Dear DFC Members, Allies and Supporters,
We know you’re busy but please don’t miss this newsletter! Inside: crucial updates on our governance process; a doc-focused webinar with the BFI Certification team on the new tax relief; our December members’ meeting; and the launch of a range of discounts for DFC Members and Allies…
Governance proposal: postponing the DFC election timeline
Co-operatives typically have elections every year, but we would like to propose that the DFC’s second election cycle is postponed until Spring 2026. Instead, at our next AGM in June 2025, we will be asking Members to simply ratify the Board that was elected earlier this year.
The principal reason for this proposal is that, as you know, the DFC has been running on volunteer energy since December last year. The board is really starting to work effectively together, and while we’re making progress on lots of fronts – policy advocacy with BFI and government, building the Forum, fundraising and so on – it is challenging to do this with so little time and resources. Preparing to hold another election now would take our energy away from the other things the DFC was set up to do. We’ve discussed this with Co-ops UK, who are supportive, but it’s your decision. Therefore, should this proposal not be ratified, we will proceed with an election immediately after the AGM next year.
To be clear, this is a one-off proposal while we are trying to run the DFC on a voluntary basis. It may be that it makes sense for us to hold full elections every other year as standard – with Members ratifying (or not) the previous result in between – but that will involve a wider consultation with members. For now, we are proposing this as a temporary arrangement (and the next full election will be in Spring 2026 whatever happens!). We really hope the membership supports this proposal but if you have any queries or concerns about this, we want to hear from you. Please get in touch with us at [email protected].
All you’ve ever dreamed of knowing about the new UK Tax Credit…
We’ve teamed up with Doc Society to co-host a webinar, led by the BFI Certification Team, to explore what the new Independent Film Tax Credit means for the documentary sector. Please help spread the word about this and send your questions in advance – there’s no such thing as a stupid question! The webinar is on Thursday 28 November from 5-6pm. Register now and send your questions below.
Register and send your questions here
Launch of Member Discounts!
We’re delighted to launch the DFC’s first suite of membership discounts. These range from discounts (of up to 50%!) for doc streaming platform, True Story, for memberships of the Documentary Association of Europe and the International Documentary Association, on passes to Sheffield DocFest and subscriptions to Sight and Sound. We’re also offering 20% off on the new book on Britain’s pioneering documentarian, Sam Hanna, Round Our Way (Pendle Press, 2024).
These discounts are only available to DFC Allies and Members, so there’s never been a better time to upgrade your membership. To do so, simply login to your Account, selection ‘Subscriptions’ and ‘Change Plan’. That will convert your membership and make you eligible for our discounts (the discount codes are accessible via your Account page or via the main menu on our website if you’re logged in).
Join us for our December Members’ Meeting
It’s hard to believe that it’s been a year since we held our first ever members’ meeting last year, but here we are. Please come along to this informal meeting on Friday 13 December from 3-4.30pm to celebrate the end of another year with us.There’ll be plenty of updates from the Trustees and leadership team and an opportunity to discuss all things documentary with your fellow DFC members, plus info about the DFC Forum, which we’ll be launching early next year… More details and an agenda will be circulated soon – in the meantime, please register for the event below.
No Other Land + doc meet-up at Watershed (Bristol)
The Bristol Unscripted Network (BUNs) is hosting a screening and meet-up at Watershed, Bristol on November 20 at 6pm. A handful of DFC members in Bristol and the South West are talking to the BUNs folks, as well as the team at Watershed and the BFI Film Hub South West, to explore how we can team up and build doc culture in the South West. If you’re based in the South West, please come to the screening and meet others in the bar afterwards. If you’re keen to do something similar in your area, get in touch with us at [email protected].
The Taste of Mango Screening + Director Q&A (UK-wide)
Our friends at Reclaim the Frame are organising a tour of preview screenings of Chloe Abrahams award-winning film, The Taste of Mango, with post-screening discussions with the director happening around the country. See details and book your tickets at the link below.
Doc Heads screening + meet-up (London)
Long-standing London-based documentary group, Doc Heads, are following up their sold-out event in August with their next screening and informal networking event on Thursday November 28 at FOMO House, London. Come and and enjoy exceptional documentary shorts and meet the filmmakers behind each one. Only 60 tickets are available so book your place below. Doors open at 6.30, films start at 7.30pm – and the bar is cheap!
Sheffield DocFest is looking for a new Managing Director
Sheffield DocFest hiring a new MD! As co-lead of the festival the DocFest MD will work collaboratively with the Creative Director (our dear friend, Raul Niño Zambrano) to deliver the annual festival in June as well as its year-round programmes and initiatives.
We would like to take this opportunity to say a HUGE thank you to the outgoing MD, Annabel Grundy, who has been a huge supporter of the DFC and will be greatly missed.
The deadline for applications is November 18 with interviews taking place between 25 Nov and 6 December. More info available via the link below.
Look out for us at IDFA
DFC co-founder and founder of Film in Mind, Rebecca Day, is running an industry meet-up with her colleague, Helena Korner, at IDFA on their pioneering new Film Supervision model. Adapted from the supervision model used to support therapists, this new initiative is designed to support documentary filmmakers and help them address the challenges around mental health, safeguarding and ethical practice on productions. We are proud partners of the initiative, so don’t miss it! The event is taking place on November 17 from 1-2.30pm.
DFC Joint Acting CEO, Emily Copley, will also be at IDFA so if anyone wants to meet, have a gossip or grab a drink, drop her a line at [email protected].
Until next time…
In co-operation,
DFC Leadership Team
