Channel 4 announces three new First Cut documentary films

18 August 2015

 

Channel 4 today announces the commission of three new documentary films for the First Cut strand. First Cut showcases original and bold documentaries by first-time directors as part of Channel 4's continuous commitment to nurturing new and diverse talent.

The upcoming films will chronicle stories from 21st Century Britain: from a spate of mysterious deaths in Manchester’s waterways, to the lives of some of the UK’s OAP bodybuilders. Each has been made by filmmakers making their first full hour-length productions for national television.

David Brindley, commissioner for the First Cut strand comments: “Channel 4 has a reputation for helping launch new British talent both on and off-screen, and we’re particularly proud of the impact First Cut has made in its six years. These new films will follow in the tradition of unflinching and unique storytelling from some of the nation’s most accomplished new directors.”

Recent First Cut films have received critical acclaim for their subject matter and filmmaking.

• Filmmaker Marc Williamson won the Breakthrough Talent award at the 2015 BAFTA Television Craft for The Last Chance School, a documentary which met the staff and pupils at a boarding school for children with behavioural difficulties
• An audience of 2.1 million watched Jamie Roberts’ challenging portrait of English far-right groups, Angry, White and Proud, now on the shortlist for a Grierson Award
• Kicked Out Kids, directed by Natasha Zinni, received praise from charities for raising awareness around the topic of 18-year-olds being forced out of residential care

Brindley adds: “First Cut has had an excellent year and we’ve been delighted by the recognition from the audience and the industry alike. We continue to accept pitches for further original and eclectic stories to join the award-winning strand – these should be sent to the strand’s current curator, Rita Daniels, C4 Commissioning Executive.”

 

The three new documentaries announced today are: