Buyers get down to serious business at MIPDOC

CANNES: The sixth edition of MIPDOC focused primarily on ‘quality programming’. Current affairs, history and ancient civilisations were some of the most popular themes at the two day festival, which showcased some exceptional quality of programming.
Over the course of two days (22 March and 23 March), the festival saw international buyers and sellers concentrate exclusively on factual programming.The top most screened programmes include Around The World With Tippi, by Rebel Media Ventures Corp (Canada), which took number one position, followed by CIA: Secret Wars by Capa (France), and two companies ranking third–Holy Secrets: Electing A Pope by AETN International (US) and Clone Story by US Independents (US).
Figures prove that, with a war brewing in Iraq, the turnout for the festival has not been as good as last year. This year’s market attracted a total of 473 participants (577 in 2002) and registered a total of 296 buyers from 39 countries (335 buyers from 47 countries in 2002), states an official release.
During this time, buyers were able to screen programmes from a selection of 1157 presented by 159 distribution and production companies, with approximately 50 per cent screened for the first-time ever and culminating in a total of 7449 screenings (9037 in 2002), the release adds.