With the crackdown on freedom of expression around the world, filmmakers are increasingly facing attacks for their work. The past few years have seen a growing number of filmmakers being threatened, arrested, imprisoned and even killed in an attempt to silence them. In these precarious situations, the international film community could make a difference in supporting these filmmakers, campaigning for their freedom or pressuring authorities for their release. As the response of the film community is now often deeply fragmentized, there seems to be a growing need for more coordinated action. Last November, IDFA hosted a first industry debate on this pressing issue, which marked the kick-off of a series of discussions on this topic. Calling for solidarity with filmmakers at risk, IFFR will continue this discussion.
The IFFR Pro debate is preceded by a closed think tank (from 10:00 – 13:00), with participants: Marion Döring (European Film Academy), Srirak Plipat (Freemuse), Steven Markovitz (producer, Big World Cinema), Marianne Wulfsberg Hovdan (International Cities of Refuge Network – ICORN), Bianca Taal (IFFR), Kaveh Farnam (producer, Advanced Media), Antoine Thirion (Locarno Festival) and Vonne van der Meer (PEN Netherlands). They will be joined in the IFFR Pro debate by Miko Revereza (filmmaker) and Marriët Schuurman (Dutch Human Rights Ambassador).
With an introduction by Agnieszka Holland
Moderated by: Orwa Nyrabia (Artistic Director IDFA)
