Carol Nahra welcomes filmmaker and senior lecturer at Goldsmiths, Daisy Asquith. Listen to their conversation and delve into Daisy's filmography.
In more than twenty years as a filmmaker, Daisy Asquith has told human stories the length and breadth of the UK, and beyond. They discuss her research into themes of shame and performance, as well as her relationships with the people she films. Theyalso discuss her latest project Momento, in which she is making personal memorial films for victims of COVID-19.
Filmmaker focus: Daisy Asquith
In more than twenty years as a filmmaker, Daisy Asquith has told human stories the length and breadth of the UK, and beyond.
She has also taken viewers into the world of clowns, young mums, Holocaust survivors and house clearers, in empathetic, nuanced portraits which have earned her multiple awards. She forms tight bonds with her subjects, some of whom she has been filming for many years.
My films are made in a personal way but I hope they have a political nature. The politics should come in the back door without [the viewer] noticing. If you’re having fun with [it], people don’t feel lectured. Everyone wants their documentary to change the world.
Daisy Asquith
Crazy About 1D / 2013 / 53 mins
In Crazy About 1D for Channel 4, Daisy memorably explored the legion of passionate One Direction fans. The response to her film was so vitriolic that she decided it was worthy of further study. The resulting PhD thesis This is Not Us focuses on performance, relationships and shame in documentary filmmaking. Daisy now runs the MA in Screen Documentary at Goldsmiths.
Queerama / 2017 / 1h 9min
Queerama started life as a 69 minute film for the BBC and BFI. The film has screened all over the world including South Korea, Russia and Romania. It was broadcast on BBC4 in July 2017. The film was made to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the partial decriminalisation of homosexuality in 1967.
Daisy Asquith tells the personal story of her mother’s conception after a dance in 1940s in Ireland, in an adventure in social and sexual morality.