Co-creation in documentary is a hot topic, raising questions of agency, power relations, filmmakers' responsibility, subjects' consent and vulnerability. These issues become more complex when working with young people, and this Talk explores the possibilities and challenges of sharing creative authority using two examples.

In For the Moon, Éric Baudelaire works with blind and partially sighted teenagers, combining their video footage with material he shot to offer strikingly upbeat perspectives. The result is a playful, often surprising exploration of experiences and perceptions, in which the protagonists actively shape their own representation. 

In Whispers in May, Dongnan Chen lets Yi minority girls tell their stories in a coming-of-age road movie. With improvised and staged scenes, inspired by the central protagonist’s wish to discover a wider world, the filmmaking process builds space for the final moments of childhood. 

The filmmakers will discuss their differing approaches, united by the decision to give space and agency to young co-creators.

Moderator: Neil Young (Film critic)

Speakers: Éric Baudelaire (Director, For the Moon), Dongnan Chen (Director, Whispers in May)