DocPoint discussions bring audiences together around timely topics

The discussion programme of DocPoint, held from 3–8 February, delves into the state of freedom of expression, protesting, and the work of Nobel Prize–winning author Annie Ernaux. Explore the most fascinating talks of the festival week below!

The topical, open-to-all DocFokus discussions have become audience favourites and an established part of DocPoint’s programme in recent years. The themes of the discussions arise from the festival films, but the conversations can always be followed even without having seen the film.

This year, as the festival celebrates its 25th anniversary, two DocFokus discussions will be held, along with a discussion event Piiri x DocPoint: Case Annie Ernaux, which focuses on Annie Ernaux’s work and is organised in collaboration with the cultural media outlet Piiri. DocFokus: Science Under Threat is organised in cooperation with the Union of Journalists in Finland, and DocFokus: Whose Voice is Heard in Demonstrations? in cooperation with Amnesty Finland.

Freedom of Expression and the Responsibility of Journalism

What happens to independent scientific research when researchers around the world face pressure and attempts to silence them? On Wednesday 4 February at Kino Regina, the discussion will delve into themes of freedom of expression and the responsibility of journalism. The panel will consider the relationship between independent scientific research and democracy, as well as the shared threats facing freedom of expression, journalism and science.

The discussion is moderated by Salla Nazarenko, international affairs specialist at the Union of Journalists in Finland. Participants include journalists Mari Manninen and Adile Sevimli, as well as researcher and non-fiction author Tiina Raevaara. The discussion will be held in Finnish.

Before the discussion, Christian Frei’s documentary Blame will be screened at Kino Regina. The film follows researchers who spent years trying to warn the world about the threat of a new pandemic—and who, once the pandemic broke out, found themselves caught in the middle of a geopolitical power struggle.

DocFokus: Science Under Threat takes place at Kino Regina on Wednesday 4 February from 6:30–7:30 pm.
The screening of Blame begins at Kino Regina at 4:15 pm. The discussion is free to attend, while tickets for the film screening are sold on the film’s page.

Protests in the Spotlight

The second DocFokus discussion, on Thursday 5 February, explores whose voice gets heard in protests. Do freedom of assembly and freedom of expression truly come to fruition?

The themes are introduced in Susanna Edwards’ film The Dialogue Police, which tells the story of a Swedish specialty: the dialogue police, who work to ensure that everyone has the right to express their opinions. The film offers an engaging look at the frontline of democracy.

The discussion is moderated by Amnesty’s Press Officer Mikaela Remes. Participants include Jari Taponen, a Safety and Effectiveness Expert who previously led the preventive work of the Helsinki Police, civil society activist Ditmar Hasanaj and Amnesty’s Policy Adviser Anu Tuukkanen. The discussion will be held in English, but audience questions may also be asked in Finnish.

The open and free panel discussion DocFokus: Whose Voice Gets Heard in Protests? will be held at Kinopalatsi 5 on Thursday 5 February from 6–7 pm. The screening of The Dialogue Police begins at Kinopalatsi 5 at 4:30 pm. The discussion is free to attend; tickets for the film screening are sold on the film’s page.

On Ernaux’s Pages

On Saturday 7 February, Ronja Salmi and Adile Sevimli, editors of the cultural media outlet Piiri, will host a discussion for the DocPoint audience diving into the work and significance of writer Annie Ernaux. Award-winning translator Lotta Toivanen will also take part in the discussion.

Following the discussion, the Ernaux documentary Writing Life: Annie Ernaux Through the Eyes of High School Students, directed by Claire Simon, will be screened at Bio Rex Lasipalatsi. In the film, French high school students delve into Ernaux’s work, and through reading and discussion, literature grows from tentative reading aloud into shared, astonishingly perceptive thinking.

Piiri x DocPoint: The Case of Annie Ernaux takes place at Bio Rex Lasipalatsi on Saturday 7 February at 3 pm.
Writing Life will be screened at Bio Rex Lasipalatsi at 4 pm. The discussion is free to attend; tickets for the film screening are sold on the film’s page.

Read more about the festival’s entire events programme on the event pages!