The Documentary Film Council (DFC) has launched “the first and only” nationwide digital forum dedicated to the UK’s documentary community, marking “a major milestone in its mission to create a more connected, empowered, and collaborative sector,” the organisation writes.
DFC is a national membership organisation for the UK’s independent documentary film industry. As a co-operative, the DFC is owned and run by and for its members on behalf of the wider documentary community.
The DFC Forum, now live, is a described as a “digital ‘town hall’ designed to foster transparent, democratic communication among documentary filmmakers and workers across the UK.”
Built using the open-source platform Discourse, the Forum is “unlike existing social media, productivity, or messaging tools. It offers a permanent, evolving space for users to connect, ask questions, share knowledge, and build solidarity — whether discussing tax credits, festival strategies, or organising local meetups,” the organisation adds.
“In a time when the documentary sector is under significant pressure and traditional online spaces have become fragmented or co-opted by commercial and political agendas, the Forum offers a rare alternative: a non-corporate, non-extractive online space owned and shaped by its members.”
Comments Emily Copley, Joint Acting CEO of the DFC: “With so much uncertainty facing the independent documentary sector, from precarious funding to shrinking platforms, the need for connection and collective conversation has never been greater. This Forum is about building a resilient and supportive community. It’s a space for solidarity, transparency, and practical advice — and a real step towards changing the culture of how we work in this industry.”
In its press statement, DFC reminds the industry of the organisation’s mission:
- To enable effective, coordinated action to address the key issues facing the independent documentary industry.
- To facilitate transparent communication within the documentary community, both between different sub-sectors in the industry and across the nations and regions of the UK.
- To build a democratic member-led organisation with the remit and resources to represent the UK’s independent documentary film sector within the wider screen industries at home and abroad.
Steve Presence, Joint Acting CEO of the DFC, comments: “We’ve built something powerful, together, from the ground up…The Forum is proof that this community is ready to organise, to share knowledge, and to support each other. We’re hopeful that this energy and unity will translate into the financial backing we need to take things further — and create real, long-lasting change for documentary filmmakers across the UK.”
For more information on DFC, on how to enrl and access the Forum, visit: www.documentaryfilmcouncil.co.uk
