Instant-Coverage at the Paris Peace Forum 2025

Together, we provided  presented at the end.At the 8th edition of the Paris Peace Forum, held at the Palais de Chaillot under the theme “New Coalitions for Peace, People and the Planet,” I had the opportunity to collaborate once again with the European Commission’s Service for Foreign Policy Instruments (FPI) this time through the new Knowledge Management Facility implemented by KOMIS.

​Together, we provided Instant-Coverage throughout the three-day event, producing three videos and over 100 photographs that captured the Forum’s atmosphere, discussions, and key moments. The work included a teaser video released a few days before the Forum, one instant-video per day during the conference, and a final wrap-up video presented at the end.

Capturing global dialogue in real time

The first instant-video focussed on the Forum itself and the message that FPI was present at the Paris Peace Forum 2025. Throughout the morning, I delivered pictures from the venue for immediate use on social media to announce the EU’s participation. Filming continued during the day to capture the energy of the event, and by evening the complete video was online before the first day ended enabling real-time engagement while discussions were still ongoing.

The second instant-video centred on FPI’s high-level panel “Shielding Against Authoritarian Censorship: Resilience, Legitimacy, and Global Norms”, held at the Musée de la Marine. The session explored how authoritarian regimes control domestic information spaces and influence open societies abroad, while highlighting the EU’s role in defending a free, rights-based internet.

Finally, the wrap-up video was published a day after the event and was prepared on the last day and morning of my train ride home and brought the themes of the Forum together, focusing on freedom of speech, Ukraine, and the global struggle to sustain peace and democracy amid rising authoritarianism. It served as both a reflection and a call to action showing how free media and open dialogue remain vital instruments for peace.

Alongside the videos, I also delivered over 100 pictures before the end of the second day, responding in real time to requests from the FPI team on what was needed at each moment  from portraits and group shots to atmospheric impressions that visually supported FPI’s communication throughout the Forum.

A memorable collaboration and a personal milestone

Working at the heart of the Forum once again proved how Instant-Coverage can make diplomacy and policy dialogue visible, immediate, and human, turning each day’s discussions into stories that inspire collective action.

It was also a personal highlight to meet Jacinda Ardern again, the Former Prime Minister of New Zealand just as I did in 2023. She continues to be an inspiration to me in so many ways for her empathy, authenticity, and calm strength in leadership.

And on a special note, the final day of the Forum, 30 October 2025, marked the 11th anniversary of Doodt Media. Celebrating this milestone while filming at one of the world’s leading platforms for peace and global cooperation felt deeply symbolic  a reminder of how far this journey has come and how much more there is still to create.

​Thanks for reading this far and the best is yet to come.