The Edinburgh Film Festival began life as a documentary festival. More than 50 years on and documentary film is more popular than ever, with Sundance, in particular, leading the charge. The organisers at Edinburgh say that "this year's section shows that our commitment remains". Among the feature-length offerings, there is also a screening of the Short Scottish Documentary Award.
The Other Side Of The Country and Doubletime
Breadmakers
(Country: UK; Year: 2007; Director: Yasmin Fedda),
Official Site
A day in the life of a bakery staffed by people with learning disabilities. Showing as part of Bridging The Gap and the Short Scottish Documentary Awards (which it won) at EIFF 2007.
Billy The Kid
(Country: US; Year: 2007; Director: Jennifer Venditti; Stars: Billy P., Penny Baker, Heather Pelletier)
Documentary following a boy with learning difficulties looking for romance.
Bridging The Gap
()
Complilation of short documentaries - the result of a talent initiative run by the Scottish Documentary Institute. Features: [film]Breadmakers[/film] (Yasmin Fedda), [film]Butterfly[/film] (Yulia Mahr), [film]How To Save A Fish From Drowning[/film] (Kelly Neal), [film]My Mother's Daughter[/film] (Saleyha Ahsan), [film]Ottica Zero[/film] (Maja Borg), [film]The Unbearable Whiteness Of Being[/film] (Faisel Aziz).
Butterfly
(Country: UK; Year: 2007; Director: Yulia Mahr)
A girl talks about her Albinism.
The Monastery: Mr Vig And The Nun and How To Save A Fish From Drowning
Castells
(Country: Germany; Director: Gereon Wetzel)
Exploration of the human towers which are traditionally built as a competition between communities in Catalonia."
Comrades In Dreams
(Country: Germany; Year: 2006; Director: Uli Gaulke; Writer: Jeannette Eggert, Uli Gaulke)
A documentary about cinema lovers in far flung corners of the world.
Document Shorts
()
Bite-size documentary showcase, featuring: [film]Lipari[/film] (Frank van den Engel), [film]The End for Beginners[/film] (David Lale), [film]The Fighting Cholitas[/film] (Mariam Jobrani), [film]The Skiers[/film] (John Webster), [film]The Suburban Train[/film] (Maciej Cuske), [film]The Watchman[/film] (Edward Brooke-Hitching).
Doubletime
(Country: USA; Year: 2007; Director: Stephanie Johnes; Stars: Ray Fredrick, Joy Holman, Antoine Cutner, Timothy Martin, Tia Rankin, Erica Zenn)
Skip-hop extravaganza.
The End For Beginners
(Country: UK; Year: 2007; Director: David Lalé)
A day in the life of a nursing home... with added children.
Bridge Over The Wadi and Ottica Zero
The Fighting Cholitas
(Country: Bolivia, US; Year: 2006; Director: Mariam Jobrani),
Official Site
Exploration of the life and motivations of Bolivian female wrestlers. Showing as part of Document Shorts at EIFF 2007.
Garbage Warrior
(Country: UK; Year: 2007; Director: Oliver Hodge; Stars: Michael Reynolds)
Maverick architect Michael Reynolds has spent years building eco-friendly ‘sustainable’ homes in New Mexico. Just as the state authorities crack down, a call for help comes from an island hit by the Asian Tsunami.
How To Save A Fish From Drowning
(Country: UK; Year: 2007; Director: Kelly Neal)
Documentary exploring the death of small town America. Showing as part of Bridging The Gap and the Short Scottish Documentary Awards at EIFF 2007.
The End For Beginners and Garbage Warrior
Lipari
(Country: Netherlands; Year: 2006; Director: Frank van den Engel)
Documentary tracks a fishing crew as they hunt for swordfish. Showing as part of Document Shorts at EIFF 2007.
Lynch (one)
(Country: US, Denmark; Year: 2007; Director: blackANDwhite; Stars: David Lynch, Laura Dern, Krzysztof Majchrzak, Phillip Patela, Weronika Rosati)
An insight into the working life of cult film director David Lynch.
A Massacre Foretold
(Country: UK, Mexico; Year: 2007; Director: Nick Higgins; Writer: Nick Higgins)
Documentary about the massacre of a group of indigenous Mexicans by government backed paramilitaries.
The Monastery: Mr Vig And The Nun
(Country: Denmark; Year: 2006; Director: Pernille Rose Grønkjær; Stars: Sister Ambrosija, Mr. Vig)
A documentary about an old man who discovers a new side to life when he meets a young nun.
What Would Jesus Buy? and I Want To Tell You Something
My Mother's Daughter
(Country: UK; Year: 2007; Director: Saleyha Ahsan)
An exploration of the relationship
between Islamic-convert Yvonne
Ridley and her mum. Showing at
EIFF 2007 in Bridging The Gap
and Scottish Documentary Shorts
Awards.
Ottica Zero
(Country: UK; Year: 2007; Director: Maja Borg)
Exploration of one woman's quest for a better future.
Protagonist
(Country: US; Director: Jessica Yu)
Branded by the Festival as: "The most emotionally expansive, formally ambitious documentary of the year."
Run Granny Run
(Country: US; Year: 2007; Director: Mario Poras; Stars: Doris Haddock)
Doris, aged 94, stands for election in the US Senate.
Lynch (one) and A Massacre Foretold
The Skiers
(Country: Finland; Year: 2006; Director: John Webster)
Veteran soldier-skiers recall their lives. Showing at EIFF 2007 as part of Document Shorts.
To Die In Jerusalem
(Country: Israel; Year: 2007; Director: Hilla Medalia)
The effects of a suicide bombing on the family of the attacker and a victim.
Traders' Dreams
(Country: Germany; Director: Stefan Tolz, Marcus Vetter)
Exploration of the global phenomenon of eBay trading.
The Unbearable Whiteness Of Being
(Country: UK; Year: 2007; Director: Faisel Aziz)
A look at the growing trend of Asian skin-whitening. Showing as part of Bridging The Gap and the Short Scottish Documentary Awards at EIFF 2007.
Lipari and The Watchman
The Watchman
(Country: UK; Year: 2007; Director: Edward Brooke-Hitching; Writer: Edward Brooke-Hitching)
One man's 'mission' at Beachy head. Showing as part of Document Shorts at EIFF 2007.
What Would Jesus Buy?
(Country: US; Year: 2007; Director: Rob VanAlkemade; Stars: Bill Talen, Savitri Durkee, The
Church of Stop Shopping Gospel
Choir)
Revered Billy takes a look at
America's shopping addiction.