How are new media outlets changing the way the public is being informed about films?

The activities of the industry program of IDFF Jihlava are not all just about how to make a proper budget for your project, or where to find investors and co-producers for your film. The panel on new media documentary film promotion opens a very specific issues to discussion. The digitalization of the cinema industry not only changed the possibilities for filmmakers, to shoot cheaper, or the way of cinema distribution, but it also changed the way the public is informed about your film. It was only film critics and journalists a few years ago who had a key to accessing the public, but now we have to face bloggers, fans on fan pages like imdb.com, posts on social networks etc. There is a rising pressure to market your film even in the stage of development and it is starting to be a part of every application form for every support scheme. Andrea Průchova, who works as a marketing manager of the VOD platform DAFilms.com, tells us more about the panel that will address this  issue at the festival for the first time.

Why exactly is the theme of your panel key to the Jihlava Industry Activity?
The topic of new and evolving media outlets plays a key role in the field of film critique and has a growing importance. It concerns not only journalism practice, but also the festivals themselves, the way in which they communicate with the audience and how they are able to establish themselves on the professional international scene through new communication technologies. The onset of the current trend in cross-media platforms just enhances the importance of communicating via these new technologies in the field of film and visual arts.We believe it is time to add this topic to thefestival's program.

Who will the other panelists be and what are some key topics that will be discussed?
We will talk about the changes in journalism due to new media outlets with authors from the European and American continent, where online journalism has been linked to social media and online distributive platforms, and they have been working with this for a longer time and in a different format. Among the American representatives we will welcome Christopher Campbell, editor of the documentary website platform Nonfics.com and Peter Belsito of the popular online diary of independent films IndieWire.com. The European side will be represented by journalist Domenico La Porta from the international portal Cineuropa.org and Polish author Bartosz Czartoryski who has experience both in print and online Polish media. The goal of the panel is to map out new options, which arise for film criticism with the development of new media, the blogosphere, online portals and social media and also to evaluate the negative effects and transformation of criticism, which we knew from traditional film media and culture magazines.

Panel will take place on Sunday, October 26th from 1pm at Festival Center – Industry Room, Komenského 10

Translated by Floriana Skorulska