2008 Archive

AP Archive

Val Evans

Documentary Centenaries

Production Company:

BFI National Archive

Country of Production:

UK

Synopsis

Marking 2007's centenaries of five pioneer documentarists, project involved curatorially assessing their entire surviving output. 84 titles then selected for programming and detailed technical assessment, informing case-by-case implementation of: Production of polyester film-stock masters from best surviving elements, for long-term preservation. Production of 35mm screening prints Production of full-graded HD masters. Project planned for multiple outputs, including: Humphrey Jennings package 'Finest Hour', distributed to cinemas in both 35mm and HD formats. Major 'Documentary Centenaries' season at BFI Southbank Restored 'Night Mail' DVD, released by BFI. 'Land of Promise' DVD box-set containing 41 of the restored titles, due April 2008. Reason for Submission: Ambitious project of massive importance to cultural heritage, demonstrated by supporting materials: 'Finest Hour' brought Jennings to cinemas at best-ever quality: see 'Words for Battle'. Film season was largest-ever Documentary Movement retrospective. Many titles newly accessible, others at much-improved quality. See 'Eastern Valley': bad 16mm print was only available British material; outstanding new 35mm version produced from original nitrate print obtained from USA. 'Night Mail': a classic available looking its best in decades. 'Land of Promise' box-set will make wider selection of restorations available worldwide: see selection. Preservation material produced: this holistic project married public access to long-term legacy.

Focus on Film

Production Company:

The National Archives

Country of Production:

UK

Synopsis

Focus on Film is a free to access website that allows students to investigate film as a source of evidence for the past. The 4 areas of the website include: an illustrated introduction to the nature of film as source evidence; a range of pre-prepared teaching activities which allow students to understand films in their historical context; an extensive archive of over 8 hours of film clips, catalogued with contextual information; and a fully functioning web-based editing suite which allows students to work directly with around 200 film clips and still images to create their own work. Reason for Submission: Focus on Film combines a unique collection of documentary sources and film material in a highly interactive and engaging education resource which brings the benefits of Web 2.0 technology into the classroom to promote active, personalised learning. The project demonstrates how film can be combined with innovative web-based technology to provide students with a powerful, interactive learning experience suitable for a range of curriculum subjects.

We Want Roses Too (Vogliamo Anche Le Rose)

Director:

Alina Marazzi

Producer(s):

Gaia Giani

Archival Sources:

Riccardo Lacche, Annamaria Licciardello Top Sources of Footage: Teche Rai, Cineteca (Bologna), Archivio Movimento Operaio-Aamod (Roma), Fondo Privato Adriana Monti, Cineteca Del Friuli

Production Company:

Mir Cinematografice

Country of Production:

Italy

Synopsis

Italy c.1950. A beautiful woman, complete with post-war Dior look, immaculate coiffure and matching hat, gloves and bag, skips into a high class boutique and gazes into a crystal ball. She recoils in horror at the shocking image of a naked and dirty woman dancing in the midst of nature. Skilfully combining interviews, advertisements, animation and TV, this film illustrates how feminism and the sexual revolution transformed women's lives during the 60s and 70s. It's structured around the diaries of three women with first hand experience of the social and political turmoil of the time. The intimacy of their personal confessions is told as much with confusion and despair as with delight at new found freedoms. Such testimonies lend the film an emotional power comparable to that of the work of Su Friedrich or Jennifer Reeves. It's compelling in that, far from being a straightforward chronological documentary, it creates a personal narrative of words and images that carries us through 20 years of history that changed the world for everyone. Reason for Submission: This festival is very interesting.

Nokia Fourth Screen Film

Director:

Matt McConnaughy

Producer(s):

Sarah Dent

Footage Archive Researcher:

Sarah Dent

Archival Sources:

ITN, Huntley Film Archives, Corbis Stock Market, Getty Images

Production Company:

Jack Morton Worldwide

Country of Production:

UK

Synopsis

Mobile phones have finally come of age as multimedia devices and Nokia see this as something truly liberating. The opportunities created by the internet have caused us to become much more isolated as it is largely a solitary activity. But mobile phones now allow us to go back out into the world taking with us all that the internet has to offer. This film shows how our fascination with media has defined several pivotal stages in the development of our society and the mobile device represents a whole new era.

Archival highlights

This film has truly captured how Nokia sees its role in society. Nokia is a company that genuinely believes it exists to make a difference. This film encapsulates our relationship with screen based media and shows the potential that mobile devices have to change our consumption and experience of this type of media. In short, however, we like the film and it has gone down a storm.

Don't Watch That, Watch This (Series C)

Director:

Steve Connelly

Producer(s):

Geoff Atkinson

Footage Archive Researcher:

Val Evans, Clare Darken

Production Company:

Vera Productions Ltd

Country of Production:

UK

Synopsis

Somewhere in a parallel universe strange things are happening. Did George Bush really say Donald Rumsfeld was a menace? Does Patricia Hewitt normally admit Tony Blair is having a baby? Does Cliff Richard really terrorise children? And why is Barbara Woodhouse admitting she is sex obsessed? Welcome aboard the mixed up, messed up, mucked up world of mash-TV as the Don't Watch That Watch This team get their teeth into the archive. Reason for Submission: The original 'mashed-up' archive programme - showing how old film footage can be reworked and reinvented.

Diesel 78: Learn Disco Dance

Producer(s):

Stuart Warren-Hill

Footage Archive Researcher:

Stella Waltemade, Vanessa Lewis

Production Company:

Hexstatic

Country of Production:

UK

Synopsis

Stuart (Hexstatic) sent out a focal request, which Framepool immediately picked up and began discussing options with him. As Framepool could not find exactly the type of dance footage needed, Vanessa Lewis decided to try to go right to the orginal creator of the Disco Lesson video, Ake Blomqvist. After finding the contact details Stella Waltemade, from the Framepool research team, negotiated fees and license with Ake and provided a copy of the master to Hexstatic to begin editing. This is a fantastic example of how footage regardless of the age or original format is a treasure. This is an exciting, creative and funny edit that demonstrates the endless possibilities of what one can do with footage. Both the original video and the final edit have been provided.

Nation on Film: Caribbean Cricket

Director:

Jacob Hickey

Producer(s):

Jacob Hickey, Rachel Bowering

Footage Archive Researcher:

Rachel Bowering, Lycy Smickersgill

Archival Sources:

BBC, Menelik Shabazz (Private), ITN Source

Production Company:

BBC

Country of Production:

UK

Synopsis

In this one off special, Nation on Film delved into the archives of the 1976 West Indies cricket tour of England. The series will forever be remembered for the television interview given by the England cricket captain Tony Greig when he declared that he intended to make the West Indies team 'Grovel'. It set the scene for a long hot summer when the drama of what happened within the boundary was matched by tensions beyond it. Through the archive this dramatic and multifaceted story is explored. An all star cast including Sir Vivian Richards, Michael Holding, Sir Clive Lloyd, Tony Greig, Harold 'Dickie' Bird, Brian Close and Darcus Howe help examine this precious footage and tell the story behind the film. Reason for Submission: In this one off special, Nation on Film delved into the archives of the 1976 West Indies cricket tour of England. The series will forever be remembered for the television interview given by the England cricket captain Tony Greig when he declared that he intended to make the West Indies team 'Grovel'. It set the scene for a long hot summer when the drama of what happened within the boundary was matched by tensions beyond it. Through the archive this dramatic and multifaceted story is explored. An all star cast including Sir Vivian Richards, Michael Holding, Sir Clive Lloyd, Tony Greig, Harold 'Dickie' Bird, Brian Close and Darcus Howe help examine this precious footage and tell the story behind the film.

Animal Crackers

Director:

Ari Kuchar

Producer(s):

Kate Fitzgerald

Footage Archive Researcher:

Kate Fitzgerald

Archival Sources:

Absolutely Wild Visuals

Production Company:

Content Mint/Absolutely Wild Visuals

Country of Production:

Australia

Synopsis

Animal Crackers series 1 is a collection of twenty-six one minute children's wildlife interstitials. With a creative blend of motion graphics and footage this series lends itself to cross platform delivery. Each interstitial highlights some amazing facts on a particular animal species, giving young viewers an insight into what's on their menu, where they like to hang out, how they get around, and a few other quirky facts. Both factual and entertaining - these interstitials are a wild action-packed, fact-filled one-minute adventure! A great introduction to Natural History for 8-12 year olds. Reason for Submission: This collection of 26 interstitials has been produced solely using stock footage. A number of renown wildlife collections are featured in these interstitials, all from the Absolutely Wild Visuals library. AWV's philosophy of 'driving content further' initiated the idea to create new markets for their copyright owner's footage. Combined with creative graphics and suitable audio, this is a fine example of where superior stock footage has advanced to become exciting, factual and entertaining viewing for Children.

Brasil, Brasil: 'Tropicalia Revolution'

Director:

Robin Denselow

Producer(s):

Robin Denselow

Footage Archive Researcher:

Jeannie Clark

Archival Sources:

Radio E Televisao Record, Content XP/Globo Comunicacoes E Participacoes S.A, Fundacao Padre Anchieta/TV Cultura, Radio E Televisao Bandeirantes, Murray Lerner (MLF Productions Inc)

Production Company:

BBC: Music Entertainment

Country of Production:

UK

Synopsis

The first comprehensive review of Brazilian music and history, this 3 part series tells the story of the styles and the artists that have for decades captured the world's imagination. Featuring nearly all of Brazil's major stars, the programmes include specially shot performances, interviews and rare archive footage. Part Two covers the military era from the Sixties to the Eighties, when singers were censored, jailed and exiled - but still produced some of the finest and most exciting music in Brazilian history, from Tropicalia to Samba-Reggae. Reason for Submission: Sourcing footage from film & television archives in Brazil is a challenging experience, hence most of the footage in Brasil, Brasil Ep 2 has not been seen before in the UK. The footage licensing laws in Brazil meant careful and persistent negotiation was required. The amazing film of 1960s riotous Brazil Song Festivals from TV Record was censored by the military govt at the time and has never been seen in the UK. Also discovered film of Tropicalia stars Gilberto Gil and Caetano Veloso performing at the Isle of Wight festival while they were in exile in the UK in 1970 courtesy of Murray Lerner who searched through all his rushes to supply us with film never seen anywhere before. Although footage of social upheaval in Europe and the US in the 60s is often seen in documentaries, much less common is the shocking footage of the Brazilian experience where the military clampdown on social and political unrest was much harsher and forced many artists into exile.

Memoris of a Cigarette

Director:

Andy Baybutt

Producer(s):

Lisa Clark

Footage Archive Researcher:

Sue Tiplady

Archival Sources:

BBC Motion Gallery, Moving Picture Archive, ITN Source, MacDonald & Associates, Moving Image Communications

Production Company:

Pett Television Ltd

Country of Production:

UK

Synopsis

A tongue in cheek "homage" to the perilous but for some highly pleasurable, pursuit of smoking. Featuring A list celebrity interviews and provocative archive footage, "Memoirs of A Cigarette" charts our society's love / hate relationship with the evil weed on the eve of the UK ban on smoking. Reason for submission: Memoirs of a Cigarette used a unique range of both provocative and highly entertaining footage, spanning over 40 years of film and television archive, to ensure the programme would resonate with a wide audience. From WW1 footage, to rare advertising campaigns and government health warnings, to cult television programmes and legendary movies, this programme led us through the incredible highs and ultimate lows of the cigarette in society. Much of the footage was sourced from small independent libraries and private collections and was cleverly used to punctuate opinions of the many high profile celebrities featured. Exhaustive searches to find the best comedy moments featuring smoking through the decades ensured the programme kept an entertaining pace throughout.

The Rape of Nanking

Director:

Serge Viallet

Producer(s):

Luc Martin-Gousset

Footage Archive Researcher:

Serge Viallet, Jun Mori

Archival Sources:

Imperial War Museum, NARA, Library of Congress, Nippon Eiga Shinsha

Production Company:

Point Du Jour

Country of Production:

France

Synopsis

Nanking is a horrifying story that defies comprehension. The invading Japanese military pillaged, burnt and massacred more than 100,000 Chinese civilians and soldiers between December 1937 and February 1938. Our documentary 'investigates' Japan's history in an attempt to shed light on the deep-rooted causes of such barbarity. A moment of sheer madness? Orders from the military hierarchy? 70 years on, it's time to comprehend. And it will be the testimonies of the last surviving Japanese veterans and set against the memories of surviving Chinese witnesses - that offer the most credible explanation. Reason for Submission: The documentary contains 25 min of footage.

Being Jewish in France (Etre Juif en France)

Director:

Yves Jeuland

Producer(s):

Michel Rotman

Footage Archive Researcher:

Valérie Combard

Archival Sources:

INA, Gaumont Pathé, CDJC, Lobster, Ateliers des Archives

Production Company:

Kuiv Productions

Country of Production:

France

Synopsis

Since the Dreyfus affair that tore France apart, the history of France and its Jewish communities has continued to ignite passions. And yet an old Yiddish proverb goes: 'Happy like a Jew in France.' From the wave of immigration of Yiddish speaking Jews to the exodus of others from North Africa, from World War I to Vichy, a group of men and women, French Jews or Jews in France, describe with humor and emotion these years filled with happiness and concern. The moving story of Jews in France illustrated by rare archival images, film clips and music. A story of darkness and light. Reason for Submission: This documentary film is made up of many rare archives. Moreover, many of them have never been seen before on TV.

Andrew Marr's History of Modern Britain

Director:

Tom Giles

Producer(s):

Tom Giles

Footage Archive Researcher:

Stuart Robertson

Archival Sources:

BBC, ITN Source, British Movietone, Canal+, BFI

Production Company:

BBC

Country of Production:

UK

Synopsis

In his widely acclaimed History of Modern Britain, Andrew Marr gives an epic account of the events that have shaped our lives since the end of the Second World War. With a dynamic mixture of footage shot specially on location and archive of actual events, Marr wittily weaves together crucial turning points and telling little details to charts the evolution of Britain's place in the world since 1945. The many strands of our national story are brought convincingly to life by the use of a wide range of archive sources woven into a gripping national saga. Reason for Submission: Audiences and critics were drawn to this series by an extraordinary range of archive, which complemented Andrew Marr's compelling story-telling. Archive drawn from every decade of the post-war period enhances his solid grasp of characters and events, and often adds a new layer to our national memory bank. Each piece of personal and political gossip is brought to life by carefully selected images and sound, which attracted a huge popular audience to revisit the dramas of our recent past.