The 9th Thessaloniki Documentary Festival - Images of the 21st Century, as every year, is hosting a series of Lectures, Master-Classes, Workshops and Discussions featuring the Festival’s honoured guests which are traditionally open to the public in order to encourage information and dialogue between industry professionals, students and the ardent fans of documentary film.

1. CONVERSATION WITH BARBARA KOPPLE
“John Cassavetes” Theater, PORT
Monday, March 19
11.00 – 13.00
The multi award winning documentary maker and owner of two Oscars, Barbara Koppel, the major honoree of the 9th Thessaloniki Documentary Festival, will open her heart and answer your questions. A unique Master Class, a valuable chance to have an open discussion with a modern documentary legend.

2. CONFERENCE: TROUBLED INNOCENCE
AKMI Hall, 43 Tsimiski str.
Tuesday, March 20
11:00-14:00
The customary Conference of the Thessaloniki Documentary Festival, this year deals with the hardest truth of our time: the children. The Troubled Innocence of childhood is the subject that will be analyzed by the panel which – as always – is made up of the elite of contemporary intellectual, scientific and activist organizations.

3. WORKSHOP: IN THE EDITING ROOM WITH JULIA REICHERT AND STEVEN BOGNAR
John Cassavetes Theater, PORT
Wednesday, March 21
11:00- 13:00
How does one transform 100 hours of material into a few minutes of astonishing truth? The multi award winning couple and documentary makers Julia Reichert and Stephen Bognar, reveal their secrets and give a purely cinematic Master Class on why the documentary is ultimately built in the editing room, screening excerpts and takes from their film “A Lion in the House”.

4. “THE DOCUMENTARY: TRANSCRIBING REALITY, THE CREATOR’S ROLE” AN EVENT ORGANIZED BY THE GREEK DOCUMENTARY NETWORK
ΑΚΜΗ Hall, Tsimiski 43
Wednesday, March 21
14:00 – 16:00
The Greek Documentary Network, holding its first public event in the context of the Thessaloniki Documentary Festival - Images of the 21st Century, is opening a discussion on the nature of this distinct cinema genre, and the determining role of the director – creator. With the participation of new and older directors such as Robert Manthoulis and Eva Stefani.

5. PANEL DISCUSSION ERT: PRODUCING DOCUMENTARIES IN EUROPE. THE MODEL OF A VERTICALLY INTEGRATED CORPORATION IN THE CASE OF “EUROPEAN MAN”.
John Cassavetes Theater, PORT
Thursday, March 22
10:30 – 13:00
The EBU (European Broadcasting Union) documentary series “European Man” will be used as a vehicle to investigate new trends and prospects. This series, co-produced with other European networks, is a representative model of vertical programme production. Emphasis will be given to the position of the documentary in today’s changing European audiovisual scene. Keynote speakers are, among others: Leena Pasanen, Director of the European Documentary Network (EDN), Lynne Polak, EBU representative and Line Producer for “European Man”, and Kimon Tsakiris, Director and Greek Contributor to the series “European Man”.

6. WORKSHOP: DOCUMENTARIES GO DIGITAL (in collaboration with the EDN)
John Cassavetes Theater, PORT
Thursday, March 22
14.00 – 16.00
Can someone finance his project over the Internet? How will the integration of television, internet and cinema influence the way we tell stories? Perhaps documentaries should be produced for mobile telephones instead of for television? These questions and many others will be addressed by the Dutch Kees Ryninks, the German Cay Wesnigk and the Briton Ben Ross, otherwise known as the three international experts on digital technology.


7. WORKSHOP: HD DEMYSTIFIED
John Cassavetes Theater, PORT
Friday, March 23
11.00 – 13.00
What are the basic principles of High Definition technology? What are the advantages it offers today’s production tools? Finally, which format should one choose for his project, keeping in mind the possible restraints of distribution and available budget? Is HD the answer? Nikos Kalpidis will be chairing the workshop. He is a “quiet” innovator in the genre, who has a professional record verging on 30 years in the planning and implementation of television and radio broadcast systems at an international level.

8. MEDIA THAT MATTERS: DOCUMENTARY ETHICS- A JON ALPERT MASTERCLASS.
John Cassavetes Theater, PORT
Friday, March 23
14.00 – 16.00
Why is the Mass Media mainly a Media of Massive Importance? The issue is an ethical one, claims the multi prize winning Jon Alpert, the perceptive director-reporter-producer who has gone down in history for his exclusive reportage, his stirring documentaries and for the famous interview given by Fidel Castro. For years now, Alpert has founded and runs the model independent television network DCTV, and for two hours he will tell you how he does it!

9. AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL FILMMAKING: A JENNIFER FOX MASTERCLASS
John Cassavetes Theater, PORT
Saturday, March 24
11.00 – 13.00
What does autobiographical filmmaking mean? To what degree is such a cinematic hybrid possible? Are there techniques that can facilitate it? With the autobiographical documentary as the focus and her «Flying: Confessions of a Free Woman» as an example, Jennifer Fox gives a directing lesson on how to deal with the most demanding subject: your self!

10. JUST TALKING
Room with a View, Olympion Theatre Complex
March 17-25
Every afternoon 16.00 – 17.00
This parallel event, introduced in 2006, was such a big success with filmmakers and festival attendees that it was thought compulsory to continue it this year as well.
Organized by the Thessaloniki Documentary Festival – Images of the 21st Century, it brings filmmakers and industry professionals from various parts of the world together. Discussion groups of directors, journalists and buyers will be formed on a daily basis. The sessions revolve around various issues that concern documentary filmmakers, always in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere. Apart from the groups, all other accredited festival attendees are admitted to the sessions and can either simply listen or participate.
“Just Talking” creates a platform of communication for all filmmakers, expands the borders of creativity and forges collaboration.