The 2008 Congress of Science and Factual Producers in Florence

December 7th, 2008

Last week SciencePunk travelled to the Hilton Metropole in Florence, Italy, where I attended the 2008 World Congress of Science and Factual Producers. The Congress brings together science and history film producers and commissioners from all around the world to meet, socialise, exchange ideas and pitch films. I found myself there, all-expenses-paid, courtesy of the Wellcome Trust mentorship programme for emerging talent: myself and seven other promising younglings were sent to learn all we can about the science broadcast industry. You see kids: science does have a glamorous side. Just look at the view from my hotel room:

The Congress is membership-run, with additional funding provided from luminaries such as Discovery and Italian broadcaster Rai. During the day there were lectures and presentations (such as “Faith, Science and the Vatican”), and the evenings are built on social events arranged at some incredible venues throughout the city.  Many people come here hoping to secure the funding needed to turn their ideas into film, but the emphasis is more social than business: a chance to catch up with old friends and make new ones (for me, entirely the latter).

In a future post I’ll also be able to reveal a senior producer’s view of the future of science programming (it isn’t good news), discuss what happened when the Vatican representatives met the scientists, and reveal what lies inside a secret tunnel running through Florence.

On reflection, being unemployed is working out quite well for me. Is it any wonder 2 million people in the UK swear by it?

*** EDIT: I’ve been reminded that due to confidentiality clauses, I won’t actually be able to reveal any of those things.  Even the Vasari Corridor was off-limits to photography.

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