Perspective Films Unveils Its First Five Documentaries
A new documentary label has its first five films. Perspective Films, a co-production initiative led by independent producer Jess Devaney, has unveiled its inaugural slate, Variety reported.
Perspective Films was built out of the Perspective Fund's Documentary Film Support program. Selected titles can receive up to $375,000 toward development, which is the early writing and planning stage, as well as filming, post-production (the editing and finishing stage) or distribution, which means getting a film in front of audiences.
Devaney founded Multitude Films and works as the label's narrative strategist. Variety reported in May that the label had been launched by the Perspective Fund, and Devaney joined the Perspective Films label that month.
The slate opens with the most advanced title. "THEY'RE HERE," directed by Laura Poitras and Rachel Lauren Mueller, has already premiered at the Venice and New York Film Festivals. Both are major autumn festivals where films meet audiences, critics and buyers for the first time.
Another film, "THE PEOPLE'S NETWORK," traces the history of C-SPAN, the US cable channel that broadcasts Congress and other public affairs programming. Alyse Shorland directs.
"FARM AID" looks back at 1985, when Willie Nelson, Neil Young and John Mellencamp organised a benefit concert for small family farmers. A benefit concert raises money for a cause, and this film tells how that show came together.
Two titles are still being made. The untitled Gaza documentary is produced, written and edited by Rabab Haj Yahya, and it is in post-production. A second untitled film, directed by Geeta Gandbhir and produced by Alisa Payne, explores how the media and popular culture portray policing.
Taken together, the five films range from a live-broadcast network and a 1980s charity concert to a film already shown at two major festivals. Two of them are still being finished, which means the slate will keep changing as they move toward screens.
