Pointing at the screen

DocPoint lifts its glass to ABBA.

Once again, the 13th annual DocPoint is kicking the year off in film festivals. Presenting the best Finnish and international documentaries of the year, the festival lands once again in the Capital Region from 28 January until 2 February. With a programme packed with over 100 films, seminars, lectures, workshops and concerts are also on the bill. From its humble beginnings, the numbers in attendance each year are in the vicinity of 30,000.

Films on offer traverse a variety of genres. A range of sporting flicks are on offer for our entertainment and education. The Armstrong Lie, arrives in a timely fashion, following the rise and fall of cyclist Lance Armstrong and his doping-stained career.

At the other end of the age scale, The Optimists tells the tale of a Norwegian women’s volleyball team for seniors. Time to refresh their skills, as these ladies haven’t played a match in 30 years.

Metal fans will get a kick out of Mission to Lars, as two siblings hope to help their brother Tom meet Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich. What makes their journey all the more remarkable is that Tom has autism.

Elsewhere, ABBA fans can get a kick out of the sing-along version of ABBA – The Movie, and punters can become acquainted with backup singers in 20 Feet From Stardom,

Elsewhere, the festival takes a look at energy production, family albums, borderlines, landescapes, new Finnish films, local student films and action. The main guest of the festival is award-winning documentary film maker Kim Longinotto.

Check out the festival website for more info!

James O’Sullivan