Documentary films present new perspectives and activating powerful emotions, but what happens next? How can empathy created by effective storytelling fuel action? A panel of industry professionals will come together to discuss how they’ve carried their messages beyond the screen to promote engagement from viewers and response to social issues and injustices. Through their experiences we intend to explore how to build a good impact strategy, when to start working on it and who are the possible partners to collaborate with in the process.

Participants:
László Józsa, producer, SpeakEasy (Hungary)
Margje de Koning, artistic director, Movies That Matter (Netherlands)
Vivian Schroder, producer, Good Pitch (Germany)
Fleur Nieddu, freelance producer (UK)
Moderator:
Viki Réka Kiss, producer

The panel discussion is in English with Hungarian simultaneous translation. Pre-registration is required at industry@verzio.org. 

This panel discussion explores co-production possibilities in Europe and beyond and how strategic international co-production partnerships may expand your financing, sales and distribution possibilities. Do national and European funding schemes sufficiently encourage and support co-productions? How do international co-production funds work and operate? What are the benefits and downsides of co-producing outside of Europe? What's it like from a European producer's perspective and what are the lessons to be learnt from their experience?

Participants:
Alessandro Gropplero, forum director , When East Meets West (Italy)
Max Tuula, producer, Marx Film (Germany)
Anna Závorszky, executive producer, HBO Europe (Hungary)
Anna Kaslová, Forum Manager, Ex Oriente Film & East Doc, Institute of Documentary Film (Czech Republic)
Hanne Phlypo, producer, Clin d'oeil Films (Belgium) 
Moderator:
Julianna Ugrin, producer, Eclipse Film (Hungary)

The panel discussion is in English. Pre-registration is required at industry@verzio.org. 

Investigative journalism is regarded as one of the last tools to defend democracy in our region—one of the few remaining checks on power. We attribute superhero-like features to investigative journalists who fight corruption and wrongdoing, and take on the villains of our times. But in the meantime, journalism is struggling with a failing business model, a decline in audience trust, apathy, and personal attacks—including online harassment and physical threats. We will discuss trends in investigative journalism, the nature of the job, success stories, innovations, and the particular challenges in the region, with distinguished investigative journalists from Hungary and the neighboring countries.

Participants:
Slobodan Georgijev, BIRN (Serbia)
Mirela Neag, Libertatea (Romania)
Tamás Bodoky, Átlátszó (Hungary)
Gergely Saling, Direkt36 (Hungary)
Moderator:
Csáky Zselyke, Freedom House

The discussion is in English. Pre-registration is required at industry@verzio.org. 

Helga Papp - Drama teacher
Bogi Szalga - Drama teacher

Participants:
Gábor Búr, historian, associate professor at the Faculty of Humanities at ELTE
András Vágvölgyi B., journalist, director, film critic
Sándor Kardos, cinematographer, director
Moderator:
Balázs Vízer, journalist 

The discussion is in English with Hungarian simultaneous translation.