ASK & DISCUSS INDEX

10 years, 8 months ago - Alexandra Queen

Thanks a lot, David!

Regards

Alexandra!!!

10 years, 8 months ago - David Graham Scott

HI Alexandra
some of the requirements for festivals change from fest to fest but generally it seems that a docu over 45 mins is considered a feature. Sometimes its just 40 mins and sometimes they like it closer to the hour. I would just make the film the length you want it to be and if a broadcaster shows interest then perhaps recut for their requirements (around 52 mins for an hour slot generally).
You might also find (like I've had happen with my latest film, Iboga Nights) that a news channel may pick up on your film and want to buy just a few mins of footage for their own report. It won't make you a fortune but it could help recoup some of your costs.
Many regards and all the best with it.
David Graham Scott esq

10 years, 8 months ago - Alexandra Queen

Thanks a lot, all this is valuable advice and information!

Have a great day,

Regards

Alexandra

10 years, 8 months ago - Lucas Jedrzejak

Hi Alexandra, well done with shooting your doc in Rwanda. You must have some amazing footage!
What I remember re length we did for Beebs is 52 and 56min (BBC 2 and BBC 4) or 45min (Panorama) which is rather a standard with other European broadcasters too unless you're thinking of theatrical release or independent channel with commercial breaks. It's good to have correct duration at festival so the channel can pick it up straight away without re-cutting it, if they like it. But try it with distributor JourneymanTV first, they'll take your film to most festivals around the world and save you some of the horrendous costs involved with different fests.
As a great inspiration try to watch the "Black Gold" excellent doc about Ethiopian coffee by Nick and Mark Francis who made their first big break at Berlin and Sheffield doc fests.
Good luck with the edit!

10 years, 8 months ago - Paddy Robinson-Griffin

I'm not a docco maker, but as general advice I'd say you should cut to the material, not to a time. There's nothing worse than a 20 minute story told over 50 minutes to meet an arbitrary target - it's like watching a bunch of 8 year olds doing a 'show' or 'play' for parents, run out of scripted/rehearsed material, and doing a lot of flapping and squawking filler for attention ;)