Future of Film Podcast · 3.8 Future of Theatrical

“The Challenge is to Rewrite the Storytelling of Cinema” Erwin Schmidt

This very special episode was recorded live at the New Cinema Conference 2019 at the EYE in Amsterdam. From across film and media I am joined by experts in their field to discuss the future of cinema and its place in the wider culture and industry. My esteemed guests are:

– international VOD expert and Rights Stuff Founder Wendy Bernfeld

– innovator, teacher and MD of the German Producers Association Erwin Schmidt

– Acclaimed storyteller (and producer of one of my favourite films in recent years THE LUNCHBOX) Anurag Kashyap

– Internationally recognised pioneer of VR and curator of Venice VR Days, Michel Rehihac

In this conversation we look ahead to the next 5 years and explore the challenges and opportunities for cinema over that time. Drawing upon the guest’s wide ranging experience and backgrounds, we discuss the innovations that could benefit the industry and how it can prosper in the wider context of the shifts in VOD, Production, Storytelling and Immersive Media.

This episode was made possible with kind support of the New Cinema Conference.

About the Speakers

Anurag Kashyap

Distinguished Indian filmmaker, known for his critical and commercial success in Hindi Cinema. Ace Bollywood director and independent co-producer of The Lunchbox (2013); director and screenwriter of a vast body of films such as Gangs of Wasseypur (2012), Ugly 2014) and Manmarziyaan (2018). Producer and director of Sacred Games, the first original Netflix series from India.

Awarded by the French Minister of Culture with the ‘Ordre des Arts et des Lettres’ for his contribution to film.

Recipient of many accolades including a national Film Award, 4 Filmfare Awardsthe Grand Jury Prize at the Indian Film Festival Los Angeles and BAFTA for best (non-English) film. Jury member of – among others – the International Film Festival of Venice and Sundance Film Festival.

Industry Mentor for MyNK | MinersINC.

Michel Reilhac

Curator, author, director, head of Studies Venice Biennale College Cinema and Curator Venice Biennale VR competition VR

Michel is an immersive media expert, known as a leading international specialist for innovation in hybrid storytelling across interactive and immersive experiences. he is Head of Studies at the Venice Biennale College and VR competition curator for the Venice Biennale International Film Festival. Between 2002-2012, Michel was Head of Cinema & Film Acquisitions at Arte France and executive director of Arte France Cinema, co-producing around 30 international independent feature films each year. Michel is a regular speaker on XR and immersive storytelling at international events, including the Cannes International Film Festival, SXSW, Tribeca Film Festival, TEDx, CPH:DOX, Power to the Pixel, FEMIS etc.

Erwin M Scmidt

Erwin M. Schmidt has worked in production, international sales and for film festivals and has an avid interest in new narrative formats and new distribution channels. He co-founded the Berlin based co-working space FilmTech Office (www.filmtechoffice.com), curates infiniTIFF (www.tiff.ro/en/infiniTIFF), the section for new forms of storytelling at the Transilvania Intl. Film Festival, and organizes the monthly FilmTech Meetup Berlin (www.meetup.com/FilmTechBerlin). He is the managing director of the German Film Producers Association. With the innovation studio Cinemathon (www.cinemathon.international) he works at the touchpoint between film, storytelling and technology, provides innovation tools for the film industry, builds communities and organizes workshops and conferences. Erwin has a special interest in the cinema of the future.

Wendy Bernfeld

Wendy started her media company Rights Stuff  in 1999 – an international consultancy focussed on OTT/SVOD/VOD, VR & Blockchain VOD- from start-up through expansion phases, and spanning curation, licensing & Originals negotiations.

Wendy also assists rightsholders & creators in digital distribution, beyond the usual suspects of the traditional and ‘Big5’ , to the wealth of international competitors & thematic services in VOD, including telecom, cable and OTT networks who buy & also fund programming.

Wendy has 25+ years experience, sits on multiple international film & digital sector advisory boards, and is a member of Bar Associations in the UK & Canada. Previously she was CEO of Canal+ International Acquisitions, Managing Director of Alliance-Atlantis International and a pay-tv-buyer for The Movie Network Canada.