There are certain images that immediately have more than a whiff of a scam about them. It’s the beige hotel walls and busy carpeting; the fold-down seats; the pulldown projector and pop-up banners. Its the overly enthusiastic speaker bellowing into a mic, suggesting that the audience needs to whoop and holler more. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, after all!

The documentary draws a parallel between the history of global taxation and the fight of the 14 "Jedi" of tax justice, including Joseph Stiglitz, Thomas Piketty and Eva Joly.

The metaphor of Jedi knights standing against the dark forces of globalization works. The International Monetary Fund is formal: multinationals deprive states of nearly 600 billion dollars in legitimate taxes each year by taking advantage of the absence of global regulation. Yet, public money is lacking to combat global warming, food insecurity, pandemics and the abysmal increase in inequalities. Once again, it is developing countries, whose resources are plundered without fair compensation, that are the first victims of this "heist of the century". But faced with the omnipotence of multinationals, the Jedi knights are going on the attack.

A year on from the passing of Java Films founder and Managing Director, Roch Bozino, Java Film’s new director, Anne Simounet, explains how the company has adjusted. Other changes in the company include the recruitment of Marine Prévot to support sales in Asia, Eastern Europe and French-speaking territories.

The Docs Ireland Marketplace presents filmmakers with the chance to engage directly with prominent figures in the international documentary industry, such as funders, broadcasters, distributors and exhibitors. Scheduled during Docs Ireland 2024 from 21-22 June, at 2 Royal Avenue in Belfast, the event offers a unique platform for networking and collaboration. As the sole marketplace dedicated to documentary filmmaking on the island of Ireland, Docs Ireland offers filmmakers the opportunity to pitch their projects through tailored meetings facilitated by the festival’s industry team.

Amidst global uncertainty, the Danish gathering’s Forum remains a safe haven for Nordic and international professionals, who share their insights on the current documentary market.

Ahead of this year’s European Film Market (EFM), Business Doc Europe spoke to Kathryn Bonnici, Head of Acquisitions and Development of Java Films. Founded in 2005 by the late Roch Bozino, the Paris-based sales agency rapidly established itself as one of Europe’s leading independent distributors, handling both pre-sales and distribution for documentaries. The firm sets sail to Berlin with a rich slate of completed films and projects in the works.

Multi-cultural public broadcaster SBS in Australia and TG4 in Ireland have picked up a documentary about the million children abandoned in Venezuela after their parents fled the failed state.

Kathryn Bonnici, Head of Acquisitions & Development at the company and Donatien Pierda, Sales Manager, explains the potential of the company in the documentary side and details the news launches for fall season.