Ask the Experts at Sunny Side of the Doc!

How it works

If you meet any of the above conditions, you will soon be contacted by email to take part in this initiative.

Participating is easy! Browse through our experts and choose the one(s) you wish to meet. Once you have made your choice (2 experts max.), go to MySunny Space (available in the email) to make your request.

Please provide all the necessary information for an optimal appointment. The more they know about you, the more relevant their answers will be!

Once your appointment has been confirmed, meet your experts at Sunny Side of the Doc in June.

Khadidja BENOUATAF

Impact Strategist – Impact Social Club

Field of expertise: Impact strategy, Impact production

Bio: Coming from a journalism background, Khadidja is president of IMPACT SOCIAL CLUB in France, an impact strategist at BIM - Best Impact Movies, and an advisory committee member of Doc Society’s Global Impact Producer's Alliance. She trains industry professionals and students in impact strategies internationally and designs impact campaigns for award-winning documentaries. Khadidja also acts as a panelist and runs impact labs at major international film festivals.

David HOOPER

Managing Director – Espresso Media International

Field of expertise: International Distribution

Bio: As the Managing Director, David oversees all acquisitions, co-productions and sales, maintaining partnerships with contacts across the industry. Previously an editor, producer and director, David founded Espresso in 1992. Initially serving as a production company developing strands for the BBC and TVS (ITV), David then switched his focus to international TV distribution in the late 1990s. Recent EP credits include War Above the Trenches.

Ravit TURJEMAN

Chief Operating Officer – ReelAbilities

Field of expertise: Festival strategies / impact campaigns / USA non-theatrical distribution / disibility inclusion / accessibility

Bio: One of the founding members of the ReelAbilities Film Festival, Ravit initiated her career as a film distributor and festivals programmer and producer. Over the past two decades, she has championed the works of hundreds of filmmakers, and spearheaded diverse film-related endeavors such as festivals, industry databases, streaming platforms and networks.

Adam PAPLIŃSKI

Co-founder - Pitch the Doc

Field of expertise: Pitch

Bio: Has been involved in film production for almost 30 years, more than 20 of which in the documentary business. Producer, production manager, consultant and tutor at international workshops, jury member at various film festivals. In 2016, founded the first on-line platform for documentary projects, Pitch the Doc, providing pitching-like presentation features. Member of the Polish Filmmakers Association and the Documentary Association of Europe.

Elvira LIND

Field of expertise: Factual genre, History, Distribution

Bio: Elvira Lind started the new department at SPIEGEL TV in 1994 and oversaw all acquisition and distribution activities of the SPIEGEL TV Group until her retirement. She began her career as an executive producer, developing and producing the first German-Russian TV co-productions. Elvira Lind graduated in music from the Hochschule für Musik und Theater in Hamburg and in musicology and Russian literature from the University of Hamburg.

Louise ROSEN

Managing Director – Louise Rosen Ltd

Field of expertise: International coproduction, distribution, USA

Bio: Louise Rosen Ltd (LRL) provides a range of services to filmmakers including consulting guidance on project development, editorial review at all stages of production, strategies for fundraising, distribution and festival planning, sales agency for project financing and distribution of finished films. LRL projects have included Oscar, Emmy, Sundance, and other award-winning films and have been released across all platforms including theatrical, all forms of digital/online, educational, and television.

Catherine OLSEN

Executive Producer - Passionate 4 Docs

Field of expertise: International social & political issues

Bio: Catherine started her career in Vancouver as a camerawoman and editor, then worked as a TV journalist, writer, director, and documentary producer. For 22 years, she was the Commissioning Editor of CBC’s "The Passionate Eye," an award-winning series on political and social issues. Catherine is now the Executive Producer at Passionate 4 Docs and works as a documentary consultant, producer, and moderator. She is a founding member of Hot Docs and has moderated and consulted at major film festivals worldwide.

Ken-Ichi IMAMURA

Producer - NHK Enterprises

Field of expertise: International coproductions with Asia

Bio: Imamura joined NHK in 1983. He was the Commissioning Editor of the "World Documentary" slot from 2009 until 2012. Since 2012 he has been working with NHK Enterprises and is in charge of co-productions, pre-buying and commissioning of documentaries and other TV programmes. He started Tokyo Docs in 2011 as one of its founders. Tokyo Docs is the sole international documentary event in Japan holding pitching sessions.

Lauren VALMADRE

Industry Manager - AIDC

Field of expertise: Industry, Global Film Markets, International Sales, Australian Distribution, Film Festivals, Decision Makers, Project Consultation, Pitch Training

Bio: Lauren is the Industry Manager for the Australian International Documentary Conference (AIDC), Australia’s premier event for non-fiction content. A documentary fan and industry professional, she has extensive experience in programming, international sales, and distribution. Her past roles include Program Director at the Human Rights Arts & Film Festival, and Sales Manager at LevelK and Umbrella Entertainment.

Ask the Experts at Sunny Side of the Doc!