Dan Birman, USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism
Dan Birman, director of the new Netflix feature documentary ‘Murder to Mercy: The Cyntoia Brown Story,’ discusses his filmmaking process and the importance of the case.
From Greta Garbo to Gwyneth Paltrow, the screen cough is reliably fatal. But this film and television favourite walks a fine line between suspense and comedy.
At a time when formulaic factual ‘content’ reigns on our TV screens, a new essay on Australian documentary making is a rallying call for those who believe the genre can effect social change.
Russell Campbell, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington
Ivor Montagu’s childhood was privileged, but he rebelled against his wealthy upbringing to become a pioneer of film culture, an activist documentary maker and an ardent supporter of Soviet communism.
Their critiques may be more gentle, their attacks more circumspect – but they are resonant nonetheless. And when filmmakers like Farhadi confront Trump, they’re on familiar turf: They’ve seen his type back home.
This year has already seen the first selfie movie, the first series to air on Instagram – mobile phones are increasingly playing a major role in the film world.
Award winning film The Wolfpack tells the story of five brothers who’ve spent most of their lives confined to a New York apartment. It raises questions about the ethics of documentary filmmaking.
Cape Town’s screening of the Africa World Documentary Film Festival provides a platform for debate, and shows how documentary films clarify and complicate the answers.