In Danish documentary developer Mikael Opstrup’s new book The Identity, eleven documentary film directors from eleven countries reflect on their lives. In this industry session, Opstrup brings together two of these, Scotland’s Emma Davie (I Am Breathing, Becoming Animal, The Oil Machine), and Georgia’s Salomé Jashi (Bakhmaro, The Dazzling Light of Sunset, Taming the Garden). 

In the book, Davie's chapter is entitled “Trying Not to Direct Documentaries,” while Jashi’s is “The Picture Is Never Full.” The discussion is certain to revolve around the background to these titles, and whether the word director covers what they do. Probably including terms such as innocence, doubt, and drawings, the session will hopefully spark self-reflection in the audience about their relationship to documentary directors, and perhaps to their own identities, too. 

Moderator: Mikael Opstrup (Documentary developer)

Speakers: Emma Davie (Director), Salomé Jashi (Director)