Documentary Project

Schools in Nacka, from pre-school to upper secondary school level, collaborated on a wide project on documentaries during the school year 1999-2000. The project incorporated in-job training for the school personnel. This included film presentations, showings for pupils, and the possibility of working practically in school with the help of preparatory and supplementary material. The Documentary Festival, organised at 2-9 May 2000, was the culmination of the year 2000 documentary project "Curious About Reality and Tales from Life" which took place in all schools in Nacka during the year 99/00.

The project was initiated in 1999 with a series of lectures and seminars for teachers. There ensued several days of study when pupils were able to see and hear documentaries and learn to use a variety of technical equipment The pupils also came in contact with a number of documentary filmmakers and their work. This procedure was adapted to the varying age groups. The project was a collaboration between Culture Nacka, the Centre for Development, schools, Film Centre, Film Consultants and Stockholm County Council. Among 80 productions, 50 of them were video films, 5 radio and 25 photo documentaries. Some of the latter consisted of more than simple photographs; the works had been augmented with painting, construction and speech.

The festival took place over a four-day period and all the productions were shown. The intention was that pupils should show their films to other pupils and that author and audience should initiate a debate. The journalist, Erik Haag, presented and led the discussions.