Montreal / Athens, April 2018
As you may have noticed on our website, Films Transit International has changed course in 2017. After strictly having been a documentary sales agent for more than 30 years, I have decided to assume more of a consultant role rather than to bring you a full slate of new docs each season.
In 2016 and 2017 I was Head of Studies at the Documentary Campus Masterschool.
Consultation:
In 2018 I have created agreements with a number of important documentary producers in North America and Europe to become their international strategy consultant. This exciting new task will take up about one third of my time.
Sales and Releases:
For the second third I will consult and sometimes exec produce a small number of great docs, take on their sales and bring them to market, somewhere between 5 and 10 titles per year. These films have a strong international appeal and deal with subjects that motivate me to work hard to make them shine.
I’m tempted to take on more films about Arts and Cultural subjects. The political films we have all handled with much fervor and energy for decades have not really had an impact, I often feel, while looking at the current state of affairs.
Festivals, Workshops, Panels:
For the third part of my time I will go to film festivals, take part in workshops and sit on panels to give free advise to the younger generation of filmmakers eager to be part of this industry. Feel free to approach me there to talk about your film projects and ideas.
For the next few months you will find me at Miptv in Cannes and Visions du Reel in Nyon, Switzerland. I will be in Montreal at the end of April and the first two weeks of May, followed by Hotdocs, Sheffield and Sunny Side of the Doc in lovely La Rochelle. Most of the summer I will sit on a beach in Greece with a glass of cool while wine in my hand. My Fall plans are still up in the air, but IDFA is always a sure thing!
In 1982 I moved from Amsterdam to Montreal and now, some 30 years later, I live and work out of Athens, Greece. My office still is in Montreal where John Nadai takes care of business, while Diana Holtzberg left the company to focus on other projects.
I’m quite active on Facebook, you can follow me there if you like. However, I don’t use Messenger or Instagram for communication.
If you like to contact me the best way is still old fashioned email: janrofekamp@filmstransit.com
My European phone number that I use as principal phone when not in Montreal: +31-6-5392-6555.
Hope to see you around!
Greetings and best wishes,
Jan Röfekamp
Films Transit International 