DocPoint's online events include themes of Sámi and Africa
Held as a national online festival, DocPoint offers thought-provoking webinars open to all, as well as a chance to participate in screenings of an interactive COVID-19-themed documentary alongside its diverse film catalogue.
Celebrating its 20th anniversary in a national online edition, this year’s DocPoint festival also offers a compelling events programme, in addition to its slew of brand-new documentaries, which will dig deep into the pressing issues of today. In a series of webinars and a seminar which are free and open to all, discussants dive into captivating conversations on themes inspired by DocPoint’s film topics. These themes include the Baltic Sea, Africa, and the position of the Sámi peoples, as well as thoughts on the storytelling aspects of documentary films, each of which are led by participants with a thorough understanding of the topic. The public will also be given the chance to take part in an interactive documentary installation which revolves around the emotions evoked by COVID-19. Read more on the side programme below, or from the festival website where you can also find links for each of the events.
WEBINAR: FINNS WHO THINK THEY OWN SÁMI LAND, SATURDAY 30.1
In Suvi West’s documentary Eatnameamet – Our Silent Struggle, which premieres at DocPoint, Sámi matters are in the forefront as the film explores the cultural genocide of the Sámi, and the non-violent fight for the Sámi’s right to exist. The webinar Finns who think they own Sámi land continues on these issues. Discussing the topic are Saami Council Vice President Áslat Holmberg, activist Petra Laiti, and Greenpeace Forest Campaigner Max Liimatainen. The online discussion will be moderated by Eatnameamet’s impact producer, Emmi Nuorgam.
WEBINAR: HOW WE LOOK AT AFRICA / KATSE AFRIKKAAN, THURSDAY 4.2.
This year’s DocPoint festival programme includes a series of the newest documentaries to come out of Africa. In the webinar How We Look at Africa / Katse Afrikkaan, the discussion approaches questions of perspective, asking what does Africa look like, and through whose eyes are we seeing it? Participating in the discussion are Kenyan director Sam Soko, whose film Softie is part of DocPoint’s African selection, Think Africa’s representative and human rights lawyer Sofia Achame, former director of the Nordic Africa Institute Iina Soiri, and last but not least Ismo Ulvila, Head of Communication at the EU Commission’s Helsinki Office. The discussion will also have an introduction to the issue at hand by European Commissioner Jutta Urpilainen. The webinar is organised in collaboration with the EU Commission, and it will be moderated by Kati Juurus, DocPoint’s artistic director. The language of the discussion will be English.
SEMINAR: THE DRAMATURGY AND STORYTELLING OF DOCUMENTARY FILM, FRIDAY 5.2.
What kinds of storytelling techniques are used in documentary films? How is dramaturgy built, and when is the script for an observational documentary created? How do you script history? Can you correct the storytelling of a documentary? These topics are discussed in the seminar alongside the perspectives of the director, editor, dramaturg and the curator. Two of the case-study films will have their premieres at DocPoint, and two others are available to watch on Yle Areena. Participants include director and producer Iikka Vehkalahti, dramaturg and script writer Jan Forsström, curator Cecilia Lidin, film editor and director Okku Nuutilainen, and directors Mia Halme,Anna-Karin Grönroos and Suvi West.
