New EDN Director is Paul Pauwels

COPENHAGEN, DENMARK, May 12, 2013

Paul Pauwels comes from a position as Managing Director for the Belgium production company Congoo bvba, and has a long track record of working with international documentary co productions from both a commissioning and production point of view. He has been the managing director of the media academy ETMA, commissioning editor for the Belgium public service broadcaster VRT and has almost 30 years of experience with producing documentaries for the national and international market. In addition Pauwels has been a member of the Eurovision Documentary Workgroup, one of the first Chairmen of EDN as well as tutor, moderator and expert at many European workshops and seminars.

Paul Pauwels replaces the former EDN Director Hanne Skjødt, who chose to leave her position earlier this year. Paul will work from both the EDN office in Copenhagen and from the newly established EDN antenna office in Brussels. As Director of EDN he will be in charge of the overall strategy for the documentary organization, the development of the international network counting over 1000 members and oversee the more than 50 on- and offline EDN activities happening every year.

In connection with the appointment as EDN Director Paul Pauwels states:
"When a couple of weeks ago I was invited to become the director of EDN it took me little time to take a decision and to accept. It is with great enthusiasm that I prepare myself to start the new task that awaits me. I consider it a privilege that I am now in the position to put the experience of almost thirty years of working as a producer at the service of an association that is very close to my heart.

Some decades ago, a rather limited group of European documentary professionals gathered in Marseille, answering to the obvious need to create an instrument that would defend the documentary community's interests and to create a well-working network that would allow its members to share knowledge and information. Starting from zero, the constantly growing group of members, dedicated board members and a very motivated team over the years have managed to build EDN into a solid instrument with an impressive track record. It's only fair that today I honour these efforts and I feel honoured that I have been chosen to continue that great work; to lead EDN and to defend the members' interests."

From May 15 Paul Pauwels will be available for meetings and appointments in the EDN office in
Copenhagen as well as the new EDN antenna office in Brussels. First EDN activity where Paul Pauwels will be present is the MeetMarket at Sheffield Doc/Fest in mid-June, where EDN will run a consultation service for the market participants. For contact details on Paul Pauwels please go to the EDN Staff section at edn.dk - http://www.edn.dk/edn/edn-staff/

About EDN
EDN - European Documentary Network is stimulating networks & knowledge within the documentary sector. EDN provides documentary consulting and informs about possibilities for funding, financing, development, co-production, distribution and collaboration across borders. This is done via individual consultancy to members on documentary projects, activities like workshops, seminars and conferences as well as through the two indispensable publications DOX magazine and The EDN Financing Guide. EDN started in September 1996 and now over 1000 members from more than 60 countries have joined EDN. The organization is open for both newcomers and established filmmakers. Read more about EDN at - http://www.edn.dk/edn/

EDN - European Documentary Network is a member-based organisation for professionals working with documentary film and television. EDN has 1100+ members from more than 60 countries.