I was in the middle of arranging a workshop in Thessaloniki sponsored by EDN, the European Documentary Network, when news broke of the Copenhagen attacks.
The events turned out to be closer to our friends than we could have imagined. I learned from EDN’s Ove Jensen that murdered filmmaker Finn Norgaard shared an office with his team at Filmhouse.
Out thoughts and prayers are with our Danish colleagues, and we join them in their note of condolence:
From EDN:
Condolences Following Copenhagen Attacks
The European Documentary Network offers its condolences to the families of all people who fell victim to intolerance and fanaticism during the past weekend. Whether it was a well respected filmmaker who was cowardly murdered – practically on our doorstep – or 21 Egyptian Coptic Christians who were cruelly beheaded far away: every lost life is a tragedy. We mourn for each of them and share the pain of those that are left behind.
In these difficult days, many of us feel the need to express their rage and indignation against these absurd and inhumane acts. But the dignity of our reaction and the careful choice of our words can be a message of its own. This message is to remind the powers of evil that freedom of speech and thought – and respect for each human’s individuality – will always prevail over violence.
Finn Nørgaard: Victim of the Copenhagen Attacks
Filmmaker Finn Nørgaard was one of the victims who was killed on 14 February 2015 in an attack on a discussion meeting organized by the Lars Vilks Committee. The meeting was titled “Art, Blasphemy, and Freedom of Expression” and was held at the Krudttønden culture center in Østerbro, just a few blocks away from EDN. One naturally feels deeply touched by such acts of violence, even when victims are generally anonymous. But considering that Finn Nørgaard worked at the Filmhouse on the same floor as we do here at EDN – and we occasionally saw him at our premises – one feels even more miserable when expressing one’s condemnation of such acts of violence.
We at EDN would again like to offer our condolences and our deepest sympathy to the families and friends of the victims of these recent attacks
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EDN Docs in Thessaloniki Master Class
The North American Documentary Broadcast Market: An overview by Peter Hamilton
Thursday, March 19, 2015 at 16:00 – 18:00.
Pavlos Zannas Theater, 5th floor of Olympion Cinema.
For many European documentary professionals the North American broadcast market can be difficult to grasp. During this two-hour master class Peter Hamilton will present the key players in North America and what they are looking for.
Peter Hamilton will outline the main broadcasters on the North American market and give a closer look at:
- What are they buying?
- How do they enter documentary co-productions?
- How can European documentary makers get a commission with a North American broadcaster?
The workshop will offer an in depth look at some of the key players in the North American territories, like HBO, POV, PBS, TVO, Knowledge Canada, Smithsonian Channel, and how they operate.
- This master class takes place within the framework of Docs in Thessaloniki Pitching Forum 2015.
- It is organised by EDN – European Documentary Network and the Thessaloniki Documentary Festival Images of the 21st Century.