The Power of Archives: Whose History Gets Told?

15 Jun, 2025, 11.30 AM @ Atelier Gardens

Event language: English

This session explores the influence and responsibility of using archival materials in documentary storytelling. It opens with a discussion on narrative construction and the ethical lens through which we tell stories drawn from personal, political, and collective memory. In collaboration with an experienced archive producer, it then offers a practical guide to sourcing, licensing, and rights clearance—complete with essential dos and don’ts for working with archival footage.

Tickets

Program Info

Ethics, Dramaturgy & Reality

The session opens with a conversation focused on narrative construction and the ethical standpoint from which we tell stories — especially those drawn from personal, political, and collective memory.

Guest

Magdalena Szymków

Magdalena Szymków is a documentary filmmaker, screenwriter, and archive researcher with a background in journalism. A graduate of the Wajda School in Warsaw, she has been pursuing a PhD in film directing at the Łódź Film School since 2016. She is a Berlinale Talents alumna and co-founder of the London-based production company Vezfilm. Her film My House Without Me received multiple international awards.

Breakout: Legal & Practical Essentials

In collaboration with an experienced Archive Producer, this part offers a grounded, accessible overview of working with archival footage — from sourcing and licensing to rights clearance and final delivery. Designed to demystify the process, it provides a practical toolkit of dos and don’ts for filmmakers navigating the legal and procedural complexities of archival use.

Guests

Sabine Kues

Sabine works as a freelance archive researcher for creative documentaries and factual series. She is based in Berlin and works for international productions. Previously, she held positions at documentary training initiatives and film festivals. She is a member of GRAP - German Researchers and Archive Producers.

Stephen Maier

Stephen Maier is a freelance archival producer and researcher with over a decade of experience in documentary film. Based in Berlin, he specializes in archival research and clearance for international productions. A founding member of GRAP, he has worked on projects for ARD, ZDF, ARTE, Netflix, and Sky. In 2024, he received the FOCAL Researcher of the Year Award for STASI FC.