From October 24th to 26th, the TEMPO federation successfully convened its General Assembly and related events in the historic city of Cologne, Germany. Close to 70 representatives, including members attending both in person and virtually, engaged in a vital period of review, reflection, and strategic planning for the year 2026 confronting past challenges and looking ahead to those yet to come. Crucially, the weekend served as an essential space for conversation and exchange, offering deep insights into the diverse contexts and working conditions of our member associations across the globe.

This year’s meeting held a special resonance as it unfolded against the backdrop of the 25th Anniversary of Edimotion, the film editors festival where TEMPO was first founded. The activities commenced on Friday with a focused two-hour Assembly discussion. After reviewing the outcomes of the management period and electing new rolling board members, the federation defined key initiatives for the coming year. These included forming new task forces to establish a date for World Film Editors Day and explore the creation of Regional Chapters, and developing audiovisual projects aimed at fostering greater public awareness of our craft. The Assembly also featured an emotional farewell to Job ter Burg, one of TEMPO’s founding members, who retired from the board after years of intense dedication. Following the official proceedings, our online representatives also had the chance to stay for a more informal friendly chat, guided by former board member Giusy Naitana.

Following the meeting, attendees shared a dinner sponsored by BFS, the German Editor’s Association, before attending the Opening Ceremony of Edimotion at Filmforum NRW. The evening culminated in a tribute to exceptional talent, as editor Patricia Rommel was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award. The ceremony was followed by a screening of her film “Beyond Silence” (Jenseits der Stille) and an engaging conversation with curator Sven Ilgner.

Saturday was dedicated to high-level international exchange, starting with the International Film Editors Forum (IFEF). Guided by facilitator Christine von Fragstein, the IFEF, the key event that historically led to TEMPO’s creation, offered a crucial platform for engaging discussions about leadership and hierarchy. This was immediately followed by the powerful panel, “Editing War: Documentary Perspectives on the Russian Invasion of Ukraine.” Editors Kasia Boniecka (Poland), Charlotte Tourrès (France), and Inés Boff (Argentina/ Spain) offered moving perspectives on the hardships editors face when exposed to sensitive and traumatic material, alongside a necessary discussion on how best to navigate these professional challenges.

The day concluded with the rich Guest Country program dedicated to Japan. Following a welcoming reception of Japanese food and drinks, sponsored by the JSE (Japan Society of Editors) – represented there by editors Tomomi Kikuchi and Yukiko Kobori – and the Embassy of Japan in Cologne, the program featured a screening of the film Under the Open Sky and a Q&A with its editor, Tomomi Kikuchi.

These shared days of work vividly reminded us of the importance of staying connected, listening to one another, and sustaining the networks that allow our profession to thrive both locally and internationally. As editors, our work is so often conducted in silence and behind closed doors; gatherings like this make visible the collective dimension of our craft and the powerful strength that emerges when our voices unite. We return to our countries and our everyday practices with renewed perspectives, new conversations to continue, and the certainty that the TEMPO community remains vibrantly alive, in movement, and in continuous dialogue.

This successful TEMPO event was made possible thanks to the dedication of Dietmar Kraus, BFS members, TEMPO Board and Events Task Force team and our sponsor Adobe, represented by Samantha Bacon.

Photo @julianemarianne