IVETA (Dominika Svekova) is a brief peek into the life of an immigrant family with a particular focus on the youngest child, the only girl in a family of nine children. The film shows plenty of promise but at just over five minutes in length it seems like it's finishing just as we're getting a picture of the family. Perhaps that's the intention, but I felt the material was interesting enough to merit a little further documentation.
KIRRAN AND THE HATCHMAKER (Amy Rose) is another documentary focusing on a child, this time an eccentric young child who lives in the countryside and appears to have an obsession with breeding chickens. It was popular with the audience and although it strayed dangerously close to mockery such sentiments were thankfully reined in. It could just be the way the film was shot, but it seemed to me to be a pretty lonely existance... but if everyone's happy I guess that's what matters. It's still a fun insight into the life of a boy who clearly has plans for bigger things.
MAKING IT (Lou McLoughlan) follows the people who frequent a woman's drop-in centre for the homeless and the artwork inspired by their trip to see a Tracey Emin exhibition. It wasn't my cup of tea but I should stress that this was nothing to do with any shortcomings of the film - it's an interesting enough piece - but rather my personal issues with Tracey Emin.
NO POINT CLIMBING DOWN (Julian Schwanitz) is a haunting, grainy black and white portrait of the life of a crane operator. My description makes it sounds crap but it was superb, one of the best on show.
PETER IN RADIOLAND (Johanna Wagner) is a portrait of the director's father who shuns digital technology in favour of remaining in his own analogue world. It's a touching piece and you can't help but feel some sympathy for him - I don't go to quite such lengths myself, but I can definitely relate to some degree.
THE SHUTDOWN (Adam Stafford) is the documentary about Grangemouth's refinery, a film which I mentioned briefly here before. I'm glad I finally got to see it, because it's superb. Beautifully shot and the voiceover combines both the personal and the informative in a delightful, poetic way. Imagine that voiceover that Terence Davies did for OF TIME AND THE CITY, except it's about Grangemouth rather than Liverpool, and you've some idea of the kind of thing I'm talking about.
SPORRAN MAKERS (Jane McAllister) is a film for anyone who has ever walked past one of the countless shops in Edinburgh selling tartan tat to tourists. Here we see the dark side of the industry as a Scottish sporran-making firm struggles to compete with inferior, but cheaper, products from abroad. It's not something many will think about and as such makes a perfect subject for a documentary such as this, even if it is slightly depressing. Bonus points for including "Highland Cathedral", my favourite piece of bagpipe music (even if it was written by two foreigners - oh, the irony).
The jury picked PETER IN RADIOLAND as the winner. My personal choice would have been THE SHUTDOWN. Your opinion may vary.
KIRRAN AND THE HATCHMAKER (Amy Rose) is another documentary focusing on a child, this time an eccentric young child who lives in the countryside and appears to have an obsession with breeding chickens. It was popular with the audience and although it strayed dangerously close to mockery such sentiments were thankfully reined in. It could just be the way the film was shot, but it seemed to me to be a pretty lonely existance... but if everyone's happy I guess that's what matters. It's still a fun insight into the life of a boy who clearly has plans for bigger things.
MAKING IT (Lou McLoughlan) follows the people who frequent a woman's drop-in centre for the homeless and the artwork inspired by their trip to see a Tracey Emin exhibition. It wasn't my cup of tea but I should stress that this was nothing to do with any shortcomings of the film - it's an interesting enough piece - but rather my personal issues with Tracey Emin.
NO POINT CLIMBING DOWN (Julian Schwanitz) is a haunting, grainy black and white portrait of the life of a crane operator. My description makes it sounds crap but it was superb, one of the best on show.
PETER IN RADIOLAND (Johanna Wagner) is a portrait of the director's father who shuns digital technology in favour of remaining in his own analogue world. It's a touching piece and you can't help but feel some sympathy for him - I don't go to quite such lengths myself, but I can definitely relate to some degree.
THE SHUTDOWN (Adam Stafford) is the documentary about Grangemouth's refinery, a film which I mentioned briefly here before. I'm glad I finally got to see it, because it's superb. Beautifully shot and the voiceover combines both the personal and the informative in a delightful, poetic way. Imagine that voiceover that Terence Davies did for OF TIME AND THE CITY, except it's about Grangemouth rather than Liverpool, and you've some idea of the kind of thing I'm talking about.
SPORRAN MAKERS (Jane McAllister) is a film for anyone who has ever walked past one of the countless shops in Edinburgh selling tartan tat to tourists. Here we see the dark side of the industry as a Scottish sporran-making firm struggles to compete with inferior, but cheaper, products from abroad. It's not something many will think about and as such makes a perfect subject for a documentary such as this, even if it is slightly depressing. Bonus points for including "Highland Cathedral", my favourite piece of bagpipe music (even if it was written by two foreigners - oh, the irony).
The jury picked PETER IN RADIOLAND as the winner. My personal choice would have been THE SHUTDOWN. Your opinion may vary.
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