CPH:DOX Summit to Consider Media Accessibility as a Human Right

Copenhagen documentary festival CPH:DOX is set to launch a Summit in partnership with Documentary Campus and the Danish Producers' Assn. on March 24.
The Summit will bring together politicians, thought leaders and film and TV professionals to discuss the future of the industry. It aims to make possible 'cross-sector dialogues, enabling key decision-makers to address pressing issues in documentary filmmaking and audiovisual media, and their crucial role in shaping public discourse,' according to a statement.
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The event, curated by producer and media consultant Mark Edwards, is open to all accredited guests.
'Discussions will explore how documentary films move beyond conveying facts to foster emotional connections with audiences and deepen public understanding of critical global issues,' the festival said. 'Ensuring access to diverse and authentic storytelling will be highlighted as essential to supporting democratic engagement in a polarized world.'
The Summit will also consider media accessibility as a human right and explore the idea of introducing a 'bill of rights for audiences' to guarantee access to a wide range of voices and perspectives.
Speakers such as Christo Grozev, Bulgarian investigative journalist and author (Der Spiegel and 'The Insider') and Rasmus Kleis Nielsen, a professor of communication at the University of Copenhagen and director at the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism at the University of Oxford, will offer insights on the state of information in Europe.
Helena Kennedy, chair of the panel of legal experts on media freedom and director of the International Bar Assn.'s Human Rights Institute, will give a keynote address on the topic of media accessibility as a human right.
Additionally, Keri Putnam, former executive director of the Sundance Institute, and Matthias Pfeffer, managing director at Council for European Public Space will explore strategies to better connect filmmakers and content creators with audiences across Europe and beyond.
Katrine Kiilgaard, managing director of CPH:DOX, said, 'The Summit comes at a pivotal moment as Europe experiences sweeping changes in its media landscape. The prevalence of streaming services and social media has disrupted traditional broadcasters, leading to demands for innovation as well as regulatory change. With social media now the main source of news for many Europeans, the need to work together to build a more inclusive and resilient media ecosystem is more urgent than ever.'
Donata von Perfall, managing director of Documentary Campus, said, 'When media professionals and policymakers collaborate more closely, we shape a future where innovation, inclusiveness, and creativity thrive. Culture is a direct voice to the public. We have the shared responsibility to ensure that audiences receive fact-based media formats, which represent diverse voices and drive positive change.'
Anna Porse Nielsen, CEO of the Danish Producers' Assn., said, 'The financing of documentary films has always been difficult, but never as much as now. Simultaneously, we live in a time where documentaries are more important than ever and where we need to ensure that production companies can survive and keep bringing stories from all aspects of humanity to both large and small screens.'
As the digital landscape continues to evolve, the Summit will examine the impact of AI, from its disruption of copyright and content authenticity to its potential to reshape public discourse.
Speakers will stress the need for updated regulation and industry-wide collaboration to navigate these technological shifts while protecting democracy.
Additionally, it will explore how public broadcasters, film funds and filmmakers can leverage data and emerging technologies to overcome distribution challenges and connect more effectively with audiences.
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