Netflix has debuted five documentary shorts helmed by recipients of its Documentary Talent Fund.
The decorated filmmakers, all from the UK and Ireland, were each granted £30,000 ($38,000) to create a short film based on the theme of “connection.”
The movies debuted at a special premiere in London on January 30th and will arrive on Netflix’s Still Watching YouTube channel in due course. Read the synopses for the five titles below.
The synopsis for Two Mothers, a documentary by Anna Rodgers and Zlata Filipovic, reads: “An unusual bond compels an Irish mother to travel to war-torn Ukraine in order to bring her former surrogate and her family to safety.”
Anna Snowball and Abolfazl Talooni’s Iranian Yellow Pages: “Trying to make his new life in London a success, Reza places an advert in an eccentric newspaper and discovers the Iranian community hidden in plain sight.”
Turn Up The Bass by Caroline Williamson and Troi Lee: “This is the inspirational story of Troi Lee, a deaf DJ, founder of “deaf rave” and pioneer of the UK’s deaf music scene. Troi and his team of deaf producers, DJs, MCs, sign singers and dancers will turn up the bass as they celebrate 20 years of deaf raving.”
Sperm Donors Wanted! by Logan Rea and Krishna Istha: “The film follows a transgender performance artist as he interviews hundreds of potential sperm donors live on stage in a quest to find the ultimate connection, one that will enable him and his partner to start their family.”
Olivia Smart’s Black Stroke: “Drowning isn’t an option as three people tackle their biggest fear.”
Kate Townshend, Netflix’s director of documentaries, has commented on the successful scheme. “It’s been an absolute pleasure to work with such talented filmmakers and watch each team’s ideas blossom into fully formed documentaries,” she said. “We are immensely proud of the tenacity, grit and creativity demonstrated to get the films made and presented to this final standard of excellence. Each film is an exciting glimpse into the future talent of UK documentarians.”
The scheme, funded by Triple Exposure and Molinare, was first launched in 2020 and intends to enrich the filmmaking industry by offering aspiring artists a platform for training and exposure.
