Open City Documentary Festival 2017: Wednesday Preview
The festival’s first full day of events features 7 documentary screenings, a range of panels, and a masterclass by Vitaly Mansky.
Open City Documentary Festival kicks off on Tuesday evening, before the full programme begins across London on Wednesday.
Films on Show
With seven screenings to choose from, there really is something for everyone. Wednesday’s schedule features:
SHORTS: Lost in Time
Wed 6 Sep, Picturehouse Central, 18:15
A series of short docs exploring time and the imprecision of memory. Featuring the Best UK Short Award nominee Inherent.
Burning Out
Wed 6 Sep, Regent Street Cinema, 18:30
An excellent observational doc exploring an understaffed and overworked surgical unit in one of Paris’ busiest hospitals.
The Eternals + Q&A
Wed 6 Sep, ICA, 20:30
Part of the festival’s Pierre-Yves Vandeweerd focus and nominated for the Grand Jury Award, this doc explores the effect of war in an Armenian enclave in Azerbaijan.
Photon + Q&A
Wed 6 Sep, Regent Street Cinema, 20:30
Norman Leto’s avant-garde science(-fiction) documentary is a mind-bending voyage through the universe’s history, from the Big Bang to the quantum revolution and beyond.
Private Chronicles. Monologue
Wed 6 Sep, Bertha DocHouse, 20:30
Exploring the generation born as Yuri Gagarin became the first man in space, Mansky worked with 5,000+ hours of home movies to chronicle everyday life in the Soviet Union.
Memory Exercises
Wed 6 Sep, Picturehouse Central, 20:30
Nominated for the Emerging International Filmmaker Award, Paz Encina’s doc examines generational voices in Paraguay.
John Smith: Lost in Leytonstone + Q&A
Wed 6 Sep, The Castle Cinema, 20:30
Three films, made from 1985–1996, all focusing on the built environment, as Smith lived in short-life housing in Leytonstone.
Vitaly Mansky Masterclass
Wed 6 Sep, Bertha DocHouse, 18:30
The festival’s Vitaly Mansky focus begins with a masterclass by the man himself. Stay for the screening of his film Private Chronicles. Monologue.
Industry Events at Bargehouse
Accredited delegates can register for each event online for free, while tickets are available from £5 to purchase for all. Click on each event for more, including booking links.
All events take place at the Festival Hub at Oxo Tower Wharf’s Bargehouse.
New Methods // Old Stories
Wed 6 Sep, Bargehouse, 11:15
How are filmmakers covering the crisis that won’t go away? A discussion on Syrian refugee stories featuring journalists, filmmakers and storytellers.
Good Filmmaking with Good Intentions: Working with NGOs
Wed 6 Sep, Bargehouse, 13:00
With Thomson Reuters, this workshop brings together people from foundation and non-profit media to explain the role that film plays in their work.
Inner Landscapes with Olivier Smolders
Wed 6 Sep, Bargehouse, 14:00
Exploring how to approach essayistic documentary filmmaking, Olivier Smolders introduces and discusses his work.
Short Film Festival Strategy with the British Council
Wed 6 Sep, Bargehouse, 15:00
This session will discuss the importance of film festivals and talk about how you should be approaching them with your short film.
Grappling with the Documentary Story
Wed 6 Sep, Bargehouse, 16:00
A panel of producers and directors will discuss their storytelling approaches and their high and low moments in pursuit of narrative.
Networking Happy Hour
Wed 6 Sep, Bargehouse, 17:00
Your daily chance to meet and chat with industry leaders, panelists and festival attendees. Entry free.
Wednesday: VR Day at Digital Catapult
Immerse yourself in a free day of events dedicated to VR at Digital Catapult on Wednesday 6 September. The programme begins at 11am with a Masterclass with VR producer Arnaud Colinart and closes with a Keynote by William Urrichio of the MIT Documentary Lab at 6pm. Participation is free for all events: just register here.
