The BRITDOC festival is coming up later this month in the UK: July 23-25 at Keble College, Oxford. I should declare my allegiances straight away because I am good friends with the BRITDOC gang and have helped out at the fest since its inception but, blatant bias aside, it really is a wonderful event and does all the things a good festival should by showing great films, creating genuine community and giving filmmakers useful resources going forward (from strategic knowledge and contacts to cold hard cash). BRITDOC’s themes this year are comedy and music, and events include pitching forums, speed networking with composers, talking sessions (including Larry Charles in conversation) and the Handlebar Moustache Disco!

I’m producing the Surgeries again this year which gives filmmakers the chance to get one-on-one meetings with experts including Cara Mertes (Sundance Institute), Debra Zimmerman (Women Make Movies), Cynthia Kane (ITVS) and Matt Dentler (Cinetic). If you are coming to BRITDOC make sure you apply to see one of our good Doctors!

With so much attention on the hardships faced by some sectors of the independent film community at the moment, an event like BRITDOC is a real tonic. We may be a ship of fools but it is a ship I am happy to be sailing on!