Dalmatian Films

26/08/2024

16/07/2024

We're heading back to BOLTON this October. Thanks Bolton Film Festival for selecting Recomposing Earth in this year's documentary shorts competition. 🌱

09/07/2024

Our new documentary RECOMPOSING EARTH is officially heading out on the road. Selected from 7,000 submissions, it will have its festival world premiere at the Oscar/BAFTA-qualifying Flickers' Rhode Island International Film Festival.

🇺🇸🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇬🇧

Under two feet of peaty soil in Orkney, lies the only recording of Scottish composer Erland Cooper's unheard album. In an entirely unique attempt to collaborate with the natural world, it would be an experiment on patience, art and value. Will the tape emerge silent, and does it matter if it does?

Recomposing Earth takes you into the mind of an artist and the magic of the Orkney Islands that inspire him, with a story that reminds us of music's importance as an expression of the human condition. With interviews including Paul Weller and Sir Ian Rankin.

Director Christian Cargill launched into the documentary space in 2022 with his first short Heart Valley (Winner of Tribeca Festival and the BAFTA Cymru Award for Short Film), with score composed by Erland Cooper. For this next project Cargill turns his lens on the enigmatic musician himself.

Documentary Short Competition, August 2024

25/06/2024

Under two feet of peaty soil in Orkney, lies the only recording of Scottish composer Erland Cooper’s unheard album. In an entirely unique attempt to collaborate…

01/06/2024

A week today RECOMPOSING EARTH has its debut at the mightily huge Barbican Centre Hall. A lot of love and thanks to everyone who've bought tickets already. The documentary will preview before a live performance of the tape, however it sounds, from Erland Cooper and a chamber string ensemble. So is set to be quite a special one. A few extra circle tickets have just released, you can grab yours here:
https://biturl.top/AvuM7f

Under two feet of peaty soil in Orkney, lies the only recording of Scottish composer Erland Cooper’s unheard album. In an entirely unique attempt to collaborate with the natural world, it would be an experiment on patience, art and value. Will the tape emerge silent, and does it matter if it does?

Recomposing Earth takes you into the mind of an artist and the magic of the Orkney Islands that inspire him, with a story that reminds us of music's importance as an expression of the human condition. With interviews including Paul Weller and Ian Rankin.

Directed, Produced & Cinematography by Christian Cargill
Produced by John Bannister
Edited by Kevin Corry
Edit Produced by Daniel Breheny
Music by Erland Cooper
Colour by Max Ferguson-Hook
Sound Design & Mix by Guy Chase
Title Design by Jon Evans

A Dalmatian Films Production

01/05/2024

Announcing today with The BFI x Doc Society, our next documentary ‘WOLF' (wt). A defining artist of his generation, Patrick Wolf rose to fame in the 2000s before a sudden disappearance from music. Part love letter to his newfound home by the sea, the forty minute film blends present-day with a rich collection of personal archive, chronicling a journey of hope that has seen Patrick overcome immense personal battles in his acclaimed return to music.

It's been a privilege to get to know Patrick and document his story over the last year. Like Heart Valley, we started shooting the project with discussions, ideas and crucially no financing. To be making the film today with The BFI Doc Society, who believed in the vision and were willing to back it with National Lottery funding, is incredibly special.

19/01/2024

From Dalmatian Films and The New Yorker, 'Heart Valley' is a loving portrait following a day in the life of Welsh shepherd Evan Wilf Davies.

Winner of Tribeca Film Festival and the BAFTA Cymru Award for Best Short Film, the short was described by author David Nicholls (One Day) as “an absolute gem of a documentary; sensitively made, touching and tender”.

Watch now on BBC iPlayer and all The New Yorker platforms.

Following a day in the life of Welsh shepherd Wilf Davies.