Now in its third year, the London International Documentary Festival has emerged as one of the most important documentary film festivals in Europe.  The LIDF is unique among film festivals in that they don’t just screen films and send you home.  Instead, they create an event around each film screening, which also includes comments and Q&A with the filmmakers, critical discussion with some of the UK’s foremost film critics and ample opportunity for audience participation.  “Unlike other film festivals, the LIDF doesn’t stop when the film finishes. The festival aims to provide a platform for some sort of response. Our films have been carefully selected, not only on their quality and content – although that is crucial – but also because of the themes they refer to. By giving our audience the opportunity to talk to the filmmaker and others affected by the subject matter, we hope to encourage rounded debate and even evince real change.” said Patrick Hazard, LIDF Director.

Among this year’s most controversial documentaries at the LIDF, is “Virtual JFK: Vietnam If Kennedy Had Lived”, a speculative, “what if” type documentary that considers the question what would have happened in Vietnam if Kennedy had lived and been re-elected? Using recently declassified documents, rarely seen television footage, photographic and archive material, this film explores Kennedy’s record on the issues of war and peace in Vietnam, the Bay of Pigs, and other notable crises during his comparatively short time in office as the basis for a wider debate on presidential decision-making in the US. The UK premiere of Virtual JFK is at the LIDF on April, 3rd.  See all the LIDF 2009 films.  Browse more events in London.

Related posts:

1. Filmbooth: The biggest little film festival in India By Western standards, India is a collectivist culture.  American...
2. DocuDay: Oscar-nominated documentary screening All of the Academy Award-nominated documentaries this year will...