A new direction for documentary films.

Before its official television broadcast, the documentary "Autumn Triumph" (produced by Ho Chi Minh City Television Film Studio - TFS) was screened in theaters and released online on the HTVm platform. This approach is hoped to open up a new direction, promising to bring documentary films closer to the public.

Previously, documentaries, after being produced, would first be broadcast on television, and then on other platforms. However, starting with the 37-episode series "Overcoming the Waves," TFS proactively proposed and implemented a new distribution method. Accordingly, the team selected several outstanding episodes to screen in theaters, combined with Q&A sessions with the film crew and historical witnesses. This is considered a novel experiment, because for a long time, documentaries were mainly shown on television, at film weeks, and commemorative film events.

Notably, TFS's innovative approach goes beyond simply adding a distribution channel; it opens up opportunities for direct interaction between films and audiences. According to Mr. Pham Viet Phuoc, Director of TFS Film Studio, it's time for filmmakers to proactively reach out to and seek out audiences. This is significant because this new distribution method allows for the recording of multi-faceted feedback from viewers, something that traditional broadcasting models struggle to achieve.

Especially in today's rapidly developing technological landscape, not just for a single film, but for any content, a very high level of audience appeal is essential. From the initial test screenings of several episodes of "Overcoming the Waves" in theaters and the mixed reviews received, the team learned many valuable lessons regarding subject matter selection, storytelling techniques, and film pacing.

Clearly, combining multiple distribution channels, from theaters and digital platforms to television, not only increases accessibility but also creates a broader social impact for works that are often considered to have a "niche audience."

However, as director Pham Viet Phuoc himself observed, while innovation in distribution methods is necessary, the core element remains content when it comes to making documentaries truly engaging to the public. The subject matter must touch upon contemporary life and be connected to social issues of public interest. Only then will the inherent advantages of the documentary genre, along with flexible methods of transmission and approach, allow this genre to maximize its impact.

HAI DUY

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/huong-di-moi-cho-phim-tai-lieu-post812492.html