ROUNDTABLE
PRODUCTION, DISTRIBUTION AND PROMOTION

After fifteen years, l'Alternativa has consolidated itself as one of the most innovative independent film festivals, still brimming with the same enthusiasm as when it first burst onto the scene. And the Festival is keen to remain a key meeting point for discussing and searching for new distribution channels and promoting independent-minded filmmaking unbound by conventional shackles. This year we have invited professionals involved with these kinds of projects to a roundtable on producing, distributing and promoting independent-minded filmmaking in today’s world.

The roundtable will feature three speakers:

Helga Malavé, Director General of Production and Programming at teleSUR, a multistate television channel supported by six countries: Argentina, Bolivia, Cuba, Ecuador, Nicaragua and Venezuela. Helga Malavé will give her vision of teleSUR and its goals. At the end of the Festival she will also present the teleSUR award for best documentary with Latin American subject matter: a $5000 prize plus broadcast for the documentary on teleSUR for two years.

Luis Miñarro, producer at Eddie Saeta SA, has helped cement new filmmakers and is a staunch champion of independent-minded filmmaking. He has produced 14 feature films representing Spain at prestigious international film festivals. An intrepid traveller, he has coproduced with Argentina and Uruguay and sat on juries for l'Alternativa, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and San Sebastian.

Àlex Navarro, director of Media Antena Catalunya. At the end of the year, the European Parliament will set the budget and guidelines for Media International 2009. Key points will include ongoing training, promoting films, screening networks and, new for 2009, supporting festivals. The central thrust is cooperation between Europe and the rest of the world.

As well as promoting projects and new cooperation possibilities, we are also keen to encourage dialogue between professionals to forge new paths for independent-minded filmmaking. We hope to see you there.

Moderator: Margarita Maguregui
Date: Tuesday, 18th November
Time: 7.30pm
Place: Sala Mirador del CCCB (Montalegre, 5)

Free entrance.