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The Camera is Ours: Britain's Women Documentary Makers

Contemporary women documentarians tell a vibrant story.

A selection of contemporary features that are at the heart of the BFI’s project to raise the visibility of the women who’ve been making documentaries for almost 100 years. These are works that reveal the impact of war on families, examine housing conditions, expose barriers against inclusive societies: both then and now there are women on the frontline, telling stories.

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I Am Belmaya I Am Belmaya

Documentary 2021 81 mins Director: Sue Carpenter

An inspirational story of rebellion, courage and hope as Belmaya, a young Dalit woman in Nepal, silenced and subjugated for most of her life, takes up the movie camera to tell her story.

Film: The Independent Miss Craigie

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Independent Miss Craigie Independent Miss Craigie

Drama-documentary 2021 92 mins Director: Lizzie Thynne

Filmmaker Lizzie Thynne tells the story of director Jill Craigie's (1911-99) remarkable career, drawing on her own words and extensive clips from her work.

Film: Fadia's Tree

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Fadia's Tree Fadia's Tree

Documentary 2021 82 mins Director: Sarah Beddington

This striking documentary follows a Palestinian woman living in a refugee camp in Lebanon and her ambition to reconnect with her ancestral homeland.

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Dreamcatcher Dreamcatcher

Documentary 2014 98 mins Director: Kim Longinotto

Kim Longinotto’s inspirational documentary about Brenda, a Chicagoan charity worker who helps vulnerable prostitutes leave the industry.

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Love Is All Love Is All

Documentary 2014 74 mins Director: Kim Longinotto

A hundred years of love and courtship on the silver screen, with music created by celebrated Sheffield singer-songwriter-producer Richard Hawley.

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From the Sea to the Land Beyond From the Sea to the Land Beyond

Documentary 2012 73 mins Director: Penny Woolcock

This fascinating and moving film by award-winning director Penny Woolcock is a lyrical portrait of Britain's coastline which features a score by British Sea Power.

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Grace Jones: Bloodlight and Bami Grace Jones: Bloodlight and Bami

Documentary 2017 115 mins Director: Sophie Fiennes

Grace Jones is laid bare in this intimate and electrifying insight into the fascinating world of a pop-cultural phenomenon.

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Heart of the Angel Heart of the Angel

Documentary 1989 40 mins Director: Molly Dineen

Molly Dineen’s wry, humorous and sometimes touching look at the trials faced by the staff and passengers of London’s dishearteningly dilapidated Angel tube station, before its modernisation.

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Power in Our Hands Power in Our Hands

Documentary 2016 75 mins Director: Angela Spielsinger

Ground-breaking documentary that uses archive film to tell the story of the British Deaf community’s fight for civil rights.

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Dark Horse Dark Horse

Documentary 2015 86 mins Director: Louise Osmond

The inspirational, larger-than-life true story of how a group of friends in a poor mining village took on the elite 'sport of kings' and breed themselves a racehorse.

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Deep Water Deep Water

Documentary 2006 89 mins Director: Louise Osmond and Jerry Rothwell

Riveting account of the disastrous attempt by novice sailor Donald Crowhurst to compete in a round-the-world, solo yachting race.

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Versus: The Life and Films of Ken Loach Versus: The Life and Films of Ken Loach

Documentary 2016 94 mins Director: Louise Osmond

Louise Osmond's funny, provocative and revealing account of the life and career of one of Britain’s most celebrated and controversial filmmakers.

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The Alcohol Years The Alcohol Years

Documentary 2000 50 mins Director: Carol Morley

Carol Morley's exploration of Manchester in the early 1980s, and the five years of her life she lost in an alcohol-fuelled blur.

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Self Made Self Made

Documentary 2011 84 mins Director: Gillian Wearing

Artist Gillian Wearing’s ‘documentary’ observes seven people creating (fantasy?) identities in collaboration with a drama teacher. Raw and revealing.

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Almost Heaven Almost Heaven

Documentary 2017 72 mins Director: Carol Salter

Carol Salter's award-winning portrait of a young Chinese woman training to become a mortician is a tender and reflective elegy on death and the fragility of life.

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Even When I Fall Even When I Fall

Documentary 2018 89 mins Director: Sky Neal and Dara McLarnon

The inspiring and fascinating story of two child-trafficking survivors who form Nepal’s first and only circus; an ode to survival and the healing power of performance.

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Keyboard Fantasies Keyboard Fantasies

Documentary 2019 60 mins Director: Posy Dixon

After his 1986 album Keyboard Fantasies is rediscovered, a black trans musician recounts his life, from the lonely 1960s to the joy of witnessing the present.

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White Riot White Riot

Documentary 2019 81 mins Director: Rubika Shah

Revolution rock! Rubika Shah’s vital documentary profiles punky reggae protest movement Rock Against Racism, from grassroots beginnings through to a major multicultural event.

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