Tuesday 29 January 2013

Submissions still open!


Calling all documentary filmmakers! 

We'd like to say a big thank you to all those who have entered their films so far in the 3rd edition of Open City Docs Fest. We're very excited by the kaleidoscope of work coming in from passionate filmmakers all over the world! 

The Regular Deadline has now closed, but there's still a chance to be part of a festival that embraces quality films across genre divides - at home and from homes away from home. So let's keep 'em coming!

Late submissions will be accepted until Monday 4 March 2013. 

To enter your work, simply head to www.opencitydocsfest.com and go to ‘Submit your film’, click the ‘Withoutabox’ icon, and follow instructions. Don’t miss this chance to join the growing community of filmmakers showcasing their talents in a four-day celebration of documentary.

We're interested in films that push the boundaries of what documentary means, from reportage to experimental films, and those that blur the line between fact and fiction.




Any length, any subject matter, from anywhere in the world. From shorts to features, Open City Docs Fest screens films that step beyond current broadcast conventions, and through a programme of workshops and discussions focuses on the craft, storytelling and the collective challenges of filmmaking.

Award categories for 2013 include Grand Jury Award, Best City Film, Best Emerging Filmmaker (UK and International), Best Short Film, Best MyStreet Film, and new thematic awards.

Check out some of last year's selected films here and learn more about how your own documentary can be featured in this year’s collection of dramatic, entertaining, challenging, and thought-provoking films.

The 2013 Grand Jury is chaired by Jeremy Irons (Actor & Producer 'Trashed'). This year's jurors include Anne Applebaum (Pulitzer Prize winning author of 'Gulag' & 'Iron Curtain'), Molly Dineen (BAFTA Award-winning Director and Producer), Malcolm Grant (President and Provost, UCL), Briony Hanson (Director of Film, The British Council), Hanka Kastelicova (Executive Producer of Documentaries, HBO Europe), Kim Longinotto (Sundance Award-winning Director of 'Divorce Iranian Style' and 'Pink Saris'), and Elizabeth Wood (Founder and Director of DocHouse).

Our third edition will take place 20-23 June 2013 again in UCL and various venues across central London. 

If you'd like to start a conversation, or have any questions, get in touch - write to info@opencitylondon.com or call +44 (0)20 7679 4907.

Friday 4 January 2013

Welcome to the 2013 edition of Open City Docs Fest. We're kicking the new year off with a special event at the ICA on Tuesday 8th January to get things rolling ahead of our main festival in June.  

Artists documentary: Elegies for Ideologies is screening as part of the London Short Film Festival.  This screening forms a part of our Open City Docs Specials we will run throughout the year in different venues around London, and with our festival partners.


The films explore nationhood and power by turns, through science fiction in Remnants of the Future by Uriel Orlow / Armenia/UK / 2010 / 21’ , the relationship of Europe and the Middle East through a fictitious and lavish feast, in Trespass the Salt by Larissa Sansour and Youmna Chlala / 2011/  Lebanon, Palestine, UK / 11. 

And what happens when the children leftwing activists in the UK grow up in Rachel Garfield's The Struggle/ UK / 2012 / 20’. 
A elegiac counterpoint to the interviews of ex-GDR teachers in marxism today (prologue) by Phil Collins / Germany / 2010 / 25’

 Larissa Sansour, Uriel Orlow and Rachel Garfield will be in conversation to discuss their works with Open City Doc's Treasa O'Brien at the event and tickets can be purchased here.