The New Doc-Making Reality, Friday 19 June at Docs Ireland

• The New Doc-Making Reality
• Friday 19 June from 10am
• The MAC, 10 Exchange St, West, Belfast BT1 2N
• Book tickets £6 (click into event from Whats On page)

Docs Ireland takes place in Belfast from 16 to 21 June 2026. Docs Ireland is Ireland’s international documentary film festival. It celebrates the best of new international documentary filmmaking, and showcases the work of Ireland’s indigenous non-fiction culture and creatives.

The New Doc-Making Reality: Producing Docs in a Precarious Landscape on Friday 19 June in The MAC, Belfast will consist of three sessions. This event is curated in partnership with Doc Association of Europe and is supported by Creative Europe Desk Ireland and Screen Producers Ireland.

The New Doc-Making Reality

Recognising that the ecosystem of cinema is experiencing its own downturn like the rest of the world, the reality of creating independent film is in a more difficult space than ever. Tighter funding margins and commissioning briefs, as well as shifting distribution models, has only added to the precarity of financing and finding a home for your film to be seen.

However, incredible documentaries are still being made and there are still pathways to funding your film. Much like working filmmakers, many institutions have had to adapt to this new reality themselves. This event will bring together film professionals across the value chain to discuss their experience of working in this new reality, providing a positive outlook and perspective on finding a route to production and exhibition, through presentations, case studies and honest discussion.

Through sharing the expertise and knowledge of the contributors, the aim of this event is to provide intel on pathways for financing and fostering strategies to get your film made.

Schedule

• Networking from: 10.00am
• Event sessions starts at: 10.30am

Session 1: The Evolution will be Televised: Broadcasting the New Reality

This session brings together some of the biggest broadcasters showcasing documentaries. In this session they will unpack the realities of supporting documentaries in this current evolving climate. We will look at the challenges and opportunities, what does it mean to bring these stories to audiences in challenging times politically and economically, while looking at what their platforms look for in projects and how filmmakers can connect with them. Speakers include:

• Alexandre Marionneau - Head of International Co-productions (Society and Culture), ARTE France.
• Nevine Mabro - Head, BBC Storyville
• Muhammad Refaat - Commissioning Editor, Al Jazeera Documentary
• Host: Brigid O’Shea - Co-Founder, Documentary Association of Europe.

Session 2: It takes a Village: Markets and Development in the New Reality

While many understand the roles of producers, directors, broadcasters and festivals in the life of independent documentaries, often forgotten in the ecosystem are markets and development spaces. As one of the key points in the life of a film, markets often act as the table bringing together filmmakers, platforms and audiences. Like so many industries facing challenges and evolutions, markets have had to adapt to the changing landscape. In this session we bring together markets with a strong history of supporting docs, looking at what the challenges and opportunities they face, balancing the new with the traditional, all while dealing with the economical challenges the rest of the world faces. Speakers include:

• Bob Moore - Creative Producer, EyeSteelFilm
• Magdalene Reddy - Director, Durban FilmMart Institute
• Host: Mitchell Harper - Producer, Curator & Consultant.

Session 3: Growing Synergistic Collaborations: ARTE & RTÉ, featuring An Irish Atlantic Rainforest

In this session, we bring together broadcasters ARTE and RTÉ to discuss their reciprocal relationship, the type of projects that work for not only both platforms but also their audiences and how filmmakers can connect with the platforms. This will be followed by a short case study of An Irish Atlantic Rainforest, a film funded via this partnership. Speakers include:

• Gary Lennon - Director, An Irish Atlantic Rainforest
• Anne-Laure Négrin - Commissioning Editor, ARTE G.E.I.E
• Sally Roden - Commissioning Executive, Factual Documentaries & Series
• Host: Brigid O’Shea - Co-Founder, Documentary Association of Europe.

How to Book Tickets

Book tickets for £6 by clicking into the event from the What's On page. Go to What's On and scroll down to Friday 19 June events. Then click on The New Doc-Making Reality thumbnail.

This event is curated in partnership with Doc Association of Europe. Supported by Creative Europe Desk Ireland and Screen Producers Ireland.