Hoffman: Impartiality under threat

MIPDOC: Documentary productions are increasingly being influenced by parties with vested interests, which is affecting impartiality, according to a leading European broadcasting exec.

Mette Hoffman Meyer, head of documentaries at the Danish Broadcasting Corporation, told delegates at MipDoc in Cannes today she was finding it increasingly difficult to find impartial factual films for her channels DR1 and DR2.

She said: “I can’t get enough stories where they are just looking for the truth. There are a lot of groups with an interest financing films, and I think it’s a big problem. Films are financed by these people and groups and they do have an interest [in the content].

“I’ve tried to work with them but impartiality is a problem because they want exactly that story.”

Hoffman also encouraged programme makers in developed markets to look for more ambitious projects with a global outlook rather than localised content.