Géraldine Gonard: "Conecta DIGITAL will be a bridge between the technological and content worlds"

In this interview, the CEO of Conecta FICTION & ENTERTAINMENT, Géraldine Gonard, advances all the keys to Connect DIGITAL, an initiative aimed at bringing together technology and content through panels, conferences and networking that will take place on 5 and 6 November at the Serrería Belga cultural space (Madrid).

Connect DIGITAL, a key component of the programmatic offering of Conecta Fiction & Entertainment, you will acquire a New dimension with a Standalone event Designed to unite Technology, creativity and monetization. Its program, developed over the course of Two days, explore the links between Technology & Content, offering an unprecedented interaction between creativity and technique in all phases of the audiovisual entertainment chain. Development, production, distribution, intellectual property, marketing or monetization are some of the concepts that will be put on the table in the days November 5 and 6 in space Belgian sawmill, located a few minutes from Atocha station.

Master classes, workshops, competitions or interactive sessions will be developed by speakers with extensive experience in the audiovisual sector belonging to top-level companies such as YouTube, Sony Pictures, Ogilvy, Atresmedia, Uttopion, Banijay Iberia, Hogarth, LALIGA Studios, Inmersiva XR, Leanspots, Mediaset España, Innoventures, Mindhead, Verkami, RTVE, Infinia, Immersive Creatures or Iralta VR. Communication will not be unidirectional, sino que mantendrán una de las principales señas de identidad que han marcado la trayectoria de Conecta F&E durante sus ocho ediciones: la oportunidad de crear Connections that open doors to Knowledge, learning and business.

Géraldine Gonard, the head of the event, anticipates what it will be like for an event that lands in the audiovisual calendar to become the Missing link between technology and content that all aspects of the industry were waiting for.

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Connect DIGITAL: a bridge between creativity and technology

Conecta DIGITAL nace como un puente entre las tecnologías emergentes y la industria del entretenimiento digital. ¿Cómo surge la idea de ampliar el universo de Conecta F&E a este ámbito?

Conecta DIGITAL was born within Conecta F&E, which is his true Matrix Event. Historically, we have always dedicated many panels and sections to these topics, and, in fact, the eighth edition hosted the first part of this Conecta Digital. Now, its second part arrives with its own face-to-face format.

We're not going to go only to the televisión as an umbrella element, but we are going to touch the Creativity in audiovisual content in its most broad.

Desde Conecta F&E, siempre hemos trabajado la Integration of technology at the service of creativity and innovation. This happens quickly and not always in a positive way; Especially, when we talk about the universe of artificial intelligence. To address this and other issues, we are going to promote an event that will be a bridge between the technological world and the world of content. Both are worlds that already meet, and when they do, they do not always understand each other; They have many things in common, but they do not use the same language.

Therefore, we are going to study how we can connect more. We are not going to go only to television as an umbrella element, but we are going to touch the Creativity in audiovisual content in its broadest sense: animation, video games, museums... any site where there is creation, scripting, and production of images. And we are going to do it in this special section that will take place in November for two days.

¿Qué ha cambiado en la industria o en el propio Conecta F&E para que hayan tomado la decisión de profundizar en un área tan transversal y profunda como la tecnología?

The digitalization it has absolutely accelerated and is going faster and faster. I don't know when it's going to end! We all find it difficult to keep up, even the new generations that have been born digitized. We cannot fail to mention everything that is coming in terms of technology.

The arrival of innovations means that the entire audiovisual sector can continue to grow and have the desire to continue learning in depth what exists and what is coming. That's why we want to address all trends across the manufacturing and content industry: from the first word a screenwriter puts on paper, to when this content reaches the sofa at home. Digitalization does not only exist in cinema and in 3D glasses, since Technology is everywhere. Our mission as a Conecta event is to put the spotlight on this part.

We want to show in Connect DIGITAL What's On now, what is about to come and how everything can help you in the Day by day yes You're inside this value chain for the creation of audiovisual content.

I would also say that interest has arisen naturally among the audiovisual sector. This one wants to Learn more, touch and try, which is one of the objectives of Conecta DIGITAL in November: not only to host panels or conferences, but to bring a live and immersive experience. We can't build a film set, I wish we could, but we can bring tools that exist so that attendees can see how they adapt and work.

Despite the tireless pace of the industry, there are still producers who take the time to learn. They may be more focused on the creation, production, and financing side, but this is also an opportunity to learn about what the industry is developing and how those solutions can help them Do your job better, faster, cheaper and, after all, in a different way.

This is what we want to show at Conecta DIGITAL: what is now, what is to come and how everything can help you on a day-to-day basis if you are in this Audiovisual content creation value chain… and also think about what we may be missing or what we have to do to be able to keep up with technology.

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Built with and for industry

What factors characterise the Spanish technology industry dedicated to audiovisual and digital entertainment?

Spain, like many other countries, has a Very good engineering, with a lot of talent and brains. In fact, many multinationals are looking for talent in Spain, as it is a very advanced and competitive country. If we talk about the business format and the size of the industry, it is true that there are a significant number of small startups that need greater support, visibility and connections. It is something that we will work on in the event that we will do in November. Which, by the way, is quite unique, as we have not found a date with similar characteristics.

The enterprises who want to bet on the innovation and the technology they must understand the Manufacturing Cycles and its Problems.

The creation of audiovisual content is a Slow and complex work which has many stages. Companies that want to bet on innovation and technology must understand the manufacturing cycles and their problems, which is one of the objectives of the event. We want production companies and companies to meet in the same space so that they can talk and see how their technology can be used in the same space. Adapt to the industry. If you are a company, for example, that has developed a very interesting technology to measure emotions and audiences, and perhaps does not know how to enter the sector, you will find a fantastic tool.

In its first physical edition, Conecta DIGITAL has been supported by an advisory committee of experts linked to the audiovisual and digital world. What has been your diagnosis of the industry and how has it helped shape the event that will take place in just a few weeks?

It has contributed a lot: both to identify the Program and its content, as well as to allow us to identify trends and attractive profiles, as well as to help with the dissemination of the event. Some of these people from the committee will also have their role in Conecta DIGITAL, either as jurors or mentors.

Coger el pulso de estos expertos es muy importante, porque son los que día a día están frente a la industria y el mercado. En los primeros años de Conecta F&E también contamos con un comité, lo que nos ha permitido contar ahora con una línea muy clara. Con Conecta Digital no es que estemos en una primera edición, ya que realmente esta es la prolongación del Conecta F&E de junio, pero sí es una primera edición individualizada de esta temática. Por ello, es muy importante tener el added value of these people.

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The keys to the Conecta DIGITAL program

Conecta DIGITAL will take place on November 5 and 6, 2024. In terms of programme and offer, what can visitors who decide to visit the Serrería Belga cultural space (Madrid) expect?

Above all, they are going to find a Physical encounter, which is something very important: although we are in a digital world, we continue to touch and see each other. In terms of content, we are going to offer an extension of what we already experienced in June. Visitors will find a two-day program plus a networking room in which, following the spirit of Conecta, they can meet freely.

Have Panels with National and international speakers, and we will have Theme very oriented to a Value chain which ranges from the Creation and development, to the emission of the content.

In these two Days, we will have Pitch of the finalists of the competitions; We will have panels with national and international speakers, and we will have topics very oriented to a value chain that ranges from creation and development, to the broadcast of content: narrative, responsible production, financing, dissemination, case studies... Afterwards, we will have a meeting of Immersive technologies that we will be able to experience in situ, as well as a closing with coffee with the board of the Television Academy (day 5) and an awards ceremony for the finalists of our contest (day 6).

In addition, to close completely, we will have a Conclusions panel With an ethical-moral-legal debate point on the channels, producers, investors, content creators or manufacturers will be able to share their points of view of everything that has been heard. In the end, this is a digitalization process with all its consequences: both good and bad.

Even though you are aware of the effort to form an attractive campus in its entirety, what themes or panels would you highlight about Conecta DIGITAL, as they allow you to identify the philosophy of the event?

Just as digital and technology is in the abstract, I would choose everything from Tap and Try. Interact with people, talk so that they tell you about their solutions, that they transmit their proposal to you and then test the features and tools of all these companies. Not each one, since obviously we cannot transfer a virtual set to Conecta DIGITAL, but the maximum we can reach.

We are not looking for Great philosophies, but that they go to very specific things to show what they are doing, how they do it, where it is going well and where it is going wrong.

Both my team and I We continue to learn. We want to know what each thing is or, for example, what it really means to use AI with images. We want speakers to make very earthy presentations. We are not looking for great philosophies, but for those that are going to very specific things to show what they are doing, how they do it, where it goes well and where it goes wrong to achieve a purely immersive experience.

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Present opportunities for the audiovisual of tomorrow

Conecta DIGITAL will also focus its attention on two competitions: Pitch Startups and Pitch Young Minds. How is the reception of both calls going? How will Conecta DIGITAL help the selected initiatives?

There has been a lot of interest in both Calls. Perhaps more so because of the Startups than that of Young Minds, which is normal. In the end, startups already have a path as entrepreneurs that has been traveled, while the young talent of Young Minds may not have that attitude of daring to make a promotion and make their pitch. In any case, the reception has been very interesting and, in fact, we have to extend the deadline because we have received several requests.

We are events of Connections, de people, and we always try to be where we are Our audience He asks us to be there.

Estamos muy contentos de poder crear esta sinergia y la queremos mantener en las siguientes ediciones y que hagan el mismo recorrido que las de Conecta F&E. Al final, el objetivo de estos eventos es Learn, educate and train, but also Doing Business, so investors who attend will have fresh ideas to exploit or fund.

On the other hand, we have awards in services valued in 80,000 euros which will allow the projects to be accompanied for months. We, as Conecta, will follow them very closely and support them as much as possible so that, beyond having a lot of visibility, they can continue on their path. We are events of connections, of people, and we always try to be where our audience asks us to be.

From what he proposes, Conecta DIGITAL has been designed to have continuity over time. Is the event here to stay?

Conecta DIGITAL could be the Beginning of an Adventure. Let's see how these connections occur. The audiovisual sector is very broad and in two days it is impossible to tackle everything, so we will have many things to tell. It gives for many more editions! But, first, we'll see if the connections work, which is the main philosophy of Connect events.

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