Open City Documentary Festival is throwing its first big birthday bash – this year’s celebration of all things documentary will be the fifth one. Once again the Open City team has put together six impressively packed days: there will be galas (to open and close the proceedings), a section devoted to Croatian filmmakers, a brand new strand exploring the documentary beginnings of established fiction directors, plus a chance to indulge in virtual reality and zoom in on the storytelling and success of podcasts. You can also feast your eyes on a selection of UK films, explore the emerging artists, see what captivates filmmakers in China and – if you’re strapped for time – opt for the short documentaries bundle.

That’s just the start though; here to walk us through the fascinating world of documentaries and help you decide which tickets to book is Chloe Trayner, the festival’s producer.

Run Riot: Your bio comes equipped with an impressive list of film festivals - tell us about how you started out and how you got to work with Open City Docs? What’s the lure of documentary films for you?

Chloe Trayner: I started working with film festivals when I graduated after studying filmmaking and completely fell in love with producing events. Underwire was the first festival I was involved in and I’ve since had the pleasure of working with great festivals including LSFF, BFI London Film Festival, BFI Future Film Festival and, of course, Open City Documentary Festival. I’ve been involved with Open City Docs since 2013 and this will be my second year producing the festival. I’ve always had a love for documentary film for its ability to tell immersive stories founded in reality, it’s incredible being able to be transported into another person’s world for the duration of a film.

Run Riot: What’s the context of Open City Docs? Where does documentary film stand in the UK in terms of infrastructure, support and interest?

Chloe Trayner: Open City Documentary Festival is very much committed to nurturing and championing the art of creative documentary and non-fiction filmmakers. As the only documentary-dedicated festival in London, we see ourselves as a meeting point for filmmakers, industry professionals and film lovers. We’re focused on providing a platform for filmmakers whose work deserves to be seen on the big screen as well as creating opportunities for conversation, debate and discussion through filmmaker Q&As, panels and workshops. In the UK, and especially in London, there seems to be a big increase in interest of screening documentary. We’ll have two documentary dedicated screens right here from this summer and I think it’s an exciting time. There’s a lot of change in the industry at the moment, as filmmakers are getting a lot more creative with funding and distribution. This has led to some great opportunities for films which might not normally be supported through traditional routes to find support and an audience.

Run Riot: Take us behind the scenes of the selection and programming process. How does a film get to feature in Open City Documentary Festival?

Chloe Trayner: Our programme comes together from a couple of different processes. Firstly, we have open submissions so, alongside our incredible pre-selection panel, we watch everything that is sent to us from filmmakers from all over the world. Next, we also visit other festivals and scour through programmes for those we can’t attend. This year, our team visited TIFF, DokLeipzig, IDFA, Jihlava International Documentary Festival, IFFR, Berlinale and Docudays UA. Finally, we also track the films that are in production and keep in touch with filmmakers that we have a relationship with from previous editions of the festival. In 2015, we’re looking forward to welcoming back filmmakers to the festival including Marc Schmidt (The Chimpanzee Complex), Dean Puckett (Honey at the Top) Simone Rapisarda Casanova (The Creation of Meaning) and Chloe Ruthven (Jungle Sisters). It’s hard to say what makes us pick one film over another because it’s a combination of factors but this year we were certain that we wanted every film we programmed to leave the audience feeling like they’d experienced something when they left the cinema.

Run Riot: Two countries, Croatia and China, are in the festival spotlight this year. What’s unique or intriguing about their filmmakers and stories?

Chloe Trayner: Our focus on Croatia was something we decided at the start of the programming process as we had been seeing some really interesting work emerging from the country. There is currently strong state support and filmmakers are given the chance to take risks with more experimental work so we wanted to shine a light on that new wave of filmmakers who aren’t often recognised outside of Croatia. The focus on China came about as we were going through the process and we realised there was a good selection of films either made in or centred on China. Filmmakers seem to be fascinated by the country and the exploration of the multifaceted identity of China has led to some really compelling documentaries. We’re continuing a tradition of screening work from the Harvard Sensory Ethnography Lab with The Iron Ministry, which traces the world’s largest rail network across China. Meanwhile, Beijing Ants tells the story of one family as they try to find a new home in Beijing after their landlord hikes their rent. Reflective of London’s own housing crisis, the film shows the desperate escalation of Beijing into the world’s most expensive city.

Run Riot: The festival will also investigate radio/podcasting and virtual reality. One is an old-school form, revived through the immense popularity of podcasting; the other is new-ish and long awaited. How do you think the two (will) reflect on documentary filmmaking?

Chloe Trayner: We’re so happy to be expanding our industry programme to explore all forms of documentary and in the current landscape where the way that people consume media is changing, it’s fascinating to see how people are responding to the new challenges of storytelling. I think both radio and virtual reality are great ways to immerse audiences and take people on journeys and it’s an exciting time for both mediums. The festival as a whole is very interested in exploring documentary form, showcasing a lot of films which push the boundaries between fact and fiction, so I think this move to include two other forms of documentary is a chance for us to continue to challenge our audience to engage with storytelling in a new way.

Run Riot: One of the festival awards is dedicated to emerging documentary filmmakers; what distinct or innovative approaches do you notice in films authored by early-career directors?

Chloe Trayner: This year, our Emerging International Filmmaker nominees all approach their filmmaking in a different way and it’s exciting to be able to follow filmmakers from the start of their career. Abner Benaim’s Invasion challenges the concept of collective memory through reconstructions and oral histories of the Panama invasion while On the Rim of the Sky follows an epic power struggle within a small village primary school. Cechanok chronicles the traditions of Arabic Falconry and Isabelle Tollenaere explores the traces left behind on the sites of recent conflicts in her poetic, enigmatic film essay Battles.  I think all of the filmmakers have found their stories in surprising places and crafted their films in compelling ways.

Run Riot: Can you plan the Open City Documentary Festival week for two imaginary Run Riot readers? One is into all things experimental and idiosyncratic; the other prefers more traditional narratives but loves subtitles.

Chloe Trayner: Both readers should start their week off with our Opening Night Gala, Sam Klemke’s Time Machine, because it’s a great story with a great character at its heart and Sam Klemke himself will be joining us for a Q&A.

For reader number one I would recommend the following;

Wednesday 17th June - Winter / Miracle at the Horse Hospital to kick off our Croatian Focus

Thursday 18th June - Cechanok at Deptford Cinema for an almost wordless film that remains thoroughly gripping

Friday 19th June -  London Short Film Festival: Drawing from Memory at the Horse Hospital for a programme of animated docs followed by a discussion with the filmmakers

Saturday 20th June - Battles at Regent Street Cinema for a defiantly minimal observation of sites of conflict

Sunday 21st June - Invasion at Bertha DocHouse for a film that explores the role of reconstruction within documentary

For reader number two I would suggest;

Wednesday 17th June - For Those Who Feel the Fire Burning at Regent Street Cinema for a beautifully shot portrait of migrants stuck at the edges of Europe.

Thursday 18th June - Alice Cares at Regent Street Cinema for a chance to meet the experimental care robot, Alice, as she is introduced to three elderly women.

Friday 19th June - Early Works: The Dardennes #1 at the ICA for a rare opportunity to see the early documentaries of the Dardennes

Saturday 20th June - Toto and his Sisters at Bertha DocHouse for a compelling story of resilience, family bonds and finding a way out.

Sunday 21st June - The Creation of Meaning at Regent Street Cinema to step inside the life of a shepherd in the Tuscan Alps

Open City Documentary Festival

16-21 June

Various Locations