INPUT was born during a conference organized by CIRCOM (the European Association of Regional Television) and the Rockefeller Foundation in Bellagio, Italy in 1978. The founders at the Conference determined the need for an international exchange of quality programming and ideas between North America and Europe. Over the years, its reach and participation has grown immensely, and today, INPUT includes participants and programming from just about every single continent, allowing delegates to view a multitude of programs, representing a much wider expression of audio/visual cultures.

And with that, here's some info our readers in continental Africa could use, courtesy of Screen Africa…

To ensure a high turnout of submissions for the annual global public service television screening conference INPUT 2013, which takes place in May in El Savador, South America, African filmmakers, especially those seeking to expand the market for their programmes, have been urged to submit entries as soon as possible.

Investigative programmes and news, productions targeting younger audiences, fiction and cross media productions are eligible, according to Zimbabwean Stephen Chigorimbo, INPUT country representative for Zimbabwe.

“Traditionally there has always been a serious shortage of submissions of television programmes from Africans on the continent or in the diaspora to Input,” says Chigorimbo. “We need to spread the word to ensure greater participation from the continent in this important global event.”

Every year INPUT’s traveling television showcase attracts the best in public service programming from broadcasters and filmmakers from around the world. These programmes are screened at INPUT and discussed in length and debated by delegates.

More information can be found at: http://www.input-tv.org/news/article/news detail/guidelines input 2013/