June 17 sees the launch at Sheffield DocFest of the Documentary Film Council, a new sector-wide body for the UK’s independent doc film industry. The organisation’s remit is “to represent the UK’s independent documentary community, facilitate transparent communication within the sector and take effective, coordinated action to address the key issues facing the sector.”
The Documentary Film Council (DFC) will have three membership tiers: Basic (free, includes access to the DFC talent directory and access to free resources); Ally (£12 per year to support the DFC’s work and access its benefits and discounts), and Member (for £24 per year). Members are able to elect the DFC board and participate in its decision-making structures. Membership sign-up is now available at DocumentaryFilmCouncil.co.uk.
The Sheffield event will also feature the launch of the first dedicated Talent Directory specifically for the UK independent documentary industry.
“The DFC’s Talent Directory is for everyone who works (or wants to work) in UK independent documentary film, in whatever capacity. From producers, directors, editors, archivists and academics to distributors, exhibitors, curators, commissioners and executives, the DFC Talent Directory is for everyone,” writes DFC.
“The Directory is designed to increase the profile of the workforce, help overcome the barriers that stem from word-of-mouth recruitment, and facilitate recruitment of people from under-represented marginalised groups. The only criteria is that members are based in the UK,” adds DFC.
“The Documentary Film Council (DFC) is a nationwide participatory initiative that has been co-designed by filmmakers and executives from across the industry working in partnership with researchers at UWE Bristol. As a co-operative, the DFC will be legally owned and run by and for its members on behalf of the UK’s documentary community,” DFC continues.
The June 17 launch will be the first in an annual series of participatory ‘Open Assemblies’ at DocFest, in which members “can help steer the DFC’s strategic direction and shape the future of the sector together.”
Emily Copley, DFC Operations Manager and Acting CEO: “There is an unprecedented level of cross-sector support for the DFC and I’m delighted to be shepherding this much-needed organisation into existence. A lot of people have put in a lot of work to get to this stage, but this is just the beginning. We’re really hoping everyone in the UK docs community will join the DFC and help shape the future of the field together.”
Paul Sng, member of the DFC Interim Board and director of Tish, DocFest’s opening night film: “The Documentary Film Council exists to provide an opportunity for filmmakers of all levels of experience to collaborate, learn and support the craft of documentary. I’m very honoured to be involved in this initiative and hope it will open doors and elevate anyone in the documentary community whose voice is in need of amplification.”
Sandra Whipham, Doc Society Director and member of DFC Interim Board: “The DFC is so exciting because it brings together all voices of the UK independent documentary sector for the first time around shared challenges and opportunities. The unique importance of independent documentary to culture, society and democracy has never been more needed and yet the sector faces external barriers that stop it reaching its full potential, getting films to audiences and maximising impact. The DFC is the first step to addressing sector needs in an inclusive, joined up way and we can’t wait to get started.”
Two of the DFC’s first committees have already started work on two urgent priorities, the organisation writes.
“To mitigate the impact of word-of-mouth recruitment on workforce diversity, the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion committee (led by Lindsey Dryden and Shanida Scotland) is building the UK’s first directory for documentary talent and crew.”
“The Mental Health committee (led by Rebecca Day) is training therapists to work with nonfiction filmmakers as part of ongoing efforts to address the mental health crisis in the screen industries. This crisis is especially pronounced among documentary filmmakers because of the unique ethical and emotional challenges of the form, and who often work with vulnerable people and/or in traumatic or dangerous situations,” DFC explains.
