Projects in categories: Documentary

Synopsis

Exploring the rise of Scotland’s independent music scene in the 1990s, led by cult label Chemikal Underground. Featuring The Delgados, Bis, Mogwai, Arab Strap, Franz Ferdinand, and other seminal acts, an intimate film exploring friendship, creativity and music.
On the journey, we revisit a defining, chaotic trip early in the musicians’ careers, re-staging a concert in Brittany that connects the characters in life (and on stage) for the first time in many years.
Edinburgh International Film Festival 2016 - World premiere

Synopsis

A British veteran of the Italian campaign of 1945 inquires about a name, Vlado Turina. The journey to discover if Turina was a spy or a freedom fighter, an Italian or a Slovenian, takes the researcher from the public to the private sphere and changes her sense of identity forever.

Synopsis

Referring to the printing-press and Derrida’s concept of erasure from his book 'Of Grammatology' the monologue was written, and voiced, by Gayatri Spivak, translator of 'Of Grammatology'.
The film features a petroglyph of a car at ‘Writing-on Stone’ or Áísínai'pi in the language of the Blackfoot nation means “it is pictured”.

Synopsis

A bold and exciting feature documentary that encapsulates a momentous period in the history of Russia and the Russian Avant-Garde. Drawing on the collections of major Russian institutions, contributions from contemporary artists, curators, and performers and personal testimony from the descendants of those involved, the film brings the artists of the Russian Avant-Garde to life. It tells the stories of artists like Chagall, Kandinsky, Malevich and others – pioneers who flourished in response to the Utopian challenge of building a New Art for a New World, only to be broken by implacable authority after 15 short years. Stalin’s rise to power marked the close of this momentous period, consigning the Avant Garde to obscurity. Yet the Russian Avant-Garde continues to exert a lasting influence over art movements up to the present day. Revolution - New Art for a New World confirms this, exploring the fascination that these colourful paintings, inventive sculptures and propaganda posters retain over the modern consciousness 100 years on.

Synopsis

A feature-length documentary, narrated by celebrated actor Sir John Hurt, telling the fascinating and ever changing story of how cinemas have developed from the travelling showmen to the present day.
This narrative, away from the usual urban centres, tells a different story of the rural and seaside towns of England.
For many people their local cinema is one of their favourite places in the world, their spiritual home, and their last community space. This film celebrates the local cinema – past and present – and our timeless obsession with the buildings, films, film stars and the people that spend their lives in thrall of them.
Featuring a mix of actuality, interviews and archive material, the film offers an entertaining overview of the history of cinema-going in Norfolk and a snapshot of cinema-going in England today. Meeting some of the colourful characters that are a key part of this history and hearing how they kept the audiences coming back.
The documentary also poses the question – is this the final reel for the cinema or just another chapter in its ongoing story?

Synopsis

Some things can only be understood with maturity. New light is shed on childhood cultural misunderstandings when a Chinese mother and her British-born daughter speak as adults for the first time.
Official Selection Sundance Film Festival 2017 - International Documentary Short Film Selection

Synopsis

Over a lilting soundtrack, characters wander through London's concrete jungle as an unknown female voice reflects on the current state of the city and her imagined future.

Synopsis

Focusing on the work of Carol Buckley (Elephant Aid International (EAI) and her team, who aims to enhance captive elephant welfare in Nepal showing, by gentle persuasion and example, that there is a better way to treat elephants in human captivity.
Buckley's is a phased, pragmatic approach to change attitudes; encouraging co-operation, not a confrontation between Nepalese elephant handlers (mahouts) and their ‘essential’ elephant assets, upon which the mahouts rely to sustain themselves in an environment bereft of other options. Buckley promotes co-operation between man and elephant by positive reinforcement, not dominance and cruelty – indeed a better way.
The film posits, that as we should all know, working in co-operation will always yield a better longer-term result for all parties concerned, engendering mutual respect and loyalty. And yet, dominance, intimidation, threats and violence yields results of a different kind - breeding contempt, duress, leading ultimately to the mental and physical destruction of the abused party. The human abuser can also become conflicted with shame and a need for atonement, but with some are sadly lacking any such compassion of course.

Synopsis

A personal insight into the changing relationship between a young woman and her transgender parent. Looking back on their relationship, they share their own experiences of coming out and begin to think about what the future might hold for their family now the decision to transition has been made.

Synopsis

Marking the 50th anniversary of England's victory in the 1966 World Cup, 'Bobby' explores the remarkable true story of English footballing legend and World Cup-winning Captain, Bobby Moore. Footballer, father, cultural icon and footballing legend. Moore was a hero to successive generations of footballers and football fans alike, described by Pele as the best defender he ever played against.
Moore fought many battles besides those witnessed by millions on the football field. Behind the glory lies the story of a man who faced highs and lows with the same strength and bravery. But he died young, cruelly shunned by the game and by the very people who owed him so much. The story is told by his two wives, his friends and fans, including Pele, Sir Geoff Hurst and Ray Winstone, whose words are mixed with previously unseen archive footage. A powerful, dramatic and deeply personal portrait of a genuine footballing icon.

Synopsis

The story of Dan Wilson, a horse whisperer based in Cornwall, the heart of rural England.

Synopsis

Uncovering the veiled world of a Siberian Arctic mining city and how an unstoppable, unconditional passion for industrial wastelands makes its people blind to the threatening reality they face.