Progress Summit

Narrating History Shapes the Future

Historical events are not yet history – it is only through the writing and presentation of history that events, people, and things become visible and meaningful to us as “history.” History is thus a process of narrative creation - of telling stories - and historical narratives arise in complex and dynamic social contexts. A wide range of people, media, and institutions are involved in this process of narrative creation: not just historians, politicians, and journalists, but also screenwriters, directors, producers, broadcasters, streaming platforms, and cinemas. “History Filmmakers” take on an essential responsibility in this process – their films shape the historical consciousness of our society.

Nothing has really happened until it has been recorded.

How do "History Filmmakers" rise to this responsibility? What perspectives on history do they give a voice to? What possibilities - whether in documentary form or fictional form - does a film have to shape a historical narrative? What impact do historical films have on the future? Can historical films defuse present-day social tensions? Can one dispel historical and national narratives that might, for example, conjure up a war in Ukraine or a conflict in Taiwan?

The History Filmmakers Congress invites those involved in historical film production worldwide to an open dialogue about their collective impact: creative minds, historians, broadcasters, funders, archivists, producers.

The hybrid History Filmmakers Congress is an international platform to question traditional cinematic storytelling, to open new perspectives, and to initiate innovative projects. Keynote speeches, panel discussions, thematic group talks, moderated lunch roundtables, one-to-one meetings, and evening receptions facilitate connections for filmmakers in a divided and divisive world.

We have need of history in its entirety, not to fall back into it, but to see if we can escape from it.*

The History Filmmakers Congress will take place at the D.C. Powerhouse in Halle (Saale), Germany from the 26th to the 28th of October.

The D.C. Powerhouse will also be hosting the SILBERSALZ Institute Pitching, the Masterschool Pitch, the Science & Media Awards, as well as the History Filmmakers Congress simultaneously - with just one ticket for all events.

The D.C. Powerhouse is the new hub of the international documentary industry, connecting storytellers, media industry players, scientists, artists, technologists, journalists, and pioneers during the SILBERSALZ Science & Media Festival.