“Let 2023 be the year of documentary!,” Christine Camdessus told us, as FIPADOC 2023 is about to kick off in Biarritz, France.
We were thrilled to interview Christine Camdessus who serves as General Delegate of the FIPADOC International Documentary Film Festival, whose fifth edition (20-28 January 2023) is about to kick off in Biarritz, France. Over the past few years, the FIPADOC has established itself as a major stop on the festival circuit and a hotspot for documentary professionals in France and Europe.
On the eve of its fifth edition, how does the festival position itself in the landscape of French and European film festivals?
Christine Camdessus: When we transformed the original FIPA Film Festival into FIPADOC in 2019, we believed there was room for a major international documentary event within the French market, besides the already existing festivals. The FIPADOC also joined the European landscape of documentary festivals like Dok Leipzig, Docs Barcelona, or Dok.fest München… some of which have become partners of the FIPADOC. Today, the FIPADOC is a festival for all types of documentaries and all kinds of forms. In other words, we are a general documentary festival. We provide the broadest selection of documentaries, including animation and archival works. We made the decision to include the broadest meaning of “documentary.” For us, the essence of a documentary is a writer and a true story. No matter how long (short or features), which form or distribution (television, theaters or XR). We make sure that all types of stories can be told. For instance, the films we show highlight subjects like politics, history, science, music… We are eclectic.
How much does the FIPADOC position itself in France and Europe as a protagonist in the documentary economy?
Christine Camdessus: For us, it is strategically important to support projects as well as showcase finished films. We intend to create and strengthen the bridge leading to the European documentary ecosystem by using the influence and support of our French founding partners (CNC, SCAM, and PROCIREP) and historic partners (i.e., the major TV channels supporting documentaries). We invite European producers and distributors to “Meet the Frogs” ie. their French counterparts, so they can envision potential future collaborations.
By putting a specific European territory under focus each year, we also strengthen our sense of European identity. In addition to the film program, we also emphasize this region at the Industry Days (23-26 January 2023). At FIPADOC, the focus has so far been on Germany (2019), Sweden (2020), the Visegrad Group (2021), and Benelux (2022). This year, we are thrilled to put a special emphasis on Finland and the Baltic countries (Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania). A delegation of roughly 70 professionals from those countries is expected, the goal being to encourage co-productions between our territories and learn from one another. This takes place at a gathering named “Producers-meet-Producers.”
TV broadcasters that finance documentaries are also invited to exhibit their lineup and editorial line during the Industry Days.
Through the “Doc à la page” program, which is comparable to the “Shoot the book” program in Cannes or Angoulême, we also support the adaptation of books for the big screen.
In addition, we provide a ton of specialized events and programs that concentrate on both financial and creative aspects, such as “Social meetings” that explore the working conditions of documentary film crews and conferences on short film financing, series writing, or impact film financing. On that note, one of our objectives is to make sure talents and directors attending the festival to present their work also take part in the Industry Days. Talents are always very numerous at FIPADOC because we run Q&A sessions between the talents and the audience for each film presented in competition. But we also inform French-speaking as well as English-speaking directors about what the Industry Days can offer them.
Every year in Biarritz, numerous filmmakers are attending the festival. And so does the audience! Do you believe there is a growing interest in documentaries among French viewers?
Christine Camdessus: I am really excited that the French CNC and the French Ministry of Culture have declared 2023 to be “The Year of Documentary.” This initiative’s main focus is on both the general public and professionals. Undoubtedly, the French people has been growing interested of documentaries. I believe we have removed the necessity to define “documentary” by airing documentaries during prime time on television and by putting them in the libraries of streaming platforms. Now, it is generally acknowledged that documentaries are a genre in themselves. Additionally, I think that the public is increasingly seeking out real stories. Documentaries are a significant tool for understanding the world, and by taking on various forms, they are reviving interest in this genre.
“Our 2023 poster expresses our desire to emphasize life and carefreeness.”
Looking at the upcoming edition of FIPADOC, what does the 2023 selection tell us about our world?
Christine Camdessus: Before starting the selection process, we began by selecting the poster for our fifth edition. We decided that this picture of a little child playing in the trees best expressed our desire to emphasize life and carefreeness after two challenging years. It turns out that we were surprised to see that younger heroes were frequently taking control when we watched the films we were sent. As a result, a lot of the movies in this year’s selection depict children or young people as heroes in various ways. We are pleased to showcase them, since they are our future and the people who will ultimately look after the world in which we live.
Likewise, we discovered a number of movies about disability or alterity. The films illustrate how, in the twenty-first century, we no longer discuss diversity in the same way. Documentaries have the ability to tell us that alternative people contribute to the diversity of our society, and they are becoming more and more accepted as such.
The planet is yet another crucial subject. How healthy or unhealthy is the planet? Environmental films used to be quite uncommon, but now this is a major subject that is approached in a variety of ways by filmmakers all over the world, each with their unique viewpoint.
In a separate section entitled “Visions of Ukraine,” we have made the decision to spotlight a few Ukrainian films.
Finally, we are extremely proud of our SACEM-supported music section, which features music from all genres, including jazz and rock. We are also excited about our New Talents section, which features 25 short films from film schools all around Europe.
Finally, what are your expectations for FIPADOC 2023?
Christine Camdessus: As the event now spans two weekends, my first desire is that the audience will embrace our new format. We introduced fresh regional sections like “In the scrum” (“Dans la mêlée”) or “Taste of doc” (“Goût du Doc”) to suit our local South West French audience. We hope they will enjoy it.
Second, we hope the “Year of Documentary,” which will be formally introduced at FIPADOC 2023, will be successful in exhibiting the diversity of the genre.
Finally, I don’t think anyone expected us to prosper in the way that we are now five years ago, especially after two complex years. So, let 2023 be the year of joy!
Acknowledgements : Christine Camdessus, Léna Coutant.
