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Panel
Seminar

Working with Broadcasters: Getting Independent Film Voices heard

PST

  • Janay Boulos, Moderator
  • Natalie Humphreys, Speaker
  • Adel Ksiksi, Speaker
  • Alex Szalat, Speaker

The panel discussion will delve into the differences between television/broadcast content and international festival documentaries and how funding works in these different spaces around the world.  What does it mean to have broadcast partners versus festival partners? Does one offer more creative freedom than the other? How can we negotiate the drawbacks and best use the opportunities these different forms offer? The conversation will examine broadcasters' priorities and ways they evaluate content that might drive them to co-produce, buy, or broadcast certain films instead of others. Join 2023 Logan Elevate grantee Janay Bolous in conversation with current and ex-TV commissioners: Producer Natalie Humphreys, Head of Al Jazeera Industry Days Adel Ksiksi, and Head of Docs Up Fund Alex Szalat to discuss these questions.

If you need any other accommodations or help accessing this event, please get in touch with us at funds@documentary.org by July 2, 2024. We'll do our best to meet all access needs.

Event Participants

    Headshot of a woman with long dark hair wearing a dark jacket in front of a black background

    Janay Boulos

    Janay Boulos is a Lebanese journalist and filmmaker with extensive experience documenting the Middle East. From 2012 to 2021, she worked for BBC News across television, radio, and digital platforms. In 2021, she founded Habak Films with Syrian filmmaker Abd Alkader Habak, and she continues to produce documentaries for international outlets, bringing Arab stories to global audiences. She is currently producing her second feature documentary, Until the Buzzing Stops, is a co-producer on The Last Mayor of Jerusalem, and is developing a new feature documentary from Lebanon as a solo director.

    Natalie Humphreys Headshot.

    Natalie Humphreys

    Natalie has worked across the UK and global production sector for nearly three decades as a writer, director, producer and executive producer, winning multiple awards for cinematography, innovation and reaching new audiences. She has created programming across the spectrum, from premium documentaries to drama, arts, history, science and natural history landmarks.

    Prior to launching Scottish indie Storyboard Studios, Natalie led the BBC’s factual network and a £100M portfolio. She is known as a trusted originator and brings a long track record in hands-on editorial, sensitive access, compliance, partnerships and co-productions. She started her career as a researcher on natural history programmes, after a degree in Zoology and a PhD on the genetics of symbiosis. She’s a busy mum with two sons and enjoys art and photography, as well as giving time pro bono to teaching storytelling skills to students, and regularly mentors for organisations that support people from less advantaged backgrounds.

    Adel Ksiksi Headshot

    Adel Ksiksi

    Manager of Programming responsible for developing plans for programme strands and preparing the programme grid on a daily, weekly and monthly basis, as well as overseeing the global planning effort with regards to special events, series and long and short-term programme planning to increase viewership ratings. Adel Ksiksi is also the Head of Al Jazeera Industry Days. It is an event that intends to support the expansion of documentaries worldwide, including international co-productions, and aims to match key decision-makers with interesting and valuable projects.

    Alex Szalat Headshot.

    Alex Szalat

    Producer and Director 1987-2004

    Former commissioning editor at Arte France and head of the documentary department at Arte France 2005-2019

    Head of Docs Up Fund since 2019