DX'Hub - Portraying History: Working with Archival Material

Archives are never neutral. They reflect the societies that create them, the power structures that shape them, and the histories they often omit. This session delves into the practical and ethical dimensions of working with archival film material. Through case studies and breakout discussions, participants will explore research methods, questions of access, and the creative potential of montage, fragmentation, and recontextualization. From artist estates to historical records, the session offers valuable insights into how archival material can be researched, interpreted, and reimagined into compelling cinematic storytelling. After an opening conversation, the session will transition into three thematic breakouts: one focused on artists’ archives and the interplay between legacy and contemporary interpretation; another on historical archives and the process of reframing dominant narratives; and a final, hands-on practice space dedicated to research, editing decisions, montage, and working with fragmentary material. Program Info Working with Archival Material In an opening panel conversation, experts from the fields of archival research, filmmaking, and artistic practice will share insights into the practical and ethical dimensions of working with archival film material. Guests Loraine Blumenthal Loraine Blumenthal is a documentary filmmaker from Berlin with many years of experience in film production. Her first feature-length documentary THE MAYOR'S RACE was shown at over 30 international festivals and won several awards. As a freelance producer and archive producer, she works for public broadcasters such as Arte, ZDF, 3Sat and WDR. Her second film CHANGING SIDES (ZDF - Kleines Fernsehspiel) was selected for the first Impact Lab in Germany. Julian Nindl Julian Nindl studied History in Mannheim and Berlin and has been working as an archive producer for documentary and feature films since 2019. His projects include productions for arte, ZDF, ARD, Netflix, and Amazon Prime. Most recently, he worked on Mesut Özil – Zu Gast bei Freunden, a three-part documentary series for ZDF. He is also a board member of GRAP (German Researchers and Archive Producers).Since 2021, he has been working with T-Port, a non-profit online platform for short films. Zoran Dževerdanović Zoran Dževerdanović is the founder of Ljubljana-based Blade Production. Over 12 years, he has produced award-winning hits like Slovenia’s first horror Idyll, the thriller All Against All, and the 2024 box-office success Tartini’s Key. An Emerging Producers alumnus, his work has screened at the Berlinale, Sarajevo, and Oberhausen. Currently, he is in pre-production for his fiction debut and three documentaries, bridging genre cinema with impactful non-fiction. Moderation Marta Golba-Naumann Producer, curator, owner of ENDORFINA studio company based in Warsaw and Berlin and co-director of HER Docs Foundation. In 2015 and 2017 she was awarded by Polish Audiovisual Producers Chamber of Commerce for the best producer’s debut for documentary ’15 Corners of the World’ by Zuzanna Solakiewicz and multi-awarded drama “All These Sleepless Nights” by Michał Marczak. Since 2021 she has been developing the industry section within HER DOCS Film Festival.