LCC Postgraduate Shows – MA Documentary Film

As the LCC Postgraduate Shows are around the corner, we thought of doing a round-up and giving a glimpse at some of the documentary productions this year.

The MA Documentary Film course is headed by Jeremy Williams. This year, the films were produced by a diverse range of filmmakers of varying backgrounds and experiences, the stories ranging from intimate portraits of people to the war.

Here are some of the films produced this year.

1. On the Other Side, directed by Victoria Martynova, UK

On the Other Side takes you on an intimate journey into the lives of three Russian women who were forced to adapt to a new existence following the invasion of Ukraine and experience the heartfelt consequences as they navigate through bleak time.

Victoria Martynova is a Russian filmmaker with a journalistic background based in London.

2. The Only Black Mark in an Infinite White, dirceted by Eren Ozkaradeniz, Turkiye/UK

The Only Black Mark in an Infinite White tells the story of a young hearing-impaired violinist’s journey of becoming independent with the help of music after joining the orchestra of hearing-impaired, which was founded by an academic who devoted his life to the orchestra. 

Eren Ozkaradeniz, born in Malatya of Turkiye, is a documentary filmmaker currently based in London, UK. He works at the TRT (the Turkish Radio and Television Corporation).

3. My Mum Rita, dirceted by Qiqi Hou, UK

My Mum Rita is an intimate film following Louise and her mum Rita, who is 92 and living with dementia. After spending eight years caring for Rita, Louise is beginning to question how long she can keep going. 

QIQI HOU is a passionate Chinese documentary filmmaker currently with an international journalism background. Qiqi has developed a strong interest in character-led observational documentaries rooted in social justice, current affairs, and human rights. 

4. LOLA, dirceted by Eric Liu, UK 

LOLA is an intimate portrait of an eccentric queer squatter who lives an alternative lifestyle in the UK. As a former professional tattooist, she explores her artistic world through a contentious and confronting tattoo project on her own skin, which is using creative ways to tattoo that involve alternative practices to the usual methods using a tattoo machine. In this observational styled documentary, Lola takes you on a jaw-dropping experience to an underground world. 

Eric Liu is a Chinese-American documentary filmmaker based in London. Driven by the passion for ethnographic storytelling, his recent work focuses on character-led stories of underrepresented communities.

5. With(Out) Child, dirceted by Julia Martin, UK

In the UK, where altruistic surrogacy is the only type permitted by law, two childfree and first-time surrogates carry other people’s babies out of a desire to experience pregnancy.

Julia Martin is a London-based filmmaker and sound recordist. She is interested in work that examines existing narratives around reproductive choice and has been co-directing a feature documentary about the IUD (@insertyourselfdoc) since 2019.

6. “Indelible Me”, directed by Yuriko Liu, UK  

Indelible Me is the story of Fraser West who passionately entered the University of Liverpool to study popular music and Spanish. However, after the outbreak of COVID-19 Fraser has successful graduation from the university, he began to stop and think about how to develop in the future, continue his musical life or to go real.  

Yuriko has spent three years for shooting her band member, she hopes more people will understand the confusion that today’s society can create for young artists and the fact that he still has an indelible passion for music.  She believes documentaries are the most intuitive way to tell an audience a personal story.  

7. Structure of Noise, directed by Ethan Woodfin 

Structure of Noise explores the sonic boundaries between what we consider noise, sound, and music. The film also touches upon the presence of noise pollution within our lives, and how it affects areas with varying levels of population density. Executed through abstract and experimental sound landscapes paired with poetic visuals which seek to involve the viewer on an active level.

Ethan Woodfin is a London based filmmaker who is also a practicing musician. He also created and developed a soundtrack for Structure of Noise which attempts to immerse itself within the film whilst also bolstering its sonic capacity. 

8. dèyè do bon dié / behind god’s back, directed by r. Martinique

The poignant documentary initiates conversations about home, danger and identity on the slopes of a reawakening volcano. 

r. is a Martinican Documentary Director & Producer, currently based between London and Toulouse. His practice tends towards the concept of identity and particularly the process of building one’s identity, both at the individual and collective level. A subject he loves to explore through a compassionate and cinematic lens. 

9. Black Genesis, directed by Blu Smith

Black Genesis is a personal story that follows the Smith family and investigating themes of blackness and identity that go along with the complexities of joy and community within the black American family dynamic. 

Blu is London based multidisciplinary artist that uses film as a medium for storytelling to which she explores identity and race within marginalised peoples. With a strong focus on archiving otherwise overlooked experiences she continues her practice by documenting the nuanced world through her own lens. 

10. At a Distance, directed by Anna Mathilde Stegmann

At A Distance is a snapshot of a way of life in the arid Namibian Kalahari where second-generation farmer, Kirk, runs a small-scale sheep farm.  

Anna Mathilde Stegmann is a Namibian documentary filmmaker based in London. Her passion lies in observational and visual anthropology filmmaking. With a strong sense of style in her work, Anna strives to develop original and visually compelling films. 

These were some of the documentaries produced this year from a whole bunch as part of the LCC Postgraduate Shows, you can find more about them HERE

To get more updates on the documentary filmmakers and their works, MA Documentary Film has an active Instagram handle to keep you enticed with the latest updates, you can find it HERE