I have submitted

After 6 years and 3 months (fast, slow, slow, slow, fast) on January 6, 2023 I submitted my film and written thesis.

The final title is ‘Attending, listening, taking time: the quietly radical ethical practice of the filmmaker Jenny Gilbertson.’ It considers the extractive and assimilatory nature of documentary filmmaking and looks to Jenny Gilbertson’s practice of attention as a way to foreground those you film and film with, creating a way of working and making that strives to recognise, respect and reciprocate.

I had my viva on February 8th. Thank you to Susan Berridge (chair), Barbara Evans (external), Maria Velez Serna and Elizabeth Ezra for one of the best hours of my life and for doing this so promptly in the light of my impending neurosurgery. And thank you to my supervisor Sarah Neely for the years of support, advice and for willing me on. Thank you to everyone who willed me on. I will write about my thanking at a later date.

And, yes, I wore an Oodie to my viva. I was so excited and absorbed, I let the fire go out.

Wildie and Lalla (2021)

An honouring of Jessie Saxby (Wildie) (1842-1940) through her writings and love of her late daughter, Lalla.

Commissioned by Shetland Arts and Creative Scotland.

Words and music Catriona Macdonald

Cinematography and editing Shona Main

Editing Angelica Kroeger

March 2020: going back to Grise Fiord

I am packing and readying to head back to Grise Fiord to see the people who helped me when I was there in 2018. I will show them the film I have made on my experience of following Jenny Gilbertson to and around Grise Fiord. After listening to their responses and thinking with their thoughts I will make the necessary changes so they are at ease with how they and their community is represented.

I will be there for just under three weeks so I will have a bit of time to experience Grise Fiord in Early Spring, do some more filming and recording and enjoy the company of friends. Thereafter I will return to Scotland to do the finishing edit, complete my written thesis and submit.

UPDATE: This trip has been postponed. Be safe, Nunavummuit.

‘Jenny’s Arctic Diary’ goes home after 40 years

It turns out this was the first ever public screening of the film in Grise Fiord.

Lovely screening of Gilbertson's 'Jenny's Arctic Diary' in Grise Fiord Hamlet last night. pic.twitter.com/enwGGRqvLx

— shonamain (@shonamain) October 6, 2018

With thanks to Qiniq (Grise Fiord’s internet provider)

The joy of filming ice forming while @carlacap sends me updates from the Terry Gilliam talk @cinetecabologna pic.twitter.com/I1zLwXVbJI

— shonamain (@shonamain) September 28, 2018