Alumni pool their talents for BBC documentary

Two creative talents from the University's alumni community have joined forces in the making of an Artworks Scotland programme, broadcast on BBC Scotland earlier this month.

DJCAD alumnus Gili Dolev, perhaps better known for his involvement in the University spin out company Ink Animations, was the subject of the programme, which was produced by English graduate Craig Collinson. Craig, a filmmaker with Edinburgh company Nobles Gate Ltd, spent two days at the Springfield Incubator Unit where Ink Animations is based, finding out about the company and investigating Dundee’s thriving animation scene.

Craig explains, "The programme had two themes. First of all we profiled Gili, and the amazing journey he has made from Israeli conscript to award winning animator. And secondly we looked at the position Dundee holds as a major player in Scotland’s animation industry."

The Artworks Scotland documentary was the latest work by Craig, who has carved a successful niche for himself in the filmmaking industry since graduating from the University in 1996. Commenting on his student days, he said, "I really enjoyed my time at University in Dundee, and I use the knowledge I gained from my degree every day."

A founding partner of the film company HeeHaw, which was established in 2000, Craig's second film won the Grierson Award for best documentary at the Edinburgh Film Festival last year. The winning film, entitled, ‘She Toon: City of Bingo’, saw Craig returning to Dundee to film his documentary, which celebrated Dundee’s infamously spirited and independent female population.

Craig left HeeHaw to take up a position with the film and television production company Nobles Gate Ltd this autumn. His most recent film, IM, which was commissioned by Scottish Screen, Scottish TV and Grampian TV under the New Found Land drama scheme, premiered at the Edinburgh International Film Festival this year, and will be broadcast on ITV in the New Year.