1st April 2021

Spring uncovers secrets at Imperial War Museums

Spring Films has been commissioned by Channel 5 to produce a six-part series delving into the outstanding collection of Imperial War Museums (IWM) – one of the most loved and visited institutions in the UK.

This is the first time IWM has given an exclusive ‘access all areas pass’ to its archive of over 30 million objects and 50,000 hours of film covering all aspects of conflicts involving Britain from First World War to Afghanistan and Iraq. From Teddy Bears to Battleships, from rare hundred-year-old archive film to GoPro digital footage shot just months ago, each item in the collection tells part of a dramatic story about ordinary lives in extraordinary circumstances.  Secrets of Imperial War Museums will capture these life affirming, and at times tragic stories through the eyes, memories, hard work and of course humour of the people now associated with them.

In addition, the series will capture the final months of development of two new ground-breaking galleries at IWM London, the Second World War and The Holocaust Galleries scheduled to open this autumn, and the reopening of HMS Belfast as she marks 50 years since arriving into her present location on the river Thames.

Co-Executive Produced and developed by the multi award-winning team Kathy Myers and Richard Melman, Richard said “over the many years I have worked with Imperial War Museums I have always been constantly surprised at what’s in the collection, their remarkable curatorial skills and their ability to look at history from new perspectives. It is a real privilege to be given access to their unique world’.

The Series Editor is Chris Parkin who’s made a number of successful series for Channel 5 including Inside The National Trust and Around The World by Train as well as Inside The Factory for BBC2. The series was commissioned by Guy Davies, Commissioning Editor (VP) Factual at C5.

Secrets of Imperial War Museums is supported by global distribution company Blue Ant International and is available for pre-sale internationally.

Production has commenced and the programme will be delivered later this year.

 

 

 

29th March 2021

The Two Lives of Li Ermao gets Audience Prize

Voted by the audience of the prestigious Royal Anthropological Institute Film Festival,  The Two Lives of Li Ermao, has received the festival's Audience Prize.  Filmed over 17 years across Southern China by director, Jia Yuchuan, this feature documentary co-produced with Doctor Skyfish, follows the intimate and heart-wrenching story of Li Ermao, a transgender migrant worker in search for love and acceptance.  Watch the trailer 

19th February 2021

Debut Director Nomination!

We are very proud of the wonderfully talented director of How to Stay Out of Jail,  Jemma Gander, who has been nominated for Edinburgh TV Festival's  Debut Director Award.  Many congrats to Jemma and all other nominees.  You can still catch How to Stay Out of Jail on Channel 4's streaming platform, which you can find here.

7th January 2021

Spring Films Appoints New CEO

Spring Films has announced the appointment of Chris Smith as its new chief executive. With Smith’s appointment, company founder André Singer will focus more on creative projects and move to the role of chief creative officer. He will continue to work closely with creative director Kathy Myers and with Figs Jackman, Spring’s head of global development. Richard Melman is retiring from his role as managing director and will now concentrate on executive producing several on-going projects.

Smith, a highly experienced executive in the media and telecoms industry, was formerly managing director, investments, at multinational telecoms giant Liberty Global and has previously worked with several production companies focusing on strategy and business development.

As Spring’s new CEO, Smith will focus on securing investment and developing growth opportunities for the company.

Smith said: “Spring Films has a global reputation for producing award-winning documentaries and I’m delighted to be joining such a wonderful team and excited to see what the future holds”.

André Singer said “Spring has enjoyed great success in recent years, and we are all looking forward to growing still further our impact on the world media stage. I am excited to work with Chris in the months ahead.”

For more information contact

Claire Kessie: claire.kessie@springfilms.tv

14th December 2020

The Tinderbox Catches Fire

The Tinderbox produced and directed by Gillian Mosely has won another award the "BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE" at the New York Tri-State International Film Festival 2020.

The Tinderbox was a Media Lab/Spring Films Production.

https://www.newyorktristatefilm.com/oct-to-nov-winners

4th December 2020

Fireball Circles the World

Press around the world continues to enthusiastically cover “Fireball: Visitors from Darker Worlds” following the global premiere on Apple TV+. The New York Times Film Critic Manohla Dargis considers “Fireball” one of the films she’s grateful for in her round up of the best films of 2020. Discovery Magazine runs Astronomy Magazine’s interview with Werner Herzog and Clive Oppenheimer, while WNYC spotlights the film as the “Documentary of the Week."
In Australia, ABC News Breakfast praises the film as “really unique” with “a lot of passion, a lot of spirituality and a lot of humor.” The Screen Show features an interview with Werner Herzog calling the film “absolutely marvelous,” while Nightlife gives the documentary "four out of five stars” and calls Werner Herzog's one of the “most significant and fascinating filmmakers working today.” El Sol de Mexico writes, “Werner found an opportunity to express his love for the Mexican region” in the film, and Revista Dominical (Costa Rica) publishes a three page “tribute to meteorites that is ‘Fireball.'”
Hong Kong’s HK01 features an interview with Werner Herzog and Clive Oppenheimer and commends how "'Fireball: Visitors From Darker Worlds' explores the science of the meteor from an angle that is both refreshing and humorous.” Mingpao Weekly (Hong Kong) calls the film "another documentary of exceptional standards by Werner Herzog and Clive Oppenheimer.”
HardwareZone (Singapore) praises the camerawork noting, “it’s quite stunning to watch an actual fireball streak down from above, and it works as the perfect opener to a movie that seeks to spark your imagination.”
Global Press Sentiment
ABC News Breakfast (Australia) - "Fireball: Visitors From Darker Worlds"
—“Imagine a David Attenborough film filled with characters from a Cohen Brothers film, and you’ve got the idea of the idiosyncratic tone that Werner Herzog and Clive Oppenheimer have brought to this science documentary.”
—“not your usual didactic documentary”
—“a lot of passion, a lot of spirituality and a lot of humor"
—“a really interesting investigation with these larger than life characters”
—“a really unique little documentary”
—“absolutely marvelous”
The Screen Show (Australia) - "The Screen Show" with Jason Di Rosso
—“both men are good company and they have a sense of humor”
—“a wonderful film”
—“it looks terrific”
—“four stars”
—“Herzog remains one of the most significant and fascinating filmmakers working today."
—“Herzog's enigmatic voiceover (often marked by his signature dark humor) makes this an intriguing global journey.”
—“a rich experience to watch”
—“absorbing”
—“an event said to enliven the Christmas spirit around the world”
—“if anyone can save this dumpster fire of a year, it’s Carey”
Channel 7 Sunrise (Australia) - "Mariah Carey’s Magical Christmas Special"
—“very impressive guest list”
—“star studded”
 
 –“A piece that you should not miss as it has everything: incredible mysterious landscapes of the world and Mexico, apocalyptic comets, complicated mathematics, ancient rituals and eccentric scientists.”
Pagina 12 (Argentina) - Intelligence with passion
–"a film where intelligence is at the service of passion"
－“‘Fireball: Visitors From Darker Worlds' explores the science of the meteor from an angle that is both refreshing and humorous.”
－“Herzog’s signature brand of 'German humor' shines through."
－“Along the film’s narrative, the connection between human civilization and the universe has become apparent.”
－“Relationship between human and nature, a major theme that runs through Herzog’s works, is ever-present in ‘Fireball: Visitors From Darker Worlds.'”
 –“A piece that you should not miss as it has everything: incredible mysterious landscapes of the world and Mexico, apocalyptic comets, complicated mathematics, ancient rituals and eccentric scientists.”
Pagina 12 (Argentina) - Intelligence with passion
–"a film where intelligence is at the service of passion"
HardwareZone Singapore (Singapore) - In Apple TV+'s “Fireball: Visitors From Darker Worlds," Werner Herzog turns our eyes towards the cosmos
—"Herzog goes behind the camera in 'Fireball: Visitors from Darker Worlds,’ carrying us through with his strangely soothing Bavarian-accented narration.”
—"It’s quite stunning to watch an actual fireball streak down from above, and it works as the perfect opener to a movie that seeks to spark your imagination.”
—"It’s clear that the makers of this movie are playing things fast and loose with typical documentary structure, and that’s oddly endearing.”
—"The Mayan cosmogony surprised the filmmakers, and thanks to the link between stars and souls, it gave them a new perspective on life beyond death.”
—"The filming coincided with the Day of the Dead festivities, and the filmmakers experienced this celebration closely so they could appreciate the way in which the current inhabitants have merged ancestral beliefs with modernity.”
Mingpao Weekly (Hong Kong) - Print
—“another documentary of exceptional standards by Werner Herzog and Clive Oppenheimer”
—“the film discusses astronomical science with wit and humor”
—"Werner Herzog and Clive Oppenheimer impregnate their enthusiastic voices in this new documentary, which takes us on a journey through numerous atmospheric landscapes."
Reviews
ABC News Breakfast (Australia) - "Fireball: Visitors From Darker Worlds"
The Screen Show (Australia) - "The Screen Show" with Jason Di Rosso (starts at 30.32)Nightlife (Australia) - "Nightlife" with Philip Clark, Indira Naidoo

13th November 2020

FIREBALL SMASHES INTO APPLE!

The reviews are in for our latest Herzog/Oppenheimer collaboration which launches tonight on Apple TV +.

—“Werner Herzog and Clive Oppenheimer’s new documentary has it all..”
—“It’s about as transportive as documentaries get.”
—"A trip to Antarctica... in which Herzog and company hunt meteors across the glaciers with an ebullient member of the Korea Polar Research Institute, is the film’s highlight, replete with a wealth of vast, dazzling vistas.”
—"Crisp camerawork by frequent Herzog collaborator Peter Zeitlinger is excellent throughout.”
—"another nimbly curious and fascinating film"
—"The film ranges far afield and interviews an engaging and eclectic mix of people.”
—"This is a rare example of modern documentary film-making that uses voiceover – that inimitable Herzog growl."

 

13th November 2020

Indian Space Dreams Rockets through the Awards

Sue Sudbury's Indian Space Dreams produced with Spring Films and and Haviland Digital has won the three top awards at Filmcon.

  • Best Picture
  • Best Inspirational Film
  • Best Documentary

Congratulations to Sue and the team for an amazing achievement.

https://www.filmcon.net/october-2020

9th November 2020

Paddy Wivell Gets an RTS Nomination

Paddy Wivell has been nominated for Best Documentary Director for our second series of PRISON shot in 2019 at HMP Foston Hall.  A hugely well-deserved nomination for a powerful and important series.  Congratulations and fingers crossed for the awards on the 23rd of November.

https://rts.org.uk/article/nominations-rts-craft-design-awards-2020-announced

9th November 2020

CJA Media Awards 2020

How to Stay Out of Jail has been nominated for the Criminal Justice Alliance Media Awards for 'Outstanding Documentary'. Huge congratulations to Jemma Gander and Martha Baily and the rest of the team who put together a film that the Guardian described as "...almost miraculously uplifting TV that would irrigate your spirit"

The awards are on the 26th of November. Another nice party we can't go to but we will be logging in and irrigating ourselves with spirits of another kind.

http://criminaljusticealliance.org/cja-media-awards-2020/

16th October 2020

FIREBALL

We are all excited to announce that our new feature length documentary "Fireball: Visitors from Darker Worlds" directed by Werner Herzog and Clive Oppenheimer is launching on Apple TV on November 13th.

Filmed across 2019 in Australia, America, Mexico, India, France, Germany, Norway and Antarctica.

"From pop-culture shivers to the fine-art imagery of micrometeorites — otherworldly particles gathered from everyday surfaces by a jazz musician in Norway and then magnified thousands of times — Fireball delivers the cosmic goods. Its climactic sequences, one on the ice fields of Antarctica and the other on tiny Mer Island, between Australia and Papua New Guinea, are alive with jaw-dropping, soul-stirring beauty. In the first locale, a hunt for meteorites is underway on the polar plateau. In the other, a ritual dance, long in disuse, is revived for the cameras on a remote sunset beach. In very different ways, both episodes place us firmly on a continuum with outer space, and find a kind of ecstasy in knowing that our place in the universe makes us far smaller and less essential than we imagine. " Hollywood Reporter (Read full review here)

Watch the trailer 

Production companies: Spring Films, Werner Herzog Film, Sandbox Films, Hot Docs Partners
Directors: Werner Herzog, Clive Oppenheimer
Screenwriter-narrator: Werner Herzog
Producers: André Singer, Lucki Stipetic
Executive producers: Richard Melman, Greg Boustead, Jessica Harrop, Anna Godas, Oli Harbottle
Director of photography: Peter Zeitlinger
Editor: Marco Capalbo
Music: Ernst Reijseger
International sales: Dogwoof

#Fireball November 13 on the @AppleTV app with an Apple TV+ subscription 

14th October 2020

Meeting Gorbachev to screen at UNAFF

Honoured that Meeting Gorbachev has been selected for the 23rd UNAFF (United Nations Association Film Festival). The event will be held online from October 15th-25th. It celebrates THE POWER OF EMPATHY through documentary films that highlight human rights issues, including environmentalism, racism, health, women’s issues, universal education, war and peace.  The film will have it's virtual screening on October 20th, 6pm PDT (California only!).  More info on the festival can be found at  UNAFF.