Flaherty Seminar (original) (raw)

The Evolution of Documentary Filmmaking

The history of documentary film goes back more than 100 years, beginning in the late 1800s. By creating the first “Cinématographe” camera, the Lumière brothers created a real furor in art development. And their short films (often up to a minute) without a plot, essentially one continuous frame capturing a particular action, will forever remain legendary (e.g., The Train Arrives at Siota Station, 1896). Such short films were called actuality films.

Today the documentary genre is extremely popular, touches all social spheres, and is a form of education. It is a fascinating and powerful medium, capable of shedding light on untold stories, exploring pressing social issues and challenging our views of the world around us. It allows filmmakers to delve deeply into real life, capture raw emotion and document important events with authenticity and truthfulness. Suppose you are an amateur, an aspiring filmmaker, or just interested in this fascinating genre. If so, you will be interested in my overview of the evolution of documentary film, the influence of technology, and the vibrant community surrounding it.

Early forms of documentary filmmaking

It will not be possible to talk briefly about the history of documentaries. Still, I will try to focus on the most brilliant innovators at the origins of the development of documentary filmmaking.

As I have already mentioned, the pioneers were the Lumière brothers, and all of their first 10 documentary films were shot on 35mm film, were single-frame, and were a record of an ordinary day (for example, feeding a child, a vacation, a worker in a factory). They were not informational, but they showed the possibilities of the cinema.

In the 1920s, under journalism and art’s influence, documentary film became a newsreel of real events. The innovator and the most brilliant representative in this era was Robert Flaherty, with his first feature film Nanook of the North (1922). This film was an observation of the real life of people in regions remote from the eyes of ordinary men.

documentary genre

Also, a great influence on documentary filmmaking was such directors as Dziga Vertov and John Grierson. Their films began education through cinema, where the shots were not staged, and the stories were narrative to learn about society.

In the 1930s and 40s, the documentary film became an integral part of any person’s life but also became a propaganda character. It’s worth just remembering such chronicles of the war times. And in another 30 years, as technology advances, documentaries have become part of the art, as they used the staging of light, sound, apparatus, and a large number of people, and their content began to cover more and more social areas, including entertainment.

Today, the development of the documentary genre is only gaining momentum, more and more content is being produced, and there is no end in sight. For comparison, in 2000, the number of films made in this genre was about 3.5 thousand, and by 2020 there were already more than 11 thousand.

The impact of technology

Of course, technological advances have greatly influenced the development of documentary filmmaking. It is with it that such a leap in the amount of material production is connected because the time to create one single film (or even a series) has been reduced dozens of times, and mobility has led to faster movement, which has also meant faster filming in different parts of the world.

If we dwell a bit more on those innovations that had a special effect, it is worth mentioning the invention of lightweight cameras and portable sound recorders. The advent of lightweight 16mm cameras, developed by Éclair and Bolex in the mid-20th century, allowed filmmakers to capture material flexibly.

documentary films

Needless to say, evolution has taken a great leap forward with the advent of digital technology, which has impacted every aspect of life, not excluding the documentary film genre. Not only have production methods changed, but so have their distribution. Digital cameras have given filmmakers more control over the footage, the ability to shoot for long periods, and instant access to recorded material. Editing software has made post-production processes more efficient, and online platforms have opened up new possibilities for distribution and reaching audiences worldwide.

Documentary filmmaking in the digital age

Yes, in the digital age, filmmakers can shoot, edit and distribute their work using consumer-grade equipment and online platforms. Documentaries are now colorful and diverse, offering different techniques and narrative structures that include elements of animation, interactive media, and even AI. By turning the documentary genre into an entertaining and engaging field and by incorporating content into a growing number of online platforms, social media, and crowdfunding, producers have greatly expanded their audience of consumers.

But is everything really that great in the documentary field? I don’t think so. The fact is that along with the tremendous benefits of content creation in the digital age, it hasn’t been without negative consequences. All of the above has led to an explosion in the diversity of voices and viewpoints in the documentary genre. Accordingly, documentary filmmaking has less and less relevance to the educational sphere, as there is a huge amount of misinformation to be found among the materials created. Today, your media literacy comes down to your analytical skills, where you must navigate the vast sea of information and distinguish reliable sources from misleading or biased narratives.

Best Documentary Movie Events And Seminars

documentary film festival

Who should you look up to? Professionals, I’ll tell you. Today there is an active community of documentary filmmakers and enthusiasts, and its members gather to showcase their work, exchange ideas and inspire each other. By following film festivals, workshops, and other documentary-related events, you can keep track of only credible films, providing proven research and research material and generally keeping up with the times.

Notable film festivals include:

Sundance film festival – founded by Robert Retford in 1978 and held annually in Park City, Utah. It is considered one of the most prestigious, influential, and distinguished because it supports a diverse direction. The festival has gained fame by selecting thought-provoking and socially relevant documentaries (and short films) that address pressing issues and shed light on little-known stories. Sundance is attended by the world’s most important professionals, filmmakers, and film lovers to exchange experiences and discoveries.
Tribeca film festival was founded in 2002 by Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal, and Craig Hutkoff. And it is also held annually in New York City. This event is popular for promoting budding filmmakers by exposing feature, documentary, short, and virtual reality films. It’s a real chance for young filmmakers to showcase their independent opinions and talent to film industry sharks. Tribeca also established the Tribeca X Award, recognizing outstanding stories in branded content, advertising, and virtual reality.
The International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA) is the world’s largest documentary film festival annually in Amsterdam, Netherlands. With an extensive program of documentaries worldwide, IDFA has become a vital hub for documentary filmmakers, producers, distributors, and enthusiasts.

documentary filmmaking

The hallmark of IDFA is to showcase a wide range of documentary genres, including creative documentaries, interactive documentaries, and immersive media projects. Decision makers, financiers, and co-producers can also be found here, which is a launching pad for many start-ups in the documentary industry. IDFA provides a place to screen films and promotes critical reflection and dialogue through panel discussions, workshops, and debates.

Overall, each of these film festivals – Sundance, Tribeca, and IDFA – brings a unique twist to the world of documentary filmmaking. Sundance pioneers independent film, Tribeca spotlights emerging filmmakers, and IDFA offers a broad platform for diverse documentary voices.

But in addition to festivals, various workshops, and conferences are devoted to documentary filmmaking. For example, events such as the Sheffield Doc/Fest, Hot Docs, and the International Documentary Film Festival occur in Sheffield.