The organisation is a UK-wide participatory initiative that has been co-designed by filmmakers and executives in partnership with researchers at UWE Bristol

A new, sector-wide body for the UK’s independent documentary film industry, the Documentary Film Council (DFC), will be launched at Sheffield DocFest (14-19 June) on 17 June.

The new organisation has been described as “a nationwide participatory initiative that has been co-designed by filmmakers and executives from across the industry working in partnership with researchers at UWE Bristol”. As a cooperative, the DFC will be legally owned and run by and for its members on behalf of the British documentary community.

The launch event will also represent the first in an annual series of participatory “Open Assemblies” at DocFest, in which members can help steer the DFC’s strategies and shape the future of the field.

According to the DFC’s official mission statement, the new body will aim “to represent the UK’s independent documentary community, facilitate transparent communication within the sector and take effective, coordinated action to address the key issues facing the sector”.

As of today, 15 June, membership is available with three tiers: Basic (free of charge, includes access to the DFC Talent Directory and access to free resources); Ally (£12 per year to support the DFC’s work and access its benefits and discounts); and Member (for £24 per year, Members are able to elect the DFC’s board and participate in its decision-making structures).

The DFC’s Talent Directory is open to all UK-based professionals working or wishing to work in the independent documentary film sector in any capacity, including producers, directors, editors, archivists, academics, distributors, exhibitors, curators, commissioners and executives. In detail, the Talent Directory aims “to increase the profile of the workforce, help overcome the barriers that stem from word-of-mouth recruitment, and facilitate recruitment of people from under-represented, marginalised groups”.

Two of the DFC’s first committees are already working on two urgent priorities. To mitigate the impact of word-of-mouth recruitment on workforce diversity, the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee (led by Lindsey Dryden and Shanida Scotland) is building the UK’s first directory for documentary talent and crew. Meanwhile, the Mental Health Committee (spearheaded by Rebecca Day) is training therapists to work with non-fiction filmmakers as part of ongoing efforts to address the mental-health crisis in the screen industries.

Speaking about the launch of the new organisation, Emily Copley, appointed as DFC operations manager and acting CEO in February, said: “There is an unprecedented level of cross-sector support for the DFC, and I’m delighted to be shepherding this much-needed organisation into existence. A lot of people have put in a lot of work to get to this stage, but this is just the beginning. We’re really hoping that everyone in the UK docs community will join the DFC and help shape the future of the field together.”

Paul Sng, a member of the DFC interim board and the director of Tish [+see also:
film review
film profile], Sheffield DocFest’s opening film, commented: “The Documentary Film Council exists to provide an opportunity for filmmakers of all levels of experience to collaborate, learn and support the craft of documentary. I’m very honoured to be involved in this initiative, and hope it will open doors and elevate anyone in the documentary community whose voice is in need of amplification.”

Finally, Sandra Whipham, Doc Society director and a member of the DFC interim board, added: “The DFC is so exciting because it brings together all voices from the UK independent documentary sector for the first time around shared challenges and opportunities. The unique importance of independent documentary to culture, society and democracy has never been more needed, and yet the sector faces external barriers that stop it reaching its full potential, getting films to audiences and maximising impact. The DFC is the first step to addressing sectorial needs in an inclusive, joined-up way, and we can’t wait to get started.”

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