LIDF

If the demise of film festivals has been, like the death of Samuel L Clemens, much exaggerated there remains nonetheless a real sense that some resuscitation is in order.

Film festivals have different aims. Each has its own essential purpose, its core idea. What was/is the essential aim of the LIDF? When the LDF started, almost 10 years ago, it was considerably easier to explain how the festival would function and what its aims were. Or, more precisely, how its function was related to its aims. While the aims remain constant the festival now believes the form must radically change.

The first London International Documentary Festival (A Conversation in Film) took place at the British Museum in March 2007 with the intention of providing a platform for quality documentary film and to facilitate the discussions that naturally arose from the ideas, concerns and perspectives explored in documentaries. The belief was that access to documentary film informs, inspires, stimulates debate and increases understandings. The purpose was, and remains, to bring together diverse audiences and practitioners, to give a platform for new documentary talent, and to accompany the screenings with informed debate.

Above all the festival has always prided itself on being truly international and supportive of young and new documentary talent. How does a festival best support and help nurture such talent? If festival are constrained by space and time then there must be ways around that. There are good arguments to change.

The LIDF will re-launch at the end of the month in an on-going magazine-style format with ‘live’ and on-line events taking place all year round. In this way it will build a sense of constant dialogue and a sense of engagement with new work, directors, festivals and other developments within the industry and beyond.

To do this the LIDF will work with its new partners in France, Italy, and the USA. Venue partners include British Museum and Estorick Gallery (London), Musee de l’Homme (Paris)

What form will this re-fashioning take?

Organisational Structure

The festival will move towards a cooperative structure.

Monthly Screening and Competition

1. Each month 10 new features and 10 new shorts (less than 40 minutes) will be available for viewing on-line at the LIDF website
2. Each month viewers of these 10 films can comment and vote for their favorite film of the month
3. The winning film will then be screened simultaneously in London, Paris and Torino
4. Immediately following the screening an in-depth interview will appear on-line by the films directors
5. At the end of the year there will be an opportunity to vote for the best of the monthly winners

LIDF Archive

1. The Best of the LIDF back-catalogue will also be available to view and purchase on-line

Directors Pages

1. Directors who have submitted to the LIDF will able to create their own pages within the LIDF website where they can promote their film and any future projects, including crowdfunding

Conversations

1. As part of the magazine format a series of interviews with directors, producers and other industry specialists will be made available on a monthly basis
2. Other essays, articles and thought pieces will be curated and commissioned

Festivals Focus

1. Each month a different festival from anywhere around the world will be features on the LIDF front page
2. The festival will be able to promote itself and access the LIDF database to Call for Films

Touring Festival

1. Throughout the year the LIDF will screen festival highlights
2. Host your won LIDF screening

Educational Packages

1. Films will be made available in Educational Packages. Organised by theme the packages will feature up to 6 films and be accompanied by teaching notes, interviews with directors and comments by relevant other parties e.g NGO, charity,

Distribution and Production

1. More to come ……

Workshops

1. Working with its partners the LIDF will place greater emphasis on short and long term workshop projects in the UK and abroad

The Festival Days

1. Each year the festival will host the awards ceremony and new material.