It's often claimed that we're living in a "golden age of documentaries" and with many in recent years garnering the same levels of critical acclaim as their fictional film and TV counterparts, it's easy to see why. However, despite accolades, cult followings and thought-provoking subject matter, many award-winning and internationally screened productions are yet to make it on to UK television. A new series at London's Somerset House, produced by resident organisation Dartmouth Films, seeks to answer why, while providing a rare chance to see some of the leading lights of the genre in the cinema.
Running until March, the fourth edition of annual festival Unorthodocs will showcase six independent documentaries encompassing a diverse range of topics, with the opportunity to join those involved in each film for discussions and Q&A sessions after the screenings. The War Show recounts the experiences of those in the aftermath of the Arab Spring, where any optimism attached to the revolution quickly dissipated in the turmoil that followed, while an equally personal take is explored in Hooligan Sparrow. The covertly recorded documentary follows filmmaker Nanfu Wang and Chinese gender activist Ye Haiyan as they fight against the police and local governments for the justice of six girls abused by their elementary school principal.
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