Dear DFC Members, Allies and Supporters,
Never mind the General Election. Time is running out to elect the DFC’s first-ever elected board of directors! The deadline to vote is Friday 31 May and you can find all the info about the 31 nominees below. You must be a fully registered member to vote, and if you are signed up as a member and haven’t received your code or any reminders from [email protected], please get in touch with us as soon as possible. Use your voice and your vote today!
Key updates from the DFC
The newly-elected board will be welcomed at the DFC’s second annual Open Assembly & AGM at Sheffield DocFest on the morning of Saturday 15 June, from 10am – 12.30pm. This will mark the end of the DFC’s first year of operations and the beginning of the next. We’ll celebrate some of the achievements of the past year, welcome our newly-elected board and focus on developing a key priority from last year’s Assembly: developing the DFC’s regional chapters. Don’t miss it!
We’re delighted to announce that the DFC has now received charitable status, which reinforces our belief that the DFC is working in the interests of our industry and indeed in the interests of the British public. It will also allow us to access all the benefits of being a charitable co-op. This has been a long and drawn-out process, and is the first step towards applying for legal permission to pay our freelance board members (who will henceforth be referred to as trustees!). More on that soon.
Before DocFest, on Monday 3 June, we’ll be circulating the DFC’s first set of accounts for review and approval by the membership. The accounts will have been reviewed by the board but only DFC members can approve them; this vote will take place at the AGM at DocFest. Please do read the accounts in advance.
DFC Committees
One of the main ways the DFC facilitates action on the key issues in our sector is via our member-led committees. We’re delighted to say that the Interim Board has approved a committee proposal to establish a peer-to-peer communications platform for UK documentary. This was one of the major needs identified at last year’s Open Assembly so we’re super excited to see this getting underway – more info on this soon!
We’d also like to inform members of a DFC committee proposal from director Rich Felgate, which is intended to create a document of information and guidance for independent documentary filmmakers encountering the police whilst filming protests in the UK. The committee would first gather people from the documentary filmmaking community who are interested in working on a guidance document, before seeking advice and input from other stakeholders with specific knowledge and expertise. Members interested in taking part can find Rich’s contact details through his DFC profile here.
If you’ve got an idea for a committee, check out the guidance on our website and send us a completed Committee Proposal Form. We’re happy to discuss ideas and drafts with you before you submit to the board, which has the final say on which committees are approved.
Join us for the Declaration of Independence Session at Sheffield DocFest
We’d also like to draw members’ attention to the Independence Project, recently launched by the DISCO network (Ambulante, AFLAMUNA, DocsMX, Doc Society, DocSP, Docubox and In-Docs). The project aims to provide a richer and a more diverse set of perspectives on the state of the independent documentary sector. DISCO will be hosting an in-person session on the Independence Project at Sheffield DocFest at 1.30pm on June 15th at the Crucible Adelphi, in partnership with the DFC. If you can’t join at Sheffield, you can add your voice to the conversation online via the project’s Mural Board, or contact [email protected] for more information.
The Price of Passion report launched by Documentality
Via our Mental Health Committee, the DFC is a proud supporter of the Documentality project. The project released its comprehensive research report on the state of mental health in the documentary fimlmaking community on Friday 17 May, 2024. Entitled ‘The Price of Passion: How Our Love for Documentary Filmmaking Impacts our Mental Health‘, the report delves into the profound impact of the documentary film industry on filmmakers, examining broader cultural aspects, working conditions, and personal consequences associated with this dynamic field, as well as participant suggestions on how to create a brighter future.
Don’t miss your chance to submit to the 2024 Grierson Awards
Another 31 May deadline to be aware of is the 2024 Grierson Awards closing date for submissions. All entries must have had their first UK screening between 1 June 2023 and 31 May 2024 and there are 15 categories to enter this year. You can find their full requirements below.
Grierson Awards requirements 2024
Don’t forget that voting closes for the board election this Friday 31 May. In the meantime, if you have any questions please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at [email protected].
In co-operation,
DFC Leadership Team
