What’s on in Docs: May’s Best Documentary Events
This May sees the return of several documentary festivals, both in radio and film, and loads of documentary screenings. It will also see the first ever Whicker’s World Foundation Radio and Audio Funding Award pitching event take place at the Radio Academy Festival 2017. Have a browse of our list of the best documentary-related events in the UK this month.
Friday, 5th – Sunday, 7th
Cheap Cuts Documentary Film Festival, London
Cheap Cuts Documentary Film Festival returns to The Cinema Museum this month, showcasing some of the best budget-made documentaries from across the UK and internationally. This year’s festival will include different strands, including documentaries directed by women, first time filmmakers, LGBT themed docs, unconventional storytelling, animated documentaries, and films about displaced communities. In addition to screenings, the festival will include a workshop on animation in documentary, a panel discussion about women in film, and a networking event. And the best part of the festival? It’s completely free! You just need to register your interest for events on Eventbrite.
Tickets: Free, but register beforehand for individual events on Eventbrite.
Cheap Cuts Documentary Film Festival, 6pm, Friday 5th May – 8:30pm, Sunday 7th May, at The Cinema Museum, Dugard Way, London SE11 4TH
Women in Sink, winner of Grierson Awards, will be screening at the festival on Friday 5th May
Monday, 8th
Screening: LA 92 + panel discussion
This film looks back at the verdict of the Rodney King trial, which sparked protests, violence and looting in Los Angeles 25 years ago. Through interviews and rarely seen archival footage, LA 92 explores the events from new and multiple perspectives, examining how that moment has shaped America to this day. The screening at Bertha DocHouse will be followed by a Q&A with the film’s producer, two-time Oscar winner Simon Chinn (Man on Wire) and David Lammy.
Tickets: £12.50 (£10 concessions), available from the DocHouse website.
Screening: LA 92 + panel discussion, 6:20pm, Monday 8th May at Bertha DocHouse, Curzon Bloomsbury, The Brunswick, London WC1N 1AW.
Trailer for LA 92
Friday, 12th
Screening: Mama Africa
As part of the Women in Activism Film Festival this month, the Bernie Grant Arts Centre will be hosting a screening of Mama Africa, a biographical documentary about the South African singer Miriam Makeba. Makeba was the first black African musician to win international stardom, and her style influenced artists globally. Away from her professional life, Makeba was a vocal campaigner against apartheid and was forced to live a life in exile after her involvement in the 1959 anti-apartheid documentary Come Back Africa. Makeba’s life and music is remembered through this feature-length film, which includes intimate interviews with friends, colleagues and grandchildren. Check out the Women in Activism Film Festival website for more documentary screenings throughout May and June.
Tickets: £8.93 from Eventbrite here.
Screening: Mama Africa, 7:30pm, Friday 12th May at Bernie Grant Arts Centre, Townhall Approach Road, Tottenham Green, London N15 4RX.
Trailer for Mama Africa
Monday, 15th
One World Media: Fresh Eyes on the World
Bertha DocHouse and One World Media have teamed up to host Fresh Eyes on the World: a screening of five short documentaries telling untold stories from the developing world. The films were directed by One World Media’s Production Fund grantees, who will take part in a Q&A after the screenings and discuss a variety of topics including access while filming and the experience of making their first documentary. More details on the event will be announced in the coming days.
Tickets: £5, book on the Bertha DocHouse website here.
One World Media: Fresh Eyes on the World, 8:15 pm, Monday 15th May at Bertha DocHouse, Curzon Bloomsbury, The Brunswick, London WC1N 1AW.
Tuesday, 23rd
Radio Academy Festival, London
The annual Radio Academy Festival takes place this month, and is especially exciting for the Whicker’s World Foundation as we will be hosting the first ever Radio and Audio Funding Award pitch. The five applicants who made our shortlist will take it in turns to sell their radio documentary idea to our panel of industry judges. The winner, who will be announced shortly after the pitch, will take away £5,000 to go towards their documentary. We will also be announcing the winner and runner-up of our Audio Recognition award at the event. Anyone interested in reserving a place at the pitch should email us at info@whickersworldfoundation.com. Aside from the pitching event, the festival will include plenty of fascinating talks and discussions from experts in the world of radio and podcasting. The festival at the British Library will be hosted by Colin Murray, and will be followed by a drinks reception and live music into the evening.
Tickets: From £198 for the entire festival, buy here (for free guest list to our pitching event please email our info account).
Radio Academy Festival 2017, 9am – 5:30pm, Tuesday 23rd May at The British Library, 96 Euston Rd, Kings Cross, London NW1 2DB
Words by Robbie Pyburn