Author: |Posted: 21:46 on 06/01/09
Category: Uncategorized
Sadly, the time has come for FourDocs to draw to a close. Although we’re very proud of the things that FourDocs has achieved, we also feel that it’s time to find other new ways of identifying and championing new documentary talent.
FourDocs was set up in 2005 to provide a platform for new filmmakers to showcase their own short documentaries, receive feedback from leading industry experts and discuss them with each other. The site functioned as an online film school, with video guides covering everything from structure and lighting to editing choices. The archive timeline contextualised 30 or so definitive documentaries, such as Listen to Britain, The Lift and The Boy Who’s Skin Fell Off, and perhaps most inspirational were the interviews with award winning directors like Molly Dineen and Paul Watson.
We’ve had nearly 900 film submissions over the years, and seen 24 of them commissioned to be broadcast as 3 Minute Wonders. We also won a BAFTA for interactive innovation in 2007. read more
Author: |Posted: 19:33 on 06/01/09
Category: FourDocs competition
The online pitching competition really got people thinking about how to make a visually interesting taster for a film. One that leaves the audience with an understanding of the style and subject matter of the proposed film, and a thirst to watch more. However, it couldn’t merely be a trailer for a longer film. After a four-hour round table watching panel, we finally came up with a winner – A Patagonia Tale, about Egidio, a 70 year old patagonian gaucho.
Lucas Gordon and Santiago Burin des Roziers (joint directors) will be receiving £5,000 to buy a camera of their choice.
The beauty of this pitch is that after taking you into Egidio’s world, you really want to stay there and see more. By mounting the camera on the dog in the hunting scene you see the filmmakers have an idea of how to use motion to create excitement, to contrast with the stillness of everyday life. There is no visual trickery, this is just a very well-shot character study, which is simple and stunning.
