Open City Docs Fest is a live festival devoted to exploring the world we live in through the vision of documentary film. Open City Docs Fest happens annually for 4 days in June across multiple London venues. Every event is a 'live' event at Open City Docs Fest with filmmaker Q&As, film and subject panel discussions, live scores, comedy, theatre, guided documentary walks, live music, food, workshops for industry and public - this is where the filmmakers meet their audience.
Our diverse programme of more than 100 films from around the world, innovative workshops and filmmaker led events takes place over four summer days and nights in venues around central London and across University College London’s (UCL) WC1 campus. Opening up a hidden part of the city to Londoners and international visitors, our welcoming central hub includes a bespoke Cinema Tent on Torrington Square - a big hit in our 2012 edition.
The festival presents films about real life, and about the experience of real people many of whose voices are not often heard. We challenge, explore and expand ideas of what documentary can be and do, provoking debate and opening minds. Open City Docs Fest has selected films that explore the range of modern life from the challenges of urban living, to the thrills of science, the subversion of art and the restorative beauty of music. Select your viewing from our handily organised festival strands including Science Frictions, Protest Works, Sound Waves, Still Lives, Artists’ Documentary, The Image of the Engineer, City Scope, World Visions and Shortsprogrammes alongside a showcase of the winners of our nationwide, online film-making competition, MyStreet or choose from the fantastic titles selected for our Awardsby our Jury.
What is Open City Docs?
The Festival is one of several projects run by Open City Docs, founded by Michael Stewart. Based at UCL, Open City Docs is where the next generation of filmmaker is nurtured and celebrated, delivering film screenings and live events, training programmes and projects throughout the year including Open City Docs Fest, MyStreet and Open City Docs School. We also run screening events through the year called Open City Docs Specials.
Michael Stewart - Founder of Open City Docs
Michael has worked throughout his career between film and anthropology, including stints as an independent producer and within the BBC. Film work includes State of Fear (1989, with John Blake BAFTA Award nominated) What Magdalena Said (Everyman) and Biafra: Fighting a War without Guns (Timewatch). He has written for many years about Eastern European Roma (Gypsies) - most recently editing a book about radical anti-Gypsy politics in Europe (The Gypsy Menace, PD Hurst May 2012). He lectures in Social Anthropology at UCL and is a Champion for Social Enterprise there. MyStreet and Open City Docs are the result of the transformative effect of working at UCL, an institution where social, physical and natural sciences jostle alongside the fine arts.
