Folkestone Documentary Festival Industry Day
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Calling all filmmakers, artists and documentary-curious people. Do you want to know more about the documentary film industry, find out who is producing and funding independent non-fiction projects and documentary art, and meet with other film creatives and potential collaborators? Then book for this jam-packed day of presentations, panel discussions, case studies, one-to-ones and networking in partnership with BFI Doc Society and Screen South.
The day features 5 varied and informative panels including conversations with talented filmmakers and execs about documentary features, shorts, and hybrid projects. Open to all, whatever level of experience. The sessions are ‘relaxed’ and there will be tea and coffee available throughout the day if you need to take a break.
The Industry Day will be followed by networking drinks at Kollectiv supported by Dr Jekyll’s mysteriously refreshing beer. Free to Industry Day ticket holders.
NEW FOR 2025 - this year, we’re offering the chance for budding filmmakers with a ticket for the Industry Day to book 1-to-1s with industry experts during the Friday and Saturday mornings of the festival. These slots are offered on a first come first served basis and are available only to Industry Day ticket holders. sign up on the day. Info on the experts here
Schedule
9.30am - Doors Open
10am-10.15am - Introductions & Welcome
10.15am-11.15am - Filmmaker Masterclass with Eleanor Mortimer
We’re delighted that this year’s keynote speaker is local filmmaker Eleanor Mortimer, director of How Deep Is Your Love. The film is her first feature documentary which explores the last wilderness on earth at the bottom of the ocean. Eleanor’s work centres on re-imaginings of the world through unusual, hidden or overlooked perspectives. Her first short film Territory screened at over fifty festivals including Sundance and received a Grierson nomination. Alongside her independent work Eleanor makes commissions for galleries, publishers and TV and teaches filmmaking to community groups and in film schools. She’ll speak about the transition from shorts to features, and making work that crosses definitions of documentary.
11.15am-11.30am - Tea & coffee break
11.30am-12.30pm - Alternative Funding & Distribution
Documentary funding and releasing has become more complex in recent years, with filmmakers having to be increasingly entrepreneurial. But this can be a positive! Hear from producers, distribution experts and platforms with experience of doing things differently, including crowdfunding and community film tours.
12.30pm-1.30pm - Lunch Break
1.30pm-2.30pm - Meet The Funders
Your chance to hear from documentary commissioning, funding, distribution and exhibition executives for films of all lengths, and ask them your burning questions! Speakers include representatives from Scottish Documentary Institute, The Whickers, Doc Society/BFI, The Guardian, BFI Network and Violet Pictures.
2.40pm-3.30pm - Meet The Shorts Makers
Hear from some of the short film makers in this year’s festival programme - how did they get their shorts funded and made, and what are they making next?
3.30pm-3.45pm Tea & coffee break
3.45pm-4.30pm - What Do Audiences Want?
We love making our documentaries, but do audiences actually want to come and watch them, and how do you know? This session will inform you on what documentaries are working well at cinemas and how exhibitors have got audiences in the room.
4.30pm - Conclusions
4.45pm - 6.15pm - Networking Drinks at Kollectiv hosted by BFI Doc Society and Screen South
Mix and match with your fellow filmmakers and creative storytellers working across the South East, meet new collaborators and chat with the speakers from the day.