AWARDS FILMMAKER OF THE YEAR TWO SIDES OF THE LENS
freehold to her building, a luxury most junk stores can only dream of. “She’s a passionate maker of things, too, so has an astonishing collection of old buttons, lace, ribbon, beads and fabric. She talks about the demise of sewing skills among the young – how no one appreciates the workmanship in handmade items and the death of retail shops during the pandemic.” It’s a wonderfully touching look at the changes in the high street and shopping habits over the years, showing how one woman is still championing the recycling of older things. The 90-minute Tristan V Christann documentary chronicles the real-life prolific adventures of Tristan, who is a fashion maker and filmmaker living in London. “It features his battle with oppression, the Covid-19 pandemic, his personal journeys, unexpected fame and societal pressures surviving as an artist without comprising his creative ideals,” says Forbes. It’s an intimate portrait of a truly charismatic and engaging character. The
Mark Forbes was propelled to enter this year’s Filmmaker of the Year Awards by the triumph of his debut feature film Mother & Wild , which clinched the top spot in the open category last year. But, instead of submitting a scripted, full- length indie feature film, Forbes has chosen to enter the documentary class this time around. His entry comprises two very different films, highlighting his flexibility as a multi-skilled filmmaker. “I can’t make up my mind which film to enter, so I’ve included both of them!” he begins. “I am extremely proud of them both. The first is a traditional short-form documentary called Memories of Mortlake, which is an antique shop in west London. Tristan v Christann is my second feature film and was filmed around the same time as Mother & Wild .” Memories of Mortlake is the name of a shop owned by Elke from Germany for more than 60 years. In her tiny shop, there are no spaces left uncovered; every shelf and surface is piled up with wonderful old treasures. But she’s only able to keep going because she owns the
film is well-shot and edited, capturing the essence of his unique life. The style is a mix of traditional fly-on-the-wall documentary mixed with talking head interviews, plus some unique lighting and well-executed audio. It proves a documentary can be as creative as a feature film, certainly when Forbes is behind the camera.
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