Where the River Runs Red: a Tasmanian mining town divided

Copper Miner, Tasmania, from Where the River Runs Red. Photograph: Brodie Poole

In Where the River Runs Red, we visit the isolated area of western Tasmania, where an ominous red river divides the small mining town of Queenstown. A result of copper runoff from a closed mine, it is an ever present reminder of the town’s past. Delving into the day-to-day lives of the locals, Where the River Runs Red explores a community caught between the past and a future that is less reliant on a mining economy.

The film is directed by Brodie Poole, and was produced in partnership with Screen Australia.

Where The River Runs Red: watch the full documentary Composite: Guardian

Coming up: Someone Else’s War

To date about 20 British nationals, some with no previous experience of combat, have travelled to Syria and joined the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) fighters to battle Islamic State. Some of these Britons were killed and have been proclaimed “martyrs” by the YPG and members of the UK’s Kurdish community. However, the British government has deemed their actions illegal, and sees the YPG as potential terrorists.

In this documentary, we meet parents whose children were killed fighting with the Kurds against Isis.

• Someone Else’s War is out in April

Briton Anna Campbell in Syria, as seen in Someone Else’s War. Photograph: Superfolk

Documentary news and screenings

The programme for the excellent Frames of Representation film festival has been announced. The festival, which looks at the outer limits of the documentary form, especially where it crosses over with drama, is a highlight of the year. My recommendations include What You Gonna Do When the World’s on Fire?, about race in the southern US, an earlier version of which won the best documentary award at the London film festival. Another treat is Honeyland, a wonderful documentary about rural beekeeping in Macedonia. It tells how a harmonious life is interrupted when a new family moves in with different and more commercial ideas about how to make honey.

A current release I highly recommend is Being Frank, the story of the legendary comedian, musician and cultural figure Frank Sidebottom – or rather Chris Sievey, the man behind the papier-mache head. A labour of love taking years to make, its director, Steve Sullivan, has done a brilliant job uncovering hilarious and moving videos, photos and recordings that produce a picture of a manically creative person. A legend of Manchester, Sidebottom/Sievey comes across as a dedicated artist adored by many. The film is a perfect tribute, made in the independent spirit Frank Sidebottom championed. It is released on 29 March – check the film’s Twitter account for screening locations.

Finally, we recommend any new documentary makers looking for funds to make films in developing countries to apply to the One World Media Fellowship.