PRIX EUROPA

It was another crazy day, the second day (Monday) of the Radio Documentary group at the Prix Europa. If you walk around in the building, you cannot escape. It's the largest group (60). Radio is booming. No, "word" is booming. The radio is present! Read my lips.

For 3 days, 20 nationalities listen to 7 stories per day. Stories recorded in audio only. Average length is 40 minutes per programme. Wow, these are Radio Days!

It's a kind of a travel agency in optima forma: I never was in a dark region park in Moscow, till today. I never wondered what they did in Finland in the sixties, till today and I was not in China, 3 hours after an earthquake for someone to dig, already three days stuck (He died instantly after he was rescued, RIP). I was on the spot today.

Much discussion at the end of each day. The language is "Howdydody-English". Programmes are sometimes made with simple budgets and microphones and mounted on simple computers. The "high-tech" from a Radio Studio in competition with Voice recorders on a secret spot.

There is only one thing that counts: Does it work in the programme or not? Our biggest problem: How the hell do we find a winner in this fair?

My opinion: We're all still winners, because Radio is booming. "Word" is booming.  In East, West, North and South. Read my lips.

Willem Davids

Director/Producer for: Holland Doc Radio

NPO/RVU, NL

International Feature Conference: ifc.blog-city.com

Photos by Willem Davids