms a Steering Committee member may serve. There are generally eight voting members of the Steering Committee, plus the board directors.

Steering Committee nominations are drawn from conference delegates and any delegate may nominate himself or herself. Preferences will be given to nominees that ensure a spread of producers and broadcasters from each of Europe, North America and the Asia/Pacific region, as determined by the serving Steering Committee at the time.

There will be an election for four Steering Committee positions for 2009. Three representatives will be for two-year terms, specifically:

• a representative (broadcaster or independent producer) from Asia or New Zealand
• an independent producer representative from North America
• an independent producer representative from Europe

One representative for a one-year term, specifically:

• an independent producer, representing Australia (host country for 2009)

Mix and mingle with fellow delegates in the grand Palazzo Corsini, a novel late Baroque residence in Renaissance Florence. Purchased by the Corsini Family from the Grand Duke Ferdinando II de’ Medici in 1649, the palace underwent a 50-year period of renovation, and the decorations that were created between 1692 and 1700 reveal one of the finest eras in the history of Florentine painting. Important artists such as Anton Domenico Gabbiani, Alessandro Gherardini and Pier Dandini were called to decorate the elegant ground floor where impressive reception rooms are located.

Location: Palazzo Corsini, Longarno Corsini, 10 (transportation provided from Hilton Florence Metropole beginning at 6:00 pm) Sponsored by Discovery Channel

Sponsored by Discovery Channel

Starting on Monday afternoon and continuing throughout Congress, a number of broadcasters will present an overview of their networks. WCSFP 2008 also offers between 30 and 40 small group meetings with individual commissioning editors and media executives, all of whom either commission science and history programs from independent producers outside their own territories or who provide significant funding. Designed to be intimate and interactive, the numbers will be strictly limited and will run on a first come first served. However, recordings of these meetings will be available to delegates on request.

Session Producers:
Diana Ingraham, Managing Director/Conference Director, US Independents/SILVERDOCS (USA) and Meg Villarreal, Director, US Independents (USA)

Starting on Monday afternoon and continuing throughout Congress, a number of broadcasters with present an overview of their networks and this year WCSFP offers between 30 and 40 small group meetings with individual commissioning editors and media executives who either commission science and history programs from independent producers outside their own territories or who provide significant funding. Designed to be intimate and interactive, the numbers will be strictly limited and will run on a first come first served. However, recordings of these meetings will be available to delegates on request.

Session Producers:
Diana Ingraham, Managing Director/Conference Director, US Independents/SILVERDOCS (USA) and Meg Villarreal, Director, US Independents (USA)

Does green programming rate, or has it failed? Will it leave our schedules or gain a place in commissioner’s global programming remit? Our team of panelists will be shown nine clips of so-called green programs generated all over the world. In our now traditional quiz format, we will play the ratings game and discuss why green does not rate - or does it?

Sponsored by NHK

Session Producers:
Ralf Blasius, Executive Producer, Off the Fence (The Netherlands)
Ellen Windemuth, CEO, Off the Fence (The Netherlands)

Moderator:
Ellen Windemuth, CEO, Off the Fence (The Netherlands)

Panelists:
Caroline Behar, Head of Acquisitions and international Co-productions, France 5 (France)
Federica Cellini, RAI Educational (Italy)
Ann-Christin Hornberger, Commissioning Editor, Culture and Science, ZDF/ARTE (Germany)
Walter Köhler, Head of ORF-UNIVERSUM, ORF (Austria)
Ralph Lee, Head of Specialist Factual, Channel 4 (UK)
Takeshi Shibasaki, Program Director, Science Programs, NHK (Japan)
Janet Han Vissering, Senior Vice President, Strategic Development and Co-Finance, National Geographic Channels International (USA)

Life of Brian notwithstanding, how has factual television performed in its depiction of Ancient Rome and the Romans over the years? The session will look at the good, the bad and the ugly: poetic license versus hack and crass inaccuracy. Historians and program makers share their experiences with us: what compromises would they or did they initiate, prohibit or reluctantly accept?

Sponsored by UKTV

Session Producer:
Margie Bryant, Executive Producer, Serendipity Productions (Australia)

Moderator:
Bettina Hatami, Executive Producer (Italy)

Panelists:
Piero Corsini, Commissioning Editor, La Storia Siamo Noi, RAI Educational (Italy)
Martin Davidson, Commissioning Editor, Specialist Factual, BBC (UK)
Uwe Kersken, Managing Director, Gruppe 5 Filmproduktion GmbH (Germany)
Jared Lipworth, Director of Science Programs, Thirteen/WNET New York (USA)
Professor Andrew Wallis Hadrill, Director, The British School at Rome (Italy)

Starting on Monday afternoon and continuing throughout Congress, a number of broadcasters will present an overview of their networks. WCSFP 2008 also offers between 30 and 40 small group meetings with individual commissioning editors and media executives, all of whom either commission science and history programs from independent producers outside their own territories or who provide significant funding. Designed to be intimate and interactive, the numbers will be strictly limited and will run on a first come first served. However, recordings of these meetings will be available to delegates on request.

Joiningthedots.tv is looking to acquire top quality science docs for its Future Of Change strand. All films can be geo-filtered and are acquired on a non-exclusive royalty basis.

Session Producers:
Diana Ingraham, Managing Director/Conference Director, US Independents/SILVERDOCS (USA) and Meg Villarreal, Director, US Independents (USA)

Guest:
Tim Sparke, Managing Director, MercuryMedia International (UK)

Starting on Monday afternoon and continuing throughout Congress, a number of broadcasters will present an overview of their networks. WCSFP 2008 also offers between 30 and 40 small group meetings with individual commissioning editors and media executives, all of whom either commission science and history programs from independent producers outside their own territories or who provide significant funding. Designed to be intimate and interactive, the numbers will be strictly limited and will run on a first come first served. However, recordings of these meetings will be available to delegates on request.

BBC commissioning executive Mark Bell is interested in science and history landmarks, singles and events (including natural history) to air across BBC One, Two, Three and Four.

Session Producers:
Diana Ingraham, Managing Director/Conference Director, US Independents/SILVERDOCS (USA) and Meg Villarreal, Director, US Independents (USA)

Moderator:
Diana Ingraham, Managing Director/Conference Director, US Independents/SILVERDOCS (USA)

Guest:
Mark Bell, Commissioning Executive, Specialist Factual - Independents, BBC (UK)

Starting on Monday afternoon and continuing throughout Congress, a number of broadcasters will present an overview of their networks. WCSFP 2008 also offers between 30 and 40 small group meetings with individual commissioning editors and media executives, all of whom either commission science and history programs from independent producers outside their own territories or who provide significant funding. Designed to be intimate and interactive, the numbers will be strictly limited and will run on a first come first served. However, recordings of these meetings will be available to delegates on request.

NGCI is looking for hit series and innovative approaches to science, technology and the natural world across a variety of genres and formats.

Session Producers:
Diana Ingraham, Managing Director/Conference Director, US Independents/SILVERDOCS (USA) and Meg Villarreal, Director, US Independents (USA)

Moderator:
TBA

Guest:
Jennifer Apostol, Executive Producer, National Geographic Channels International (USA)

Coffee Break.

Sponsored by NHK

Nominations for the Steering Committee close at 6:00 pm on Tuesday, December 2.

Candidates standing for election will have the opportunity to make a short presentation to the members at a session on the day voting opens, Wednesday, December 3, at 11:00 am.

At this time delegates will be provided with a list of candidates. In addition, a list of candidates will also be posted at the Registration & Information Desk.

Voting closes at noon on Thursday, December 4.

The primary role of the WCSFP Steering Committee is the co-ordination of programming and sessions at the annual Congress conference.

Steering Committee members are elected for two-year terms by delegates. There is no limit to the number of terms a Steering Committee member may serve. There are generally eight voting members of the Steering Committee, plus the board directors.

Steering Committee nominations are drawn from conference delegates and any delegate may nominate himself or herself. Preferences will be given to nominees that ensure a spread of producers and broadcasters from each of Europe, North America and the Asia/Pacific region, as determined by the serving Steering Committee at the time.

There will be an election for four Steering Committee positions for 2009. Three representatives will be for two-year terms, specifically:

• a representative (broadcaster or independent producer) from Asia or New Zealand
• an independent producer representative from North America
• an independent producer representative from Europe

One representative for a one-year term, specifically:

• an independent producer, representing Australia (host country for 2009)

Formatted factual is the new black. It’s this year’s must have, like cooking was last year. But where did the trend start? Does it actually make sense? And what are the 10 things you absolutely have to know about formatting? Join John Farren and a panel of star guests as they tell you how to Pimp Your Program - and make a million. From the makers of Strictly Come Dancing/Dancing with the Stars and Top Gear, to the independent sector talent responsible for Pioneer House and Who Do You Think You Are, via the public remit of BBC Specialist Factual.

Sponsored by Pioneer Productions

The format for this session is licenced by 360Production. Mobile phones, recording devices and cameras are not permitted.

Session Producer:
John Farren, Creative Director, 360Production (UK)

Moderator:
John Farren, Creative Director, 360Production (UK)

Panelists:
Alex Graham, CEO, Wall to Wall (UK)
Ben Hall, Creative Director, Format Development, BBC Worldwide (UK)
Kim Shillinglaw, Executive Producer, Science & History, BBC (UK)

Buried a thousand feet (300 meters) below Naica mountain in the Chihuahuan Desert, are some of the largest natural crystals ever found in the world.Great pictures - but first you need access, and that’s just the beginning! This session is a warts and all tribute to the art of climbing Mount Co-production. Ever wondered how fellow producers and broadcasters juggle and conquer the formidable mix of multiple co-production partners, shooting locations, currency collapses & formats? Well this is your chance to experience the highs and lows of international co-production. Whilst the economy squeezes programming budgets but broadcaster expectations are still high, co-production is a necessity rather than a choice. In this session we hope to pre-empt your worst nightmares and prepare you for the journey that lies ahead.

Session Producers:
Gioia Avvantaggiato, CEO, GA & A Productions (Italy) and Lilla Hurst, Founder, Lillavision Ltd. (UK)

Moderator: Lilla Hurst, Founder, Lillavision Ltd. (UK)

Panelists:
Gioia Avvantaggiato, CEO, GA & A Productions (Italy)
Steve Burns, Executive Vice President, Content, National Geographic (USA)
Arnie Gelbart, CEO & Executive Producer, Galafilm (Canada)
Gonzalo Infante, Producer, C/ Producciones (Mexico)
Christine Le Goff, Executive Producer, Telfrance (France)
TBA

Starting on Monday afternoon and continuing throughout Congress, a number of broadcasters will present an overview of their networks. WCSFP 2008 also offers between 30 and 40 small group meetings with individual commissioning editors and media executives, all of whom either commission science and history programs from independent producers outside their own territories or who provide significant funding. Designed to be intimate and interactive, the numbers will be strictly limited and will run on a first come first served. However, recordings of these meetings will be available to delegates on request.

Bo Zuschlag’s current priorities are fascinating one-off science docs for acquisition - with new discoveries and angles. Beside that, contemporary history and challenging docs.

Session Producers:
Diana Ingraham, Managing Director/Conference Director, US Independents/SILVERDOCS (USA) and Meg Villarreal, Director, US Independents (USA)

Moderator:
Diana Ingraham, Managing Director/Conference Director, US Independents/SILVERDOCS (USA)

Guest:
Bo Zuschlag, Commissioning Editor, DR New Media & TV, DR2; Danish Broadcasting Corporation (Denmark)