Maysles Brothers Documentary Competition

How to make a documentary by Albert and David Maysles:

• Distance oneself from a point of view
• Love your subjects
• Film events, scenes, sequences, avoid interviews, narration, a host
• Work with the best talent
• Make it experiential, film experience directly,unstaged, uncontrolled
• There is a connection between reality and truth. Remain faithful to both

Since Albert Maysles came to Belfast in 2005 this competition, in respect of his and his brother David’s work, has grown rapidly. It has also become more focused on their school of thought, championing what we believe to be the purest, most direct, exciting, informative and entertaining cinema experience available. Not every film in this year’s programme meet all the rules listed above but we do stick closely to the Maysles philosophy while continuing to recognise innovation, originality and cause debate. These competition films represent the best filmmaking available in the world right now.

Twelve features and five shorts were selected out of hundreds of submissions and, we have to admit, you will be hard pushed not to fall in love with each and every one of them - teachers of abusive kids, dying cultures in lands long forgotten, coming-of-age first loves, the absurdly true fairytale of an eastern European town, an incompetent tailor, an Islamic butcher, gold mines under attack by poverty-stricken African tribes ... these are only a few but the fascinating stories are endless. Watch, enjoy, discuss!

Previous Maysles Brothers Award winners:
2006 SISTERS IN LAW by Kim Longinotto
2007 NOMADAK TX by Raul de la Fuente

Judging Panel
Fleur Knopperts - Sheffield Doc Fest
Michael Hewitt - Doubleband Films
Daniel Jewesbury - University of Ulster