Morgan Spurlock Keynote Among MIPDoc 2016 Highlights

PARIS: MIPDoc has unveiled a range of speakers and sessions for the upcoming event, including a keynote from Morgan Spurlock and an international premiere screening of National Geographic’s The Story of God with Morgan Freeman.

Spurlock will deliver a keynote on Saturday, April 2, at MIPDoc. He will be discussing original digital content, digital distribution and channels, and how to make an impact and engage people (especially younger generations) and call them to action. As part of this conversation, Spurlock will premiere his new female-focused SMARTish series What We Teach Girls, Present Tense & Sexish.

Also a highlight is the special MIPDoc International Premiere of National Geographic’s series The Story of God with Morgan Freeman. The six-parter is due to debut worldwide on Sunday, April 3, coinciding with its premiere screening in Cannes. The MIPDoc International Premiere will take place on April 3 at 5 p.m. and will be followed by a cocktail reception. National Geographic is also the exclusive sponsor of the MIPDoc Networking Lunch on April 2, which the international sales division will host.

MIPDoc is also hosting a series of six sessions run by the Munich-based Documentary Campus. Among topics to be covered are where to look for finance beyond license fees; an examination of the producer/distributor relationship; and a showcase to present companies following innovative pathways toward content creation and business.

“We are very excited to partner with MIPDoc. Documentary Campus is all about bringing people together to partner in business and storytelling,” said Donata von Perfall, the director at Documentary Campus. “The presence of Documentary Campus at the world’s leading factual co-production, screenings and conference will strengthen our purpose and attract even more inspirational professionals to the MIPDoc community.”

Lucy Smith, the director of MIPDoc, commented, “As well as being known as the world’s largest screenings library for factual programs and projects, MIPDoc now offers an unparalleled conference program, which is headlined this year by the groundbreaking visionary filmmaker Morgan Spurlock. And we are thrilled that MIPDoc International Premiere Screening has become the launch pad for the global distribution strategy for the hugely anticipated The Story of God with Morgan Freeman from National Geographic.”