New radio station offers podcasts on South African documentary filmmaking

“It will podcast one-on-one interviews with South African documentary filmmakers, masterclasses and open pitching sessions. At times, we will also engage audiences, academics and filmmakers on the constantly changing face of documentary cinema,” says Riaan Hendricks, founder of Doc Street Radio and director of the multi-award-winning documentary film, The Devil’s Lair (2013).

“This is a continuation of SADOX. Just this time we found the ideal platform – that of the spoken word. It has an immediacy that cannot be matched. The foundation is one-on-one conversations.

“Documentary, as a genre, has a strong role to play in transforming society. Filmmakers are often a catalyst in great socio-political change, whether they are central to the story or not. Thus, the filmmakers’ perspectives and their approach to the dynamics at play in the film is what we want to celebrate.

“Landmark documentary films have been made in the past, yet often the filmmakers, along with their works, disappear into obscurity, because of a lack appreciation and exposure. Doc Street Radio will publicise their work and ensure it continues life for future generations. A filmmaker’s voice need not die, because the struggle to make the next film takes too many years. The momentary genius of some of their work contributes greatly to the documentary film movement in South Africa. We will reflect on those seminal films and engage with the directors and/or makers of those films.

“To deliver on our goal, we are looking for documentary film critics, academics and students of the documentary movement to propose content for our podcasts over the next year. We are also looking for sponsors/advertisers to lock down key advertising opportunities, so we can pay for the production of the content,” concludes Hendricks.

Hendricks can be contacted on +27 (0) 76 483 0502 and az.oc.nosaesmlif@ofni. For more information, go to www.soundcloud.com/docstreet.