Who We Are : World Congress of Science and Factual Producers

Network

The premiere event for science and history broadcast executives and producers, the WCSFP connects you with people who are informed and passionate about the craft and business of factual television. And, you can conduct business in a remarkable 2-to-1 producer-to-broadcaster environment: face-to-face meetings are easy, plentiful and productive. It's no wonder things are relaxed: the event is run by an involved member-run community for factual professionals.

Share & Learn

Leading international producers and broadcasters work collaboratively to develop a full-slate of member-produced panels and talks. This "by-the-industry and for-the-industry" model celebrates the best of the genre and explores contemporary issues without holding back nitty-gritty details (yes, panelists talk about what didn’t work as well as what did). You'll find extraordinary analysis and insight through case-studies of complex programs, feisty intellectual debates, and on-stage interviews that feature production visionaries and top network decision-makers.

Explore

For 16 years the Congress has travelled the world, visiting new cities and always welcoming new professionals into the community. Like recent editions in New York, Manchester and Tokyo, the Florence WCSFP will allow delegates a chance to explore the region's great wealth of history and culture. And, when the business day is over, grab drinks with your colleagues and have some real fun too at our lively evening events -what a concept for a television conference!

Who We Are

The World Congress of Science and Factual Producers is a member-run organization that represents science and other factual producers and broadcasters around the world. Administered by an elected steering committee and board of directors, the primary function of the WCSFP is the management of the annual conference. Delegates are able to nominate and vote for steering committee members in elections that take place each year during the Congress.

STEERING COMMITTEE

The primary role of the committee is the co-ordination and management of the annual Congress conference. To achieve this, the committee has sign-off powers on conference content and endorsement of the selection of the Board of Directors.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

As designated by the steering committee, the board of directors administers the affairs of the company including, but not limited to, the efficient expenditure of members’ funds, budgets and annual conference fees.

2008 STEERING COMMITTEE AND BOARD MEMBERS

André Barro, Producer, Factual & Co-production, Cirrus (Canada)
Ann Julienne, Head of Acquisitions and International Co-productions, France 5 (France)*
Daryl Karp, Managing Director, Tattooed Media (Australia)*
Ralph Lee, Head of Specialist Factual, Channel Four (UK)
Jared Lipworth, Director of Science Programs, Thirteen/WNET New York (USA)
Wally Longul, President JKJ-TV International (Canada)*
John Lynch, Head of Science, BBC Vision Productions (UK)*
Stuart Mullin, Finance and Operations Director, Simon & Schuster (UK)*
Sonya Pemberton, Executive Producer and Managing Director, Pemberton Films (Australia)
Lorenzo Pinna, Broadcaster, RAI (Italy)
Marco Visalberghi, Managing Director, DocLab Srl (Italy)
Thomas von Hennet, Head of Documentaries and International Co-Productions, ProSieben Television*
Susan Werbe, Vice President, Historical Programming. The History Channel (USA)
Bridget Whalen, Executive Director of Development, National Geographic Channel (USA)
Ellen Windemuth, Managing Director, Off The Fence (Netherlands)

*Board member

The vacancies for the 2009 Steering Committee will be posted in this space in the fall of 2008.

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

Alison Leigh, independent producer, Leigh Brown Productions, Australia is the Editorial Director for the WCSFP.

EVENT MANAGEMENT TEAM

The Congress is managed by Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival under the leadership of Executive Director Chris McDonald and Managing Director Brett Hendrie. The Event Manager is Nancy MacDougall.

STEERING COMMITTEE ELECTION GUIDELINES

Steering Committee Voting Procedure

Nominations are drawn from conference delegates and voted on at the conference plenary session. Any delegate may nominate himself or herself. Preferences will be given to nominees that ensure a spread of producers and broadcasters from each of Europe, North America and the Asia/Pacific region, as determined by the serving steering committee at the time.

Steering Committee Vacancies for 2009

We thank outgoing members André Barro, Jared Lipworth, Sonya Pemberton and Susan Werbe, as well as host country representatives Lorenzo Pinna and Marco Visalberghi.

There will be an election for four Steering Committee positions for 2009.
Three representatives will be for two-year terms, specifically:

a representative (broadcaster or independent producer) from Asia or New Zealand
an independent producer representative from North America
an independent producer representative from Europe

One representative for a one year term, specifically:

an independent producer, representing Australia (host country for 2009)

They will join existing steering committee members Ralph Lee (Channel 4, UK), Bridget Whalen (National Geographic Channel, USA), Ellen Windemuth (Off the Fence, Netherlands); six new and returning Board members; and a representative of the Host Broadcaster for 2009 (ABC).

Voting Process

Upon check in at the Registration and Information Desk, each delegate will receive a nomination sheet as well as an individually numbered ballot with which to cast their final vote.

Nominations for the Steering Committee are handed in to the Registration and Information Desk on the first full day of the Congress, Tuesday, December 2. Nominations close at 6:00 pm. A box will be provided in which to place nominations.

The board secretary will inform nominated delegates and confirm that they agree to stand.

Candidates who wish to stand for election will have the opportunity to make a short presentation to the members at a session on the day of the ballot, Wednesday, December 3, at 11:00 am.

At this time delegates will be provided with a list of candidates. In addition, a list of candidates will also be posted at the Registration and Information Desk.

To avoid any irregularities, each ballot paper provided upon check in at the Registration and Information Desk will be numbered. The number will correspond to the delegate’s badge number. If a ballot paper is lost during the Congress, a delegate may apply to the board secretary who will issue a replacement. Votes can only be cast in the sealed ballot box that will be placed at the Registration and Information Desk.

The vote closes at noon on Thursday, December 4. The ballots are counted and the result is checked by a Steering Committee member. Election results are announced at the final session, the Members Plenary, on Thursday, December 4, at 2:30 pm.

Testimonials

WCSFP is a highlight every year on my calendar. The informal vibe leads to non-pressurized commission discussions on one hand, and what can be some spirited discussions or side splitting hilarity in the sessions on the other. Meaningful topics from global warming, teaching evolution, how to make a vat of murky salt water look like amniotic fluid peacefully co-exist with issues like the nature co-production relationships, and how to get that final bit of funding. If you care about the craft of non-fiction films, and like seeing people defend their passionately held views on stage, this is the place for you. It’s group therapy for the filmmakers and net execs alike.
— Chris Hoelzl, Head of Development, Smithsonian Networks
I have been attending the WCSFP since its first edition and I have always considered it as an event not to be missed. It’s not only that the sessions are truly inspiring, that almost everyone in the business is there and that you always end up learning something new, but it is also the friendly and informal atmosphere that makes it a truly professional but at the same time fun and relaxing event. And this time it’s my own country’s turn…I can’t wait to greet you all in Florence.
— Daniela Bagliani, Acquisitions and Coproductions Manager, Documentary Dept., RTI SpA - Mediaset Group
I have been attending the congress for three years and every year I return to find new filmmakers, innovative ideas and lively discussions and workshops. As science is rooted in almost all of National Geographic’s programming, Science Congress continues to be one of our top priorities year after year.
— Bridget Whalen, Vice President, Development, Co-productions, and Acquisitions, National Geographic Channel
The WCSFP is my favorite industry meeting. It’s the mix of interesting people, great panels and sessions and relaxed atmosphere that make them so valuable. Other industry meetings are valuable in their own way, but none have the blend of intellectual zest and sense of humor that mark the WCSFP. I’m looking forward immensely to this year’s gathering.
— Tug Yourgrau, President, Powderhouse Productions
I enjoy WCSFP’s practical focus on the new trends plus the sobering versus inspiring realities facing science programme production today. The inevitable result of this dynamic conference is that we all rise to the challenge. What could be better?
— Ellen Windemuth, Managing Director, Off The Fence
The WCSFP features a unique blend of debates in various lively formats, screenings, case studies and trend spotting. It provides an overview of the global industry, and facilitates business meetings in a very relaxed atmosphere that mixes the fun with the serious. Moreover, every year it allows us to discover a different country and its television landscape. So as an old timer, I would encourage everybody in the science and history film and television industry, and especially the people who’ve never attended, to book a flight to Florence for the first days of December 2008.
— Fabrice Esteve, Producer, DOCSIDE Production
We are proud to act as the Host Broadcaster and to add RAI’s name to the list of other internationally renowned broadcasters like WNET/Thirteen New York, the BBC and NHK that have most recently undertaken this position. We look forward to this year’s event and to joining with the international factual community to debate, do business and to socialize in one of the world’s most beautiful cities.
— Giancarlo Leone, Deputy Managing Director, RAI
The World Congress of Science and Factual Producers continues to be one of the most important international gatherings for like-minded filmmakers and producers. What I like most about it is that it is much more than a marketplace - it is a place that provides a singular opportunity for professionals to probe deeply into the creative aspects of our craft. I would not miss it.
— Melanie Wallace, Senior Series Producer, NOVA, WGBH