Event Preview: History Makers 2011

January 26 to 28
Marriott Marquis, New York, NY, U.S.A.

This year marks a decade of History Makers, which will celebrate its tenth anniversary at the end of this month by again bringing together program makers from all over the world with a three-day event. This year also marks the tenth anniversary of the terrorist strike on the World Trade Center, an event which Bill Nemtin, executive producer of History Makers, says was pivotal in shaping the conference.

Nemtin explains that the events of September 11, 2001, turned the public’s eye toward issues of contemporary history. Accordingly, History Makers incorporated current- and public-affairs programs into its remit, which Nemtin says "was a natural development of the times we’re living in."

History Makers doesn’t just focus on what’s happened in the past, or what’s happening today, but also investigates the future trends in programming. This year, the event is partnering with nextMEDIA, under the same Achilles Media umbrella as History Makers, to give attendees access to the newest digital and multiplatform trends changing the face of factual programming. One such area is gaming, which will be explored in the session "TV + Games = Awesome." This part will focus on how games, apps and other interactive formats can get more attention, engagement and value from specialist factual programming. There are also sessions on web-led productions, creating a multi-screen environment, and the value of harnessing social media.

Another hot topic in new media, 3D, is popping up at History Makers. The event recently secured the screening of Werner Herzog’s 3D documentary Cave of Forgotten Dreams, looking into the Chauvet caves of southern France that contain some of the oldest images in history. Nemtin says this is not only a personal highlight, as a fan of the prolific filmmaker, but also provides a wonderful opportunity to give delegates a sneak preview of this yet-to-be-released project.

Also sure to top the highlights are the keynote speeches of factual broadcast legends Bill Moyers and Simon Schama. Each will offer their views on the challenges and opportunities facing the industry today, while also touching on the future of investigation, research, education and intellectual discovery in today’s digital world. "These guys are the philosophers," says Nemtin. "They understand not just the business context of the changes [in the factual industry], but also the philosophical and social context. There’s a session that we’re doing that’s related to what they [will be] talking about, about investigation of the digital world. How do we know anything anymore? Knowledge comes from so many different sources now. It’s spread all over and you can’t always test the validity of what you’re being told. How do you research a film these days? There’s a decline of traditional print sources, but there’s this expansion of the Google, Facebook, YouTube, Wikipedia worlds with all new sources and information. How do we now learn and how do we make history in all its forms? That’s what they’re really going to talk about."

He adds, "I think Bill Moyers has been particularly interested in that because he’s had a year off from having to deliver programs. Simon Schama is a professor of history. They both have a deep understanding of where history now sits in our society."

The event will again this year recognize the very best in history, current affairs and nonfiction programming from around the globe with its awards ceremony. The 2011 History Makers Awards span six categories: Best History Production, Best Historical Drama Production, Best Current Affairs Production, Most Innovative Production, Best Interactive Production and Best Use of Archive in a History Production. Indeed, Nemtin points to archives as another area that’s grown in recent years. "Thought Equity Motion [which has one of the largest online footage libraries] is giving away ten registrations to visual researchers to come to History Makers," Nemtin adds.

Archives play a key part in what Nemtin describes as his motto of "History: Past, Present and Future." He explains: "The past is with the archives and the old history and the digging of caves; the present covers public affairs and current affairs, which is often described as tomorrow’s history being written today; and the future is the digital area, with interactivity and a change that we can only just begin to grasp."

All of these topics are universal in nature, which is why the event has had continued success in drawing such an international roster, says Nemtin. "When we came to New York we decided, we’ll make New York our base and bring the rest of the world to us. We’ve had over 20 countries [represented] for the past four years. We get commissioning editors from Germany, Italy, France, England, Australia, Canada; we get really top-value people. We give Americans very good value that they can come to New York and meet the world."