Mike Downey

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Public Speaking & Panels

Mike has made presentations and spoken on multiple subjects at a wide array of film festivals and markets and co-production markets ranging from the American Film Market in Los Angeles, the Berlinale, Karlovy Vary, Warsaw, Sofia, Cluj, Toronto, Sundance, Venice as well as at conferences and events organised by the Media Business School, The European Audiovisual Observatory, and the British Council.

He is currently travelling with his lecture and q+a session entitled Why Do We Make Movies? Do they Matter?

Why do we make films? Do films matter?

Why do I make movies? Do they matter?

I have an insatiable desire to tell stories. Movies touch our hearts and awaken our vision, and change the way we see things. They take us to other places, they open doors and minds. Movies are the memories of our lifetime, and we need to keep them alive. Am I optimistic for the future of cinema? In 2017, can we see beyond film as mere entertainment and practice it as a true calling - as a spiritual art form, as a way of seriously seeking and probing into the great questions of existence? Can we as film makers follow Gandhi’s maxim and: "be the change you want to see in the world". Are we quite ready yet, to dance on the grave of the Author? Now that we have killed off God and replaced him with ourselves can our work survive without Belief?

Why do we make films? Do films matter? at 62. Pula Film Festival - photo gallery


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