Shifting Grounds: Navigating Documentary Production and Distribution
Mon Dec 29 2025
Industry Insights – The EFM Podcast is presented by the European Film Market of the Berlinale. Hosted by senior documentary editor of Deadline.com, Matt Carey, it offers a compelling deep dive into the evolving dynamics of documentary filmmaking worldwide - from creative and financial challenges in production to the fast-changing realities of distribution across festivals, broadcasters, and global streaming platforms.
Join us for the latest episode of Industry Insights - The EFM Podcast. Today’s conversation, “Shifting Grounds: Navigating Documentary Production and Distribution”, examines the pressing challenges and emerging opportunities shaping the documentary community today.
With guests Ove Rishøj Jensen (Nordisk Film & TV Fund) and Geralyn White Dreyfous (Impact Partners, Jolt.film), the discussion highlights how pitching forums are changing, why public support for independent voices remains vital, and how streaming platforms and algorithms are reshaping access to audiences. Together, they reflect on the resilience of documentary storytelling and the importance of safeguarding creative independence in a rapidly consolidating industry.
Geralyn White Dreyfous is an Academy Award–winning producer with a distinguished background in the arts. Her producing and executive producing credits include the Academy Award–winning NAVALNY (2022) and BORN INTO BROTHELS (2004), the Academy Award–nominated and Peabody Award–winning THE INVISIBLE WAR (2012), the Academy Award–nominated and Emmy Award–winning THE SQUARE (2013), and the Emmy Award–winning 16 SHOTS (2019). She also worked on acclaimed titles such as WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR? (2018) and THE GREAT HACK (2019). Geralyn stands as Founder and Board Chair of Utah Film Center, Co-Founder of Impact Partners, and a founding member of Gamechanger Films. She has been recognized by Variety and the International Documentary Association for her significant contribution to documentary filmmaking.
**Ove Rishøj Jensen **has been active in the international documentary sector since 2003 and has built an extensive network within the industry. Since November 2025, Ove has been working as a Documentary Advisor for the Nordisk Film & TV Fond.
Based in Copenhagen, Ove launched in 2019 his own company for documentary training and consultancy, entitled Paradiddle Pictures, which he still runs. He mentors and moderates at pitching forums such as Fipadoc, K-Docs, Tokyo Docs and M:Brane. He also leads the workshop series DocCelerator, which has provided dramaturgical guidance to more than 350 filmmakers from all corners of the world.
From 2011 to 2025 Ove was a producer at the Swedish company Auto Images. From 2003 to 2019 Ove worked for EDN - European Documentary Network. Ove has a master’s degree in film studies with additional studying of cultural journalism and humanistic computer informatics.
Matthew Carey, host of this episode, serves as Senior Documentary Editor at Deadline.com, covering the landscape of nonfiction film. He co-hosts and produces Deadline’s weekly Doc Talk podcast, winner of a Webby Award. Formerly, he served as Senior Producer at CNN in Los Angeles, where he wrote and produced documentary specials and oversaw production of CNN’s live Oscar red carpet specials, coverage of the Sundance Film Festival and other events. Carey earned two Peabody Awards and a DuPont-Columbia Award for his contributions to CNN’s coverage of politics and breaking news.
More nonfiction perspectives will also be shared onsite at the upcoming DocSalon, running from February 13–17 during the European Film Market in Berlin. DocSalon returns with expert-led consultations, roundtables, panel conversations, and daily networking sessions. Together with its main partner FilmFernsehFonds Bayern and media partner Deadline, DocSalon will
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Industry Insights – The EFM Podcast is presented by the European Film Market of the Berlinale. Hosted by senior documentary editor of Deadline.com, Matt Carey, it offers a compelling deep dive into the evolving dynamics of documentary filmmaking worldwide - from creative and financial challenges in production to the fast-changing realities of distribution across festivals, broadcasters, and global streaming platforms. Join us for the latest episode of Industry Insights - The EFM Podcast. Today’s conversation, “Shifting Grounds: Navigating Documentary Production and Distribution”, examines the pressing challenges and emerging opportunities shaping the documentary community today. With guests Ove Rishøj Jensen (Nordisk Film & TV Fund) and Geralyn White Dreyfous (Impact Partners, Jolt.film), the discussion highlights how pitching forums are changing, why public support for independent voices remains vital, and how streaming platforms and algorithms are reshaping access to audiences. Together, they reflect on the resilience of documentary storytelling and the importance of safeguarding creative independence in a rapidly consolidating industry. Geralyn White Dreyfous is an Academy Award–winning producer with a distinguished background in the arts. Her producing and executive producing credits include the Academy Award–winning NAVALNY (2022) and BORN INTO BROTHELS (2004), the Academy Award–nominated and Peabody Award–winning THE INVISIBLE WAR (2012), the Academy Award–nominated and Emmy Award–winning THE SQUARE (2013), and the Emmy Award–winning 16 SHOTS (2019). She also worked on acclaimed titles such as WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR? (2018) and THE GREAT HACK (2019). Geralyn stands as Founder and Board Chair of Utah Film Center, Co-Founder of Impact Partners, and a founding member of Gamechanger Films. She has been recognized by Variety and the International Documentary Association for her significant contribution to documentary filmmaking. **Ove Rishøj Jensen **has been active in the international documentary sector since 2003 and has built an extensive network within the industry. Since November 2025, Ove has been working as a Documentary Advisor for the Nordisk Film & TV Fond. Based in Copenhagen, Ove launched in 2019 his own company for documentary training and consultancy, entitled Paradiddle Pictures, which he still runs. He mentors and moderates at pitching forums such as Fipadoc, K-Docs, Tokyo Docs and M:Brane. He also leads the workshop series DocCelerator, which has provided dramaturgical guidance to more than 350 filmmakers from all corners of the world. From 2011 to 2025 Ove was a producer at the Swedish company Auto Images. From 2003 to 2019 Ove worked for EDN - European Documentary Network. Ove has a master’s degree in film studies with additional studying of cultural journalism and humanistic computer informatics. Matthew Carey, host of this episode, serves as Senior Documentary Editor at Deadline.com, covering the landscape of nonfiction film. He co-hosts and produces Deadline’s weekly Doc Talk podcast, winner of a Webby Award. Formerly, he served as Senior Producer at CNN in Los Angeles, where he wrote and produced documentary specials and oversaw production of CNN’s live Oscar red carpet specials, coverage of the Sundance Film Festival and other events. Carey earned two Peabody Awards and a DuPont-Columbia Award for his contributions to CNN’s coverage of politics and breaking news. More nonfiction perspectives will also be shared onsite at the upcoming DocSalon, running from February 13–17 during the European Film Market in Berlin. DocSalon returns with expert-led consultations, roundtables, panel conversations, and daily networking sessions. Together with its main partner FilmFernsehFonds Bayern and media partner Deadline, DocSalon will