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Further members of the group include BFI London Film Festival programmer Rowan Woods and Mogul Mowgli producer Bennett McGhee.

UK gender equality group Birds’ Eye View, that aims to achieve gender equity and justice in all film spaces, has created an 11-strong advisory group including Altitude’s Lia Devlin, Apple’s Julie La’Bassiere, BFI London Film Festival programmer Rowan Woods and Mogul Mowgli producer Bennett McGhee, as part of a restructure that includes changes to the board of trustees.

The advisory group has been established as an additional framework of support for the charity.

“Our newly established advisory group...

The following is an extract from Jessica Edwards‘ book Tell Me Something, which collects together advice on non-fiction filmmaking from 50 of the world’s most prominent documentarians, in which two-time Oscar nominee Lucy Wakler shares her wisdom. Tell Me Something is also available as an e-book. This piece of advice has been my lifeline, my mantra, my toehold on sanity and encouragement, the bandage for when I am kicking myself so hard I can’t stand up. It was told to me by Barbara Kopple, the legendary two-time Oscar-winning documentary filmmaker. One of my greatest strokes of luck in life was that she came to […]...

The following is an extract from Jessica Edwards‘ book Tell Me Something, which collects together advice on non-fiction filmmaking from 50 of the world’s most prominent documentarians, in which two-time Oscar nominee Lucy Wakler shares her wisdom. Tell Me Something is also available as an e-book. This piece of advice has been my lifeline, my mantra, my toehold on sanity and encouragement, the bandage for when I am kicking myself so hard I can’t stand up. It was told to me by Barbara Kopple, the legendary two-time Oscar-winning documentary filmmaker. One of my greatest strokes of luck in life was that she came to […]...

Jessica Edwards recently published a book of essays she edited, where she asks documentary filmmakers to tell her something -- specifically, some words of advice for  other documentary filmmakers.  In this excerpt, direct cinema hero Albert Maysles shares his advice for other doc filmmakers. For more information and to buy a copy of the book, visit the book's website here, and if you're in New York this week, Edwards is hosting a panel with documentary filmmakers as a part of Doc NYC's Masterclass panels.  Join her and filmmakers Amir Bar-Lev, Shola Lynch, Liz Garbus, Marshall Curry and Doug Block Wednesday at 3:30 Pm at the IFC Center for advice on how to make your film happen.  More information on the panel can be found here. A documentary filmmaker needs to be patient and believe in the process of discovery. Orson Welles described the observational method of allowing things to happen on their own,...

For several years, Jessica Edwards was a publicist in the indie film world; a year and a half ago, she left the world of publicity and had a kid.  Since then, she's been working on a book of advice from leading documentary filmmakers called "Tell Me Something: Documentary Filmmakers." Speaking with Indiewire, Edwards explained her process for putting together the book, "I certainly started from a place of affection for these filmmakers.  When I sat to write down all of my favorite documentary filmmakers, there were so many more than 50.  I just started calling." Edwards has enlisted filmmakers like Albert Maysles, Da Pennebaker, Frederick Wiseman and Barbara Kopple, and renegades like Morgan Spurlock, James Marsh, Sam Green and Margaret Brown to be a part of the project.  Most (but not all) of the 50 slots have been committed to filmmakers, and Edwards said she's been delighted at how excited filmmakers are to participate.

The Premiere. I’m not new to the film festival experience but because this is my directorial debut things have really ratcheted up emotionally this time. My sales rep, Josh Braun, and my publicist, Jessica Edwards, have both been working hard to make sure the world premiere of my film, The Weird World of Blowfly, goes as smoothly as possible and has all the right people in attendance. They’re also working hard to keep me from hyperventilating and passing out! It’s a very exciting moment, just before the premiere, filled with anxiety and catharsis. The film is premiering at the Alamo Drafthouse, a very cool theater where you can order food and drinks from your seat and have it delivered to you while you watch. It sounds like it’d be...

The South by Southwest (SXSW) Film Conference and Festival (March 12 - March 16, 2010) has announced the short film program and the list of panel participants. Michel Gondry, David Gordon Green, Jody Hill, Danny McBride, Ruben Fleischer, Matt Reeves, Eli Roth, Quentin Tarantino, and Ti West are among the people scheduled to participate. The full list can be viewed at the provided link. As to the shorts program, the list is featured at the bottom of this post. The lineup is extensive, and full of unique films waiting to be discovered.

Comprehensive Short Films Lineup

Narrative Shorts

A selection of original, well-crafted films that take advantage of the short form and exemplify distinctive and genuine storytelling. The winner of our Grand Jury Award in this category is eligible for a 2011 Academy Award nomination for Best Narrative Short.

Anatinus

Director: David Wanger

A glimpse of the dawn of a strange new era.

Bedford Park Boulevard...