NICK FRASER MASTERCLASS:
WHY DOCUMENTARY? WHY DEMOCRACY?

July 12th, Saturday

11:00 - 13:00 Presentation
STORYVILLE: A DECADE OF DOCUMENTARY
(The story of Storyville’s conception, its objectives, its 10 year-long history and its current role in the documentary genre. Film sequences and video clips will accompany Fraser’s presentation.)

14:00 - 16:30 Film screening and deliberation
SREBRENICA: A CRY FROM THE GRAVE
By Leslie Woodhead, 1999, 104 min.
(Fraser will recount the experience of the early years of Storyville through this well-known film, looking at the way documentarists approach the tragedies of our age.)

July 13th, Sunday

12:30 - 14:30 Presentation
WHY DEMOCRACY?
(Nick Fraser will talk about “Why Democracy?” which is considered to be the world's largest ever factual media event, elaborating his presentation with film sequences, short films and clips.)

15:30 - 18:00 Film screening and deliberation
EGYPT: WE ARE WATCHING YOU
By Leila Menjou and Sherief Elkatsha, 2008, 52 min.
(Based on the story of three female activists, a discussion will be held on Egypt’s confrontation with democracy in an age of dramatic changes. The session will culminate with the viewing of a short selection of documentaries revolving around a common theme: democracy in Turkey.)

Please enrol for the Masterclass by sending an email to: info@documentar-ist.org

"WHY DEMOCRACY?"

The "Why Democracy?" project is one of the most ambitious documentary series ever undertaken. It encompasses ten documentaries by ten directors from ten countries (China, India, Japan, Pakistan, Liberia, Egypt, Denmark, Russia, Bolivia and the USA.) The films vary widely in their subject matter and style, but they’re united by the theme of democracy, exploring its trials and tribulations. Apart from BBC, the project has over 30 broadcast partners from all around the globe. It was put on air in October 2007 in 200 countries at the same time and caused a great stirring worldwide.

In his masterclass on the 12th and 13th of July, Fraser will present a section of the films in question to the participants and talk about the making of the films, starting from the conception of the ideas, to the difficulties encountered in various countries where productions took place. This presentation was first realized in the Toronto Film Festival last autumn. It will be a memorable event not to be missed by documentary enthusiasts and filmmakers.

For more information on the project:
http://www.whydemocracy.net