PANEL PICKING A PROTAGONIST – THE PERSONAL, THE PECULIAR AND THE (UN)POPULAR

In the organizer's words:

PANEL
PICKING A PROTAGONIST - THE PERSONAL, THE PECULIAR AND THE (UN)POPULAR

The documentary format has always embraced a concept of "truth", as the films depict "reality", even if they are made from the filmmaker's perspective and driven by an agenda - however observational the film may be. These perspectives are told through the eyes and/or voice of protagonists. Who are they? How are they involved in the film? Documentary filmmakers have the task of finding the most convincing characters to tell their story, and sometimes these are the filmmakers themselves. Where do we draw the line between truth and fiction when choosing a protagonist? What are the boundaries of representation?
With Amil Shivji, Nada Riyadh, Zippy Kimundu & Hassan Zaroug

Cooperation: Academy of Media Arts Cologne (KHM), KIOSK - Arts Exchange e.V. & DW Akademie

Language: English

Documentaries have always carried a notion of 'truth' in their format. Films that show us the 'real' albeit manufactured through perspectives of the filmmakers and buoyed by an agenda however observational the film may be. These perspectives are told through the eyes and/or voice of a protagonist. Who are they? How are they involved in the film? Documentary filmmakers are tasked with finding the most compelling characters to tell their story, sometimes this may be the filmmaker themselves. Where do we draw the line in truth versus fiction when picking a protagonist? What are the boundaries of representation?
With Amil Shivji, Nada Riyadh, Zippy Kimundu & Hassan Zaroug

Language: English