Welsh documentary filmmakers head to IDFA as part of Ffilm Cymru Wales delegation
Five filmmakers from Wales working in feature documentary will be attending the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam this November with support from Ffilm Cymru Wales.
Following an open call and application process, the selected delegates get access to all festival screenings, talks and roundtables, with an introductory delegate dinner upon arrival. The filmmakers will also benefit from a one-to-one mentoring session with an industry expert to help make the most of this opportunity to develop their projects and progress their careers.
Antigoni Papantoni, Senior Talks Producer, says “IDFA is honoured to welcome, for the first time, an official delegation from Wales. We are confident that the Welsh delegates’ participation will prove both enriching and inspiring, and we look forward to the continued strengthening of this collaboration in the years to come.”
Ffilm Cymru Wales’ IDFA delegation is:
Gilly Booth
Gilly Booth, an artist working with moving image/sound and co-director of Hijack Film Production. Her art practice re-interprets, archives and investigates how the lost function of architecture can persist in cultural memory. She uses documentary techniques to record lived encounters between reality and fiction, and translates them across geographical locations and linguistic boundaries.
A current project is feature documentary Eduardo Paolozzi, Archaeology of a Future, developed with support from Ffilm Cymru Wales. Selected films/installations have been exhibited within international film festivals and galleries, including ICA London, Pompidou Centre / Paris, Museum of Modern Art / Tokyo, MOMA / New York, The Museum of the Forgotten / Zurich and Venice Architecture Art Biennale / Italy.
Simon Clode
Simon is a Welsh filmmaker and video artist dedicated to documentary storytelling that tackles pressing global issues. He has received BFI NETWORK / Ffilm Cymru Wales Horizons funding award and the Ffilm Cymru Wales Feature Development funding award for his debut feature documentary The Hunter and the Dragon.
His work has been showcased at BAFTA-qualifying festivals, is a finalist at the British Short Film Awards, and has been broadcast on the BBC. Supported by Arts Council Wales, Simon has presented his artist films at key events like Qalandiya International in Palestine and in art galleries and museums across the UK, exploring themes of the climate crisis and Human rights.
Vicky Morton
Vicky Morton is a Welsh queer filmmaker whose work focuses on documentary storytelling. She has explored themes ranging from feminist and queer lives to the human stories within sport. Her approach is collaborative and reflective, often shaped by an interest in voices and stories that are overlooked.
With her production company, Red Mountain Films, Vicky is currently developing new films and series while continuing to explore different ways of working with documentary form.
Gavin Porter
Gavin Porter is a filmmaker, documentarian, and theatre-maker from Butetown, Cardiff. He is a Visiting Professor at the University of South Wales, a Clore Fellow and a BAFTA Cymru award winner. Most recently, Gavin created, wrote, and directed Circle of Fifths, a theatre piece that explores the connections between grief, loss, and music while celebrating the tradition of Butetown funerals. Circle of Fifths toured across Wales and London.
Gavin has directed, produced, and contributed to documentaries for television, including Glenn Webbe - Rugby Rebel, Steve Robinson - Cinderella Man, Black Welsh Music, and A Killing in Tiger Bay.
Cristián Saavedra
Cristián Saavedra is a Chilean filmmaker based in Cardiff, where he has worked as a director and producer for BBC Wales, Screen Alliance Wales, and other projects. With an eclectic background in journalism, music, and television, he captures compelling stories that blend pop culture with inclusive messages, drawing from his experiences as a sight-impaired filmmaker.
His work explores how artists with disabilities can ignite a powerful movement of authenticity and self-expression. With the support of Ffilm Cymru, he is currently developing his first feature film, which delves into the fascinating life of the iconic 90s pop star Scatman John.