Doc’n Roll’s second annual Audience Award has been claimed by Pauline Black: A 2-Tone Story. Directed by acclaimed filmmaker and photojournalist Jane Mingay and produced by Nikki Parrott, it is an inspirational look at one artist’s life through the lens of music, identity and history – with, of course, a storming soundtrack.
Launched last year on the 10th anniversary of UK’s music documentary festival, the Doc’n Roll Audience Award invites everyone who attended screenings in London, around the UK and in Dublin to cast ballots for their favourites of the 26 feature-length films premiered during this year’s festival.
It’s an opportunity to turn the spotlight on the people whose support makes the UK's annual music documentary festival possible, observed Doc’n Roll co-directors and founders Colm Forde and Vanessa Lobon Garcia.
“Once again this year we were thrilled with the high level of engagement with our fan-voted award, with hundreds of people casting ballots. We were bowled over, not only by the praise given for films about artists that voters already knew, but also by the enthusiasm shown for films that allowed viewers to discover artists, scenes and stories that were new to them,” Lobon and Forde said.
Mingay: ‘Coming from the audience, it means everything’
Driven by the frank and insightful presence of Pauline Black herself, the documentary allows the Selecter frontwoman, songwriter, author and broadcaster to tell her extraordinary life story with the same honesty and determination that shaped her as an era-defining female musician.
Acknowledging the 2024 Doc’n Roll Audience Award honour, director Jane Mingay said: “I am extremely honoured and excited that our film has been given this award; coming from the audience, it means everything. This is why I make films: to have real impact and communication with the world and the viewer.
“It is a testament to the talent and social impact of Pauline Black’s legacy that the audience has chosen to recognise this film with the Audience Award. In this time of social turbulence and political extremes that mirror the era of 2-Tone music and movement, it is so wonderful to know that the voice of resistance is alive and well today,” she added.
“Pauline’s life is a guiding light to all – as a trailblazer she made her voice heard and changed society and we are all reaping the rewards of her perseverance and strength. It was great to be part of this all-female team, telling this narrative and raising the finance to make the film to do so – to be able to tell Pauline’s story from her direct point of view with no compromise. Pauline and I co-wrote the film together, I directed and Nikki Parrott of Tigerlily Productions produced the film.
“It has been a unique experience to take part in so many screenings and Q&As with Doc’n Roll, sharing Pauline’s story and seeing the warmth and empathy of the audience reaction. It was a real coming-together of people as a community. Thank you Doc’n Roll for making this happen and thank you so much to the audience for coming and sharing,” Mingay said.
During this year’s festival and beyond, Pauline Black: A 2-Tone Story has played to sell-out houses in London and around the UK, and in Dublin. Additional screenings are forthcoming in Exeter (4 December - sold out), Totnes (14 December) and Swansea (1 February at the Taliesin Arts Centre - tickets on sale early December), with further UK dates to follow in 2025.
Applause for fascinating, visually striking Dory Previn story
Dory Previn: On My Way To Where, directed by Julia Greenberg and Dianna Dilworth, drew the second highest number of votes in the 2024 Doc’n Roll Audience Award.
A fascinating and visually striking account of the Academy Award-nominated lyricist whose breakdown prefaced her re-emergence as a cult artist in the Laurel Canyon scene of the 1970s, Greenberg and Dilworth's documentary draws on Previn’s extensive archives of journals, recordings and artwork, with actor J. Smith-Cameron (Succession) reading the voices in Previn's head as she negotiated mental health, personal and professional challenges.
As the film attests, Previn’s musically inventive, lyrically fearless solo albums warrant a place alongside the best work of her contemporaries Joni Mitchell, Carole King and Carly Simon. In recent decades, Previn’s songs such as “The Lady With the Braid”, “Coldwater Canyon” and “Woman Soul” have become touchstones for artists from Jarvis Cocker to CMAT.
Audience acclaim for Ellen McIlwaine, Barbara Dane and Jackie Shane docs
Several other documentaries were rated highly by the Doc’n Roll festival-goers who voted in this year's awards.
Taking third place in the audience vote was Goddess of Slide: The Forgotten Story of Ellen McIlwaine, a beautifully told account of the Nashville-born singer, songwriter and guitarist who drew high praise from Jimi Hendrix and inspired countless female blues and rock performers in the US, her adoptive Canada and beyond. The documentary was directed by Alfonso Maiorana, whose co-directed documentary Rumble: The Indians Who Rocked the World won Doc’n Roll’s 2017 Jury Award.
Tied for fourth place were equally rich and memorable films about two trailblazers: The 9 Lives of Barbara Dane, Maureen Gosling’s moving tribute to the courageous jazz/folk/blues singer and anti-war activist, and Any Other Way: The Jackie Shane Story, directed by Michael Mabbott and Lucah Rosenberg-Lee, which won this year’s Doc'n Roll Jury Award.
Three documentaries tied for fifth place: Rob Curry’s Little Eden – The Bevis Frond; It’s All Gonna Break / Broken Social Scene, by Stephen Chung; and Philipp Fussenegger and Judy Landkammer’s Teaches of Peaches.
Other documentaries shown in this year’s Doc’n Roll festival that drew multiple mentions in the Audience Award ballot box included: Pretty Ugly: The Story of the Lunachicks; Scream of My Blood: A Gogol Bordello Story; Secret Lives: The Untold Story of British Hip-hop; Swamp Dogg Gets His Pool Painted; Born to be Wild – The Story of Steppenwolf; DEVO; Midnight Oil: The Hardest Line; Hakeem; Since Yesterday: The Untold Story of Scotland’s Girl Bands; and Garland Jeffreys – The King of In-Between.
You said it! Doc’n Rollers have the last word on docs that got their votes
PAULINE BLACK: A 2-TONE STORY
“Inspirational. The story of an heroic survivor.” – Rachael
“A powerful story from another era as relevant today as it ever was - confirmation of an iconic character, irresistibly infectiously exciting - and gut-wrenching in its actualisation of society’s deepest issues.” – John
“I’ve loved Pauline Black since my teenage years. She’s iconic in my eyes. I never knew her story or how she felt being a mixed-heritage woman – learned so much about her. What an intelligent, talented, inspiring, stylish lady! Totally in awe of meeting her after the film!” – Katherine
“Pauline Black is just such an inspirational person. Ground-breaking, talented, wise and wry. The documentary was such a compelling slice of life in middle England at that time, and then the frenzy of fame and what comes after.” – Vanessa
“I loved the life story of Pauline Black and the life journey she has been on. Never knew much about her before but now have a great respect for what she’s been through and what she’s accomplished. Would definitely recommend this film to everyone.” – Jack
DORY PREVIN: ON MY WAY TO WHERE
“Blown away by the beauty and depth of research of this amazing project. Let the world find out about this amazing woman. It filled me with so much joy and hope.” – Lorna
“Loved it! I didn't know anything about Dory before I saw the doc and so glad I now do. Cannot wait to dive into her music further.” – Paul
“It got to the real Dory.” – Stephen
“A world that could ever begin to forget Dory Previn doesn't deserve a documentary this great. Stunning archive material in an amazing story of mental health tragicomedy and rule-smashing genius. The only survivor from the era of the Great American Songbook to transition successfully to the singer-songwriter era of the 70s, and arguably the greatest of them all (sorry, Joni). It's like Sondheim came out of a mental hospital to sing guitar songs in huge shades and a Phil Spector wig. If you only knew her albums and memoirs you'd think her introverted and neurotic, but the doc shows her strong, brilliant, and uproarious. What a film.” – Nick
GODDESS OF SLIDE: THE FORGOTTEN STORY OF ELLEN MCILWAINE
“Bringing awareness to exceptional women musicians who rarely had the attention they truly deserved is vital for new generations of women artists. I’m in my fifties and still struggled to find these representations when I was a young guitarist. Such a shame Ellen didn’t live long enough to see how appreciated she truly was.” – Tina
“Heartfelt, moving and soul-touching.” – Bianca
“Goddess of Slide was amazing – it focused on highlighting and celebrating the life of a female artist who was criminally underrated. Shot impeccably and the story was shot with such respect and reverence.” – Fiona
“I felt deeply inspired, at times moved to tears, and it was one of the most warm, sensitively created documentaries I’ve ever seen.” – Matilda
“Beautifully crafted, incredibly emotional and a story about an extraordinary yet underrated musician that needs to be told.” – Grace
THE 9 LIVES OF BARBARA DANE
“Amazing film about an amazing woman and singer. Great music and politics.” – Steven
“The most inspiring film I’ve seen for ages.” – Marianne
“Fabulous singer/activist who l didn’t know before this. Wonderful film about a fabulous singer and activist. All the more powerful as she died just a week ago.” – Jill
“Barbara’s story and message is one the world needs just as much now as it was needed in her lifetime.” – Sam
ANY OTHER WAY: THE JACKIE SHANE STORY
“Illuminating and important” – Andrea
“Very moving film about an inspiring and incredible artist whose legacy deserves to live on and be known and shared. It was a beautiful tribute to being authentic to yourself and a wonderful piece of Black trans history that otherwise would be forgotten… Thank you to everyone who made this documentary possible and put a lot of love into it.” – Talulah
“An engaging film both visually and sound-wise. Well done!” – Shelley
IT’S ALL GONNA BREAK / BROKEN SOCIAL SCENE
“‘They all had their instruments and the camera was mine’: thank you to Stephen Chung for creating such an authentic and joyous film. This has been such a gift to me as a lifelong Broken Social Scene fan. Being able to witness the creation of ‘Almost Crimes’ as we know the song today was such an amazing experience. Thank you for capturing such natural footage of the joy, friendship, community and chaos of Broken Social Scene that allowed us as fans to feel as though we were there with you all in those backstage gatherings, parties, jams and hangouts. I cannot thank you enough for your persistence in making this incredible love-letter to a band whose fluidity, energy, chaos and love could not have been captured by anyone other than you.” – Phoebe
“Unbelievable footage from the very early days of the band and moments where songs are being constructed.” – Joe
“Captured some incredibly personal moments from the band and some lightning in a bottle moments from jam sessions and the studio.” – Siobhan
LITTLE EDEN – THE BEVIS FROND
“A great portrait of a wonderful musician.” – Gavin
“No talking heads, just an excellent film.” – Brian
PRETTY UGLY: THE STORY OF THE LUNACHICKS
“This was a fantastic film documenting the career of a very underrated band - the highs, lows and everything in between. Thank you for giving me the chance to see the film in the UK!” – Sophia
“Great documentary, knew nothing about the band but now know everything! Up there with the Anvil movie.” – Chris
“A vivid, honest and empowering portrayal of one of the most important group of female voices in music since their inception. An incredible watch.” – John
BORN TO BE WILD – THE STORY OF STEPPENWOLF
“It was such a multi-layered and fascinating story. They packed so much into the documentary. 5 stars!” – Rosie
“Brilliant film, so much history of the time and the band. It really opened my eyes about Steppenwolf. I’d recommend it to anyone interested in the band, the time and the music.” – Kent
SCREAM OF MY BLOOD: A GOGOL BORDELLO STORY
“This film taught me so much I didn't know about a band I always liked but never knew enough about. Then it went above and beyond with its historical background, meaning, personal perspectives, and current serious message regarding the war in Ukraine. As a child of an immigrant that was born in the dirt of WWII, to being an immigrant myself now living in England, this film taught me about myself too and so many of my immigrant friends. Powerful. Creative. Authentic.” – Belle
GARLAND JEFFREYS – THE KING OF IN-BETWEEN
“Really enjoyed the Q & A with Claire Jeffreys who explained the making of the film. The film was fantastic with amazing clips of Garland throughout his career. It was riveting and, as a huge fan, I loved it!” – Allan
TEACHES OF PEACHES
“Utterly compelled by Peaches to give far fewer fucks.” – Lucie