Projects in categories: Documentary

Synopsis

In 1915, the ship Endurance sank near Antarctica. Explorer Ernest Shackleton and his crew miraculously survived. In 2022, the ship was discovered, some 3000m beneath the water’s surface. Documenting contemporary polar explorers and drawing on original expedition footage preserved and restored by the BFI National Archive, ENDURANCE is an inspiring celebration of scientific curiosity and the indefatigable human spirit of discovery. Official Selection BFI London Film Festival 2024 - World premiere

Synopsis

The incredible true story of America’s jihadist spy and how he was thrown to the wolves once he stopped being useful to his CIA spymasters. Official Selection Warsaw Film Festival 2024

Synopsis

Once the largest women’s prison in Europe, Holloway Prison now lies empty. Six former prisoners walk back through its gates. Though they have different personalities, backgrounds, hopes and dreams, they are all determined to reclaim their stories and give voice to the voiceless women still behind bars. As they explore the empty cells and corridors where they once lived, memories resurface. Official Selection BFI London Film Festival 2024 - Documentary Competition - World premiere

Synopsis

A documentary that looks intimately at the incredible life story that shaped an iconic female musician who defined an era - The Selecter’s Pauline Black. Pauline Black goes on an odyssey looking at her personal experience of identity and how it has informed her life and art. The Two Tone movement was the perfect setting for Pauline with her mixed British, Nigerian and Jewish heritage. It was the catalyst that allowed her to explore and express all sides of herself and figure out who she is. Looking at her own groundbreaking experience, Pauline traces how her legacy is relevant to the world around her today where modern society pushes the boundaries of gender, politics, race and identity. “More than anything I wanted my family to finally say my name, Pauline Black. They could never bring themselves to say the B word. After years of being called half-caste or coloured, I could say it loud and proud, Pauline Black. I wanted to assert my new identity, fashioned in my own image, not somebody else’s idea of who I should be. My rebirth was complete. The ‘rude girl’ I had invented had a new name, Pauline Black.” Official Selection BFI London Film Festival 2024 - World premiere Official Selection CPH:DOX 2025 - International premiere

Synopsis

SUBURBAN FURY revisits the 1975 assassination attempt on President Gerald Ford through the perspective of would-be assassin Sara Jane Moore, a conservative, middle-aged mother who became radicalized while working as an FBI informant. Freed after serving 32 years of a life sentence, Moore returns to San Francisco under watch of the Secret Service to tell the extraordinary story of her transformation from suburban housewife to government infiltrator to far-left extremist. Interweaving rarely seen archival footage with an imaginatively staged dialogue between Sara Jane Moore, the informant, and Bert Worthington, her FBI control agent, the documentary features exclusive access to Moore, revealing a beguiling, and often seemingly unreliable, narrator. Her true nature, as well as the validity of political violence, are ultimately left up to the mind and heart of the viewer. Official Selection New York Film Festival 2024 - World premiere

Synopsis

A personal essay film centring on a sci-fi B-movie shot in Hemel Hempstead about the arrival of a non-human entity infiltrating the minds of residents with a toxic black slime. Playing a composite character of herself and the movie’s detective protagonist, filmmaker Danielle Dean brings together real and imagined worlds, past and present. Official Selection New York Film Festival 2024 - World premiere Official Selection BFI London Film Festival 2024 - European premiere

Synopsis

In a Britain gripped by the cost-of-living crisis, shoplifting is on the rise, this poignant short film weaves together the stories of women pushed to the edge by poverty, offering a stark yet empathetic look at the desperation driving them to break the law to survive. Through their experiences, we gain a deeper understanding of the societal forces at play in a country on the brink.

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A woman at the end of her life wanders lost in the woods where her memories find her. Seamlessly blending historical archive footage with dramatizations, the narrative explores how nature connects us to our past.

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Chronicling the inspiring and offbeat recovery of Joanna Callaghan, a two-time hereditary cancer survivor, who takes a radically creative approach to healing after breast cancer treatment. Following a double mastectomy, Joanna reclaims her body in the most unexpected ways - building a giant inflatable breast, devising song-and-dance routines inspired by post-surgery exercises, and throwing a party to celebrate breasts. Her journey is not just one of physical healing but also a powerful exploration of body acceptance and resilience. Through a blend of self-shot footage, animation, and archival clips, the film brings humour and heart to the sensitive topic of breast cancer recovery. Joanna’s imaginative outlook shines through as she revisits her treatment, reconnects with family, and meets other survivors to share stories. Along the way, she faces the emotional toll of illness, navigates her own transformation, and demonstrates the power of creativity as a tool for survival. This raw yet uplifting documentary delivers a message of hope and joy, shedding light on the deeply personal and universal experiences of those affected by breast cancer. Its inventive approach and fresh perspective on survivorship inspires viewers to find humour, hope, and healing even in the most difficult circumstances.

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A film of myth, mask, and folklore inspired by the Carboniferous, imbued with folksong, and forged by the blacksmith, WAYS OF THE PLANT interweaves art and nature through hand-processed 16mm film and multidisciplinary artist practice that explores humanity's deep connection to ancient woods and the journey of coal. Hart of the Wood 'Ways of the Plant', is a bold multidisciplinary art and film project, led by artist and filmmaker Benjamin Wigley, which celebrates humanity's ingrained relationship with the woods that spans deep time; carbon, the Carboniferous and the journey of coal. Working collaboratively with the Hart of the Wood artist collective, Ben responded to the Lapworth’s extensive Carboniferous fossil collection to create a new multi-modal film and art exhibition at the Lapworth Museum of Geology; on display throughout 2023

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Facing pressure from developers, Catherine must fight to save her family’s farm. It is her home, her livelihood, and a haven for wildlife.

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This film covers the extraordinary story of the former bare knuckle champion, Dave Radford. Follow Dave's relentless journey through life as, he climbs the ranks to fight the likes of Roberto Duran and Michael Bisping, before a tragic accident threatens his whole career...