Montreal, Thursday, October 26, 2023 – Forum RIDM, presented by Netflix, is pleased to unveil the full program for its 19th edition, which will take place from November 17 to 22, 2023. The industry market is staying true to its mission by supporting documentary filmmakers, providing them with the tools to develop their projects via workshops and talks, as well as helping them finance and distribute their films via pitch sessions, networking activities and the participation of international guests. What’s more, Forum RIDM is also thrilled to return this year with revamped versions of many of its flagship activities.
This 19th edition puts the spotlight back on key industry events such as Doc Lab Montréal, Rough Cut Pitch and One-on-One Pitches. Also returning this year are the networking breakfast and happy hour (November 21) andexpert roundtables (November 20 and 21). Presented by DOC Québec, the opening cocktail (November 20) will celebrate the launch of this edition, and bring together local and international guests taking part in severalroundtables, masterclasses, case studies and talks.
MUST-SEE HIGHLIGHTS FOR 2023
Opening Breakfast | November 20
For its traditional opening breakfast, Forum RIDM presents a conversation about female creators in the Arab world. In keeping with the Focus Bidayyat, an RIDM programming section that this year will feature works from the Middle East, we have invited filmmakers from the region and the diaspora to discuss production challenges specific to this part of the world, as viewed through the singular and inspiring prism of female creators.
Doc Lab Montréal | November 17 to 22
Presented by Warner Bros. Discovery Access Canada, Doc Lab Montréal (the new incarnation of the Talent Lab) is back in a revamped format that will enable international participants to take part in this flagship activity of Forum RIDM, while staying true to its objective of promoting imaginative projects and emerging Canadian voices. This year, Forum RIDM welcomes the exceptional participation of international delegations from Mexico, Cuba, Brazil, Bavaria (Germany) and Senegal as part of its documentary talent incubator.
From Canada, a total of 21 projects have been selected, including 11 features that will be given the one-of-a-kind chance to present at pitch sessions during Forum RIDM, thanks to the financial support of the Canada Council for the Arts.
At the first Doc Lab Montréal Pitch session, Forum RIDM accredited producers will have the opportunity to meet Quebec filmmakers participating in Doc Lab Montréal who are seeking collaborators for their projects. It’s an eye-opening glimpse into a slew of fascinating projects from diverse backgrounds, reflecting the sheer diversity of Quebec society. Registration is required for this activity.
During the two following sessions, Forum RIDM accredited professionals will have the opportunity to discover the feature films of 11 director/producer duos (five international and six local), and to immerse themselves in unique journeys that put humankind at the forefront.
As part of Doc Lab Montréal, prizes will be awarded to winning participants courtesy of Forum RIDM partners such as Rogers Documentary Fund, Eurodoc, ONF, NFB, CineGround, SLA Location, Main Film, T&S Coop, Lussier & Khouzam, Royal Photo, L’Inis and Vidéographe, as well as partners of the Peter Wintonick Travel Grant.
Rough Cut Pitch | November 21
Another new feature is the Rough Cut Pitch (formerly Rough Cut Lab), which will take the form of an exceptional showcase during which four selected teams of filmmakers and producers will have the opportunity to present a 15-minute excerpt of their film to a panel of Forum RIDM-accredited industry professionals, such as festival programmers, distributors, broadcasters and seasoned editors. The creators of these four projects at the editing stage will receive valuable feedback and insights that will help them develop their international distribution and marketing strategies.
The projects selected for this year’s Rough Cut Pitch are: Lhasa by Sophie Leblond (Production: Audrey-Ann Dupuis-Pierre – Metafilms); Nolandia by Kinga Michalska (Production: Danae Elon - Entre Deux Mondes); Parrandas by Constance Chaput-Raby (Production: Constance Chaput-Raby); and Spare My Bones, Coyote! (¿A dónde vamos, Coyote?) by Jonah Malak (Production: Dominique Dussault - Nemesis Films). Prizes will be awarded to winning participants courtesy of Vital Productions and Hot Docs.
One-on-One Pitches | November 22
Forum RIDM’s flagship activity, the One-on-One Pitches consists of 15-minute-long individual meetings between producers, directors and industry representatives (public and private broadcasters, distributors, sales agents, festival programmers, institutional and fund representatives and co-producers). For this 19th edition, the presence of some sixty local and international industry representatives provides a unique opportunity to forge new partnerships and expand the reach of new projects.
The list of industry representatives that will take part in the One-on-One Pitches is available on the Forum RIDM website.
ROUNDTABLES, CASE STUDIES AND TALKS | From November 20 to 22
The State of Film Festivals Around the World | November 20
Festival programmers and directors from across the globe share their views on a fast-changing industry in the post-pandemic era. This conversation will be led by Inti Cordera (DocsMX), Madeline Robert (Visions du Réel), Wood Lin (Taiwan International Documentary Festival) and programmer Claire Diao.
The DOC Hour: 40th Anniversary! | November 20
The DOC Hour will be an opportunity to initiate an intergenerational conversation on the topic of transformations in the Canadian and Quebec documentary ecosystem since the founding of DOC in 1983. The discussion will survey DOC’s tireless efforts over the past 40 years to preserve the vitality, funding and accessibility of documentaries in our society. DOC is pleased to mark this anniversary by reflecting on its history and looking to the future, celebrating the growing diversity of the documentary community, taking stock of its challenges and championing its successes.
The Challenges of Co-Producing with Canada | November 21
International Forum RIDM guests interested in co-producing with Canada are invited to take part in this discussion, to understand the key issues to consider, such as regulations, broadcast rights and budget planning, among others.
International Co-Production: A Case Study of Caiti Blues | November 21
The film Caiti Blues, a Quebec-France co-production, is one of the most successful documentaries of the year, having garnered praise at numerous festivals. In this case study, the producers Julie Paratian (Sister Productions, France) and Nellie Carrier (Cinquième maison, Canada) reveal the keys to their fruitful collaboration.
Documentary in the Digital Age | November 21
Documentary cinema is generally regarded as the art of the real world. But what happens when the camera turns to the virtual? This discussion explores the creative processes underpinning two films selected at this year’s RIDM: Notes from Eremocene, set in a future where the potential of blockchain technology and artificial intelligence are explored; and Knit's Island, a film shot entirely within the confines of a video game. Each in their own way, these two works explore exciting new frontiers for documentary in the digital age.
Case Study: Telling Our Story | November 21
In this documentary series directed by Kim O’Bomsawin and narrated by Marie-Andrée Gill, the eleven First Peoples of Quebec – Abenaki, Anishinaabe, Atikamekw, Eeyou (Cree), Innu, Inuit, Kanien'kehá:ka (Mohawk), Mi'kmaq, Naskapi, Wendat and Wolastoqiyik (Maliseet) – tell us who they are in their own way and from their unique perspective. We learn about their worldviews, their connection to the land, their age-old stories, the beauty of their languages and cultures, as well as their wounds, struggles, triumphs and hopes. The series team takes us behind the scenes of this important production, which contributes to enriching our great shared narrative, to decolonizing history and to honoring Ancestors and Mother Earth.
Projects on the Deployment of Documentaries in Education | November 22
Following its January 2023 Forum, which brought together speakers from all sectors of the documentary ecosystem and stakeholders from the education and culture sectors, the Observatoire du documentaire is carrying out its mission to increase young audiences’ exposure to documentaries (via the educational milieu, at primary and secondary school levels) by launching two parallel projects over the 2023-2025 period: one on discoverability, targeting teachers and educational advisors, and another aimed at rethinking distribution methods to make all Quebec documentaries available to teachers.
Masterclass with Catherine Van Der Donckt: Decoding Sound | November 22
Hosted by sound designer and recordist Catherine Van Der Donckt, this masterclassaims to shed light
on sound design and the impact of each decision made on a film’s outcome.During this activity,
Catherine will takea close look at the sound design of the film La garde blanche by filmmaker Julien
Elie,with the participation of Daniel Capeille, the film’s sound recordist.
Three other masterclasses will be presented to Forum RIDM participants, with filmmakers Peter Mettler (November 19), Qutaiba Barhamji (November 20) and Denis Côté (November 23).
Returning Home, a Catalyst for Creativity | November 22
Using the medium of film, how can we reconstruct the image of a country we’ve left behind, but that still forms part of our identity? This conversation brings together two filmmakers hailing from diaspora communities: Rosine Mbakam, Cameroonian director of Mambar Pierrette, and Khoa Lê, Québécois-Vietnamese director of Má Sài Gòn (Mother Saigon), to reflect on the representation of their respective countries of origin.
Preserving the Legacy of Quebec Documentaries | November 22
To mark the 40th anniversary of the theatrical release of The Ballad of Hard Times, RIDM is hosting a special screening of this documentary classic on November 18, presenting a version newly restored by the Cinémathèque québécoise, in collaboration with the NFB. In parallel to this, Forum RIDM invites participants to reflect on possible strategies for preserving Quebec documentaries and their legacy, as part of a discussion between Marcel Jean (Executive Director, Cinémathèque québécoise), Naomie Décarie-Daigneault (Artistic Director, Tënk Canada), and a NFB representative. This discussion will be moderated by Mathieu Li-Goyette (Editor-in-Chief, Panorama-Cinéma).
Changing the World One Film at a Time | November 22
A discussion on the impact strategies implemented when launching socially-minded Quebec productions. In an already saturated market, how do these productions go about reaching a wider audience in order to achieve their community outreach objectives?
The awards ceremony for Doc Lab Montréal and Rough Cut Pitch, as well as the announcement of the recipients of the TaCIC and Peter-Wintonick grants, will take place on Wednesday, November 22, at the Cinémathèque québécoise’s Norman-McLaren Space at the Forum RIDM Closing Cocktail. This will be a final opportunity to network with professionals from the Quebec and international documentary communities.
PASSES
Passes for Forum RIDM activities can be purchased via the Forum’s website and will continue to be available until the end of the industry market.
2023 EDITION FORUM PARTNERS
The 19th edition of Forum RIDM was made possible thanks to the support of our partners and collaborators. The Forum RIDM particularly wishes to thank the Government of Quebec, the Société de développement des entreprises culturelles (SODEC), the Ministère de la Culture et des Communications (MCC), the Ministère des Relations internationales et de la Francophonie, Telefilm Canada, the Canada Council for the Arts, Netflix, the Bell Fund, Warner Bros. Discovery Access Canada, Rogers Documentary Fund, the Canada Media Fund, Aeroméxico, DOC Québec, the National Film Board of Canada (NFB), and l'Office national du film du Canada (ONF).
About Forum RIDM
Forum RIDM, presented by Netflix, aims to stimulate the production and distribution of independent documentaries, both nationally and internationally, by promoting the exchange of information and meetings between the various professionals in the documentary industry. Roundtables, conferences and workshops on major current issues will bring together over 400 filmmakers and representatives of various production, broadcasting and distribution companies over six days.
About Netflix
Netflix is one of the world's leading entertainment services with 233 million paid memberships in over 190 countries enjoying TV series, films and games across a wide variety of genres and languages. Members can play, pause and resume watching as much as they want, anytime, anywhere, and can change their plans at any time.
Forum RIDM’s 19th edition will take place from November 17 to 22, 2023
at the Cinémathèque québécoise, UQAM’s Salle polyvalente, Centre Pierre-Péladeau, and L’inis.
Informations: ridm.ca/en/forum-ridm / info@ridm.ca
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Media contact: Caroline Rompré | pixelleX communications | 514-778-9294 | caroline@pixellex.ca