Projects in categories: Documentary

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Documentary into the rise of micro budget moviemaking in the UK.

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Tibet. March 2008. The biggest uprising since China took control in 1959, sweeps through the country. Meanwhile, Tibetans in exile march on their homeland, determined to support their countrymen. This is a year of dramatic possibilities for Tibet. For more than 20 years, the Dalai Lama, Tibet's spiritual and political leader, has pursued his Middle Way Approach: giving up the goal of Tibet's independence in return for genuine autonomy. But China has consistently rejected his proposal. Now, more and more Tibetans are questioning his strategy. Can the Dalai Lama's path of peace and compromise find a solution for Tibet? Or will the voices calling for independence prevail?

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1989 in the UK saw the birth of a new youth culture. Driven by a media hate campaign, the British Government acted against it by funding a special Police Unit, whose sole purpose was to crush it. They Call it Acid is the definitive document of the Acid House era.

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An uplifting feature documentary highlighting the transformative power of art and the beauty of the human spirit. Top-selling contemporary artist Vik Muniz takes us on an emotional journey from Jardim Gramacho, the world's largest landfill on the outskirts of Rio de Janeiro, to the heights of international art stardom.
Vik collaborates with the brilliant catadors, pickers of recyclable materials, true Shakespearean characters who live and work in the garbage quoting Machiavelli and showing us how to recycle ourselves.

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A community based docuementary that explores the influential history of the English market town, of Lutterworth, in Leicestershire. The intention of the film was to create an awareness and to celebrate the influential past of the town, exploring the folk that have worked and resided in Lutterworth.

In doing this film takes a look at the how the town has in the past shaped the world we live in today. Whittle On talks about Sir Frank Whittle who worked tirelessly at Lutterworth's Ladywood Works. He eventually went onto develop one of the most important inventions of modern times; the jet engine.

Amongst other historical figures Whittle On also discusses the work of John Wycliffe who with help from others is thought to have translated the bible from Latin to English.

Synopsis

Thank You Skinhead Girl is a documentary which explores the filmmakers experience of being in care and becoming a skinhead girl during the late 70’s early 80’s.

It gives insight into a sub-youth culture that has been one of the most misunderstood, of all the youth groups. The film shows the historical rise of the skinhead movement, the fashion, music and the gang structure in Oxfordshire UK at the time.

Through the voice of the filmmaker we are taken into the personal reflections of that time, which shows a working class girl finding refuge within the skinhead movement. A place where she grew, survived, thrived and eventually learnt a very hard, uncomfortable lesson through violence.

The film features music from Reggae legends the ‘Symarip’, Oxford Ska band The Inflatables and Welsh Oi! band The Oppressed.

This film has been enabled by Screen South Community Projects Fund and OFVM – Film Oxford Production Equipment Award.
 
'Best Documentary' 8th International Short Film Festival Balchik, Bulgaria 2010, nominated 'Best Film' Portobello Film Festival 2009.

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Eel Pie Island in the River Thames has seen it all, from royalty to the Rolling Stones, a tale of jazz, blues and bohemians. This is the history of the island from people who were there, people who always had a ‘damn good time’.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.