Documentary
‘Algorithms’ shortlisted for Britain’s Grierson Awards
NEW DELHI: Algorithms, Ian McDonald’s award-winning documentary on India’s young blind chess players, is among films shortlisted for the prestigious Grierson Award in the Best newcomer documentary category.
The final nominations for the Grierson awards will be announced on 16 September prior to the awards ceremony in London on 3 November.
Excited about the nomination, the British filmmaker said, “We are really thrilled to make the shortlist. It is a great honour and it also means it will bring the story of India’s blind chess community to the attention of an audience in the UK and beyond.”
Directed by McDonald and produced by Indian producer Geetha J, the documentary has been screened at over twenty international film festivals and won six awards, including Best Film at Film SouthAsia in Kathmandu. It is the first ever feature documentary on Blind Chess.
Filmed over three years from just before the World Junior Blind Chess Championship in Sweden in 2009 to just after the next championship in Greece in 2011, it follows three talented boys from different parts of India and a totally blind player turned pioneer, who not only aims to situate India on a global stage but also wants all blind children to play chess
The New York based First Run Features, a leading distributor of independent films in America, acquired the North American rights to the film early this year.
Established in 1972, the Grierson Awards commemorate the pioneering Scottish documentary filmmaker John Grierson, widely regarded as the father of the documentary.
Documentary
Netflix and Warner Music ink landmark documentary deal
The streaming giant has just unlocked one of the richest vaults in music history. Its rivals should be worried
CALIFORNIA AND NEW YORK: Netflix and Warner Music Group have signed an exclusive multi-year deal to produce documentary series and films drawn from the label’s storied artist roster, the companies announced on Friday — a move that hands the streaming platform access to one of the most formidable catalogues in music history.
Warner Music Group represents legends including David Bowie, Cher, Fleetwood Mac, Aretha Franklin and Joni Mitchell, alongside contemporary superstars such as Charli XCX, Coldplay and Bruno Mars. That is a staggering breadth of material for a platform hungry for prestige content and subscriber growth to match.
Under the agreement, Warner Music will work with Unigram, the production company aligned with the label, which will serve as the studio for its long-form projects. Each title will be developed in collaboration with the artists themselves or their estates, ensuring the kind of intimate access that turns a documentary into an event.
The deal reflects an intensifying race between music-rights owners and streaming platforms eager to turn deep catalogues into premium visual content. Music documentaries have become a vehicle for fan-driven, culturally resonant programming — a trend underscored by Taylor Swift’s “Eras Tour” film, which grossed over $260 million globally and reminded every platform chief just how lucrative the genre can be.
Netflix already boasts formidable credentials in music storytelling, with “Homecoming: A Film by Beyoncé” and “Quincy” among its highest-profile releases. The Warner deal sharpens that edge considerably. Rival platforms have not been idle: Disney+ has released “The Beach Boys”, while Max has drawn attention with “Stax: Soulsville U.S.A.” Apple Music, meanwhile, has pushed into original content through its Apple Music Live series, producing documentaries and livestreamed concerts featuring Harry Styles and Billie Eilish.
The battle for music’s visual soul, then, is well and truly on. Netflix has just made its boldest move yet.
