The prom’s over and the future is uncertain. Skip Day gives an intimate glimpse at one very special day in the lives of high school seniors from an industrial corner of the Florida Everglades. The irresistible pull of the beach prompts the long-time friends to drive 60 miles to chill, pose and revel in the waves.
Skip Day won the Illy prize for best short film at Directors’ Fortnight, Cannes film festival. The makers of the film, Ivete Lucas and Patrick Bresnan, direct, produce and edit film and video art projects. Their previous films The Rabbit Hunt and The Send Off, also filmed in Pahokee in Florida, have won multiple film festival awards. Their upcoming feature documentary about Pahokee will play the Sundance film festival in January
Coming up: Crisanto Street
In the shadow of Silicon Valley, a hidden community thrives despite difficult circumstances. For one resident, eight-year-old Geovany Cesario, impending change is bittersweet.
Released in December
Our documentary recommendations at the cinema and on demand
Some of this year’s documentary festival hits are coming to the Dochouse cinema in London. I recommend the remarkable Evelyn, in which Oscar winner Orlando von Einsiedel turns the camera on himself and his family as they mourn the loss of his brother. The Judge features Palestine’s first female Shari’a law judge, Theatre of War documents Falkland War veterans from both sides reenacting their experiences, and The Image Book is Jean-Luc Godard’s typically awkward take on what film means.
Nationally, 30 November sees the UK release of Three Identical Strangers, the barely believable story of three babies separated at birth and then reunited. Read more about this film which has been a box office hit in the US.
Also, take a look at my latest Observer column on whether documentaries can be regarded as journalism.
Global Short Docs Forum
Global Short Docs Forum is a new initiative by One World Media, connecting filmmakers from around the world with digital platforms looking for short docs. They’re looking for projects up to 30 mins - inspiring stories from people and places less visible in mainstream media. More details and submissions here. Deadline is Thursday November 29th but One World will provide a special extension until Monday December 3rd if applicants email contact@globalshortdocs.com before Nov 29th, mentioning Guardian Documentaries.
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