My apologies for the lack of blogs recently, it’s all happening here at Film Doc towers, as I’ve recently re-shaped my business, as I am now both a film festival & sales agent. I also have 2 other associates on board (paediatricians if you will!), John and Paul. In addition, the company has been renamed The Film Festival & Sales Doctor. Both companies are obviously different and work in separate sectors of the film industry; however they trade under the film festival and sales doctor.  So exciting times ahead! J

On to film festival news. Sundance has now come to a close and according to reports on the festival, it was a cracker. Not just because the selection of films was fabulous, rather the festival had turned a corner and focused less on big lavish premieres and celebrities and instead showcased films by newcomers as opposed to well known directors and festival favourites, including the new documentary by Kevin Macdonald Life in a Day.  This doc is formed out of some 4,500 hours of material shot by film amateurs around the world and sent in to YouTube. This sounds incredibly creative and interesting and am very much looking forward to seeing this one when it makes it way around the festival circuit. From what I can tell from the festival reports, it appears to be that Sundance this year has been keen to show new innovative talent and simultaneously the new directions which feature films, shorts and documentaries are going in.    

So, the question is, what will Cannes and Berlin have to offer this year? Are they going to stick to the same format which they usually operate in, or will they too devote more space to fresh new talent and not be biased or political in their film selection choices?  Cannes got slated last year for being a dull as dishwater programme (that’s a bit unfair perhaps;  agreed Chatroom was dire, whereas Kaboom was good...) so I await to see what Berlin has to offer when I head over there next week, which reminds me time to buy some winter boots..