The EDN Award 2013 is presented to Stefano Tealdi and Joan Gonzàles
The EDN Award 2013 is presented to Stefano Tealdi and Joan Gonzàles for over 15 years of contributing to the outstanding development of the Southern European documentary culture. The contribution has been done by initiating and running Documentary in Europe and DocsBarcelona. The award was presented on Friday March 22, 2013 at 19:30 at an award reception during the international documentary pitching session Docs in Thessaloniki.
Stefano Tealdi and Joan Gonzàles
Almost in parallel Stefano Tealdi in Turin and Joan Gonzàles in Barcelona started activities to initiate international collaboration, enhance the production circumstances in their region and attract financiers to Southern European countries, where the financing of documentaries could easily be described as challenging.
Based in Turin Stefano Tealdi was in 1997 one of the driving forces behind the yearly documentary networking and pitching event Documentary in Europe, for many years taking place in the city of Bardonecchia. The event quickly became a meeting point for the Italian and international documentary sector and a focal point for a blooming documentary scene in Turin.
Based in Barcelona Joan Gonzàles was, also in 1997, one of the initiators for the DocsBarcelona pitching session. In 2007 the initiative grew by also adding a documentary film festival to the event.
The EDN Award is presented to Stefano Tealdi and Joan Gonzàles not only for initiating Documentary in Europe and DocsBarcelona. They did so in challenging circumstances. But they have also managed to have each of their initiatives staying relevant, adapting them to a shifting production environment and kept them running despite very harsh economic situations, which are now even more difficult than when starting out in 1997.
Upon announcing the award EDN Film Consultant Ove Rishøj Jensen stated:
Today we often take international networking opportunities for granted. However, it has not always been so. Behind the international documentary structures and European collaborations we see today, are the works of pioneers. People who created the structures we are now working in. They saw opportunities before anyone else knew they were there, and they have created financing opportunities where there were no financing opportunities before. Among these pioneers are Stefano Tealdi and Joan Gonzáles. Therefore we are honouring them with the 2013 EDN Award.
The award recipient was revealed at the award ceremony held on March 22nd during the EDN workshop Docs in Thessaloniki. The workshop is held in the framework of the Thessaloniki Documentary Festival – Images of the 21st Century.
About The EDN Award
The EDN Award is presented annually during Docs in Thessaloniki to an institution, group or private person for outstanding contribution to the development of the European documentary culture. The award has on two occasions been presented to a non-European recipient. Being in 2010 to IRDFA – Iranian Documentary Filmmakers Association and in 2012 to the team behind the DOX BOX festival in Syria.
Previously The EDN Award has been presented to:
2012 - Diana El Jeiroudi, Orwa Nyrabia and The DOX BOX Team for initiating the DOX BOX festival in Syria.
2011 - Dimitri Eipides: Director of the Thessaloniki Documentary Festival
2010 - IRDFA - Iranian Documentary Filmmakers Association: Directors’ guild in Iran focusing on documentary filmmakers
2009 - Nenad Puhovski and Zagreb Dox: For initiating Zagreb Dox in Croatia.
2008 - IDF – Institute of Documentary Film: Prague based institute promoting documentary films from East- and Central Europe
2007 - Svetlana and Zoran Popovic: For initiating and running Magnificent 7 in Belgrade, Serbia
2006 - The Jan Vrijman Fund: Dutch film fund supporting filmmakers and festivals in developing countries.
2005 - YLE Documentary: The documentary department of YLE, the national public service broadcaster in Finland.