Projects in categories: Documentary

Synopsis

Spirit Level Film uncovers the appalling state of the UK’s justice system, its record on imprisoning young offenders and the dangerous relationship between media misrepresentation and government policy. Produced with the support of The Nationwider Foundation, Safer Wales, Addaction and Construction Youth Trust.

Synopsis

A feisty elderly woman’s sole purpose in life appears to be setting up an isolated roadside stand along the historic Camino de Santiago pilgrim route. A seemingly mundane daily task soon evolves into a humorous and charming observation on the importance of purpose, commitment and tradition.

Synopsis

The Scottish filmmaker Bill Douglas's reputation rests on the trilogy of films he made in the 1970s about his childhood in postwar Scotland. What many people do not know about Douglas is that he was also a passionate collector of cinema memorabilia and pre-cinema optical devices. He incorporated many of these into his last film, Comrades, which tells the story of the first trade union from the point of view of an itinerant lanternist. Lanterna Magicka recounts the story of Douglas's collection, the making of Comrades and the remarkable legacy Douglas left us with.

Synopsis

Shot in Iceland from a gyro-stabilised rig on a helicopter, and on the ground using a high speed Phantom camera, this film attracted the interest of David Lynch's producer Joni Sighvatsson and Francis Coppola's producer Fred Fuchs and became the inspiration for Clemo's Breath and First Breath projects, currently in development.

Synopsis

Between the Caribbean Sea and the Maya Mountains lies Toledo, known as The Forgotten District of Belize, Central America. For the last 20 years, the Maya have been promoting their own ecotourism programme in order to protect their rainforest and traditions. Despite constant opposition from the government and the tourist industry, Margarita, Reyes, Chet and their friends remain strong and optimistic. This film is a tribute to their tireless efforts.

Synopsis

A Complete History Of My Sexual Failures follows independent filmmaker Chris Waitt as he interviews his ex-girlfriends in an attempt to find out why they dumped him. This revealing and humorous documentary sees the slacker filmmaker go on a sexual and emotional odyssey in a desperate quest to solve his innumerable problems.

Synopsis

18 year old Rebecca Saunders has had to grow-up fast - helping to take care of her younger siblings and hold the family together in the wake of her mum's illness.

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What does it feel like to know that you are about to be killed? Nearly a decade ago, a terrified village in southern Mexico sought refuge in a small wooden church and awaited their inevitable fate. Several hours later, 45 of them were dead. Until now the full story of the massacre at Acteal has never been told. A Massacre Foretold is a powerful story of drama and intimacy, that takes us into a world of masked Mayan rebels, clandestine government death squads and an inspiring indigenous village.

Synopsis

Roy bills himself as an International Natural Medium. He earns a living visiting the houses of women in the poor English town of Chatham – and delving deep into their vulnerable side. His clients are quick to take him at his word, while his teenage son Mark has serious doubts. Painfully funny.

Synopsis

Angela is a braid stylist to the stars. Wayne and Cyndia are the leading junior stylists at the UK's biggest chain of Afro hair salons. George and Apple are a Thai husband and wife team obsessed with Afro hair. Michael is Birmingham's leading Afro stylist who is out to beat the all-powerful London salons. Afro-Saxons follows all of these stylists as they enter the Black Beauty and Hair awards - the most competitive Afro hair competition in the UK. 'An engaging and entertaining documentary - it's impossible to watch it without a smile on your face' (Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian). 'A MUST-SEE FLICK - if you don't find it compulsive viewing, you're dead from the neck up' (Elsa O' Toole, NEW NATION). 'Big hair and bigger egos make for an entertaining and frequently amusing documentary - even those with no interest in hair will find something to amuse them in this admirably unusual film' (FILM FOUR).

Synopsis

In an out-of-season holiday camp on the coast of England, alternative music festival All Tomorrow’s Parties serves up a heady combination of alternative music, crazy golf and chalet-living; all curated by a single band or artist. This post-punk DIY bricolage uses material generated by the fans and musicians themselves, on a multitude of formats and over the history of ATP, to capture the uncompromising spirit of a parallel music universe. 

Synopsis

'At last, the true life story of the outlaw comic who tried to save the world. He still might.' Bill Hicks is considered by many to be the greatest comedian of the last 20 years, ironic given his anonymity in his native America. He was a preacher, a philosopher, a raging prophet who believed he could save his audience by confronting them with truth - and dick jokes. He was considered criminally unpatriotic at home for skewering the hypocrisies of the government, media and organised religion, but he broke out internationally and stunned UK audiences made him a star. Just as he was on the verge of conquering the USA, he was diagnosed with late-stage pancreatic cancer. He was 32 years old. 15 years after his death, his popularity continues to grow, his CD's and DVDs selling more than ever and Bill himself regularly rated in 'best of' lists. Now, for the first time, his fascinating and ultimately uplifting life story is told by those that knew him best. Made in close association with Bill’s family and friends, it features unprecedented access to unseen archive material and a stunning new animation technique throughout. American: The Bill Hicks Story is the definitive record of one of America's most iconic modern heroes - a fearless voice as relevant today as ever.