‘Flood’ Director Katy Scoggin on Exploring Her Own Escape From Christian Fundamentalism in Visions du Réel Doc (EXCLUSIVE)
15.04.2024 - 13:01
/ variety.com
Annika Pham New York-based director/producer Katy Scoggin has worked with high-profile U.S. documentary filmmaker/journalist Laura Poitras on two shorts and three features, notably as co-producer and DP on Poitras’ Oscar-winner “Citizenfour” and Cannes Directors’ Fortnight’s “Risk.” Poitras now serves as executive producer on Scoggin’s feature debut “Flood,” one of six creative documentaries to be pitched as works in progress April 16, at the Visions du Réel festival in Nyon, Switzerland. “Flood” centers on Scoggin’s journey to repair her relationship with her former missionary father, with whom she has become estranged.
As the story unfolds, she relies on evolution to try to grasp change over time: in the fossil record, in American evangelicalism and in her own shift away from her parents’ religion and back home to reconnect. The documentary was produced by Scoggin and Will Lennon for Archelon Films, and executive produced by Poitras, Nico Opper and Adam Blackman. It received support from ITVS, the Alfred P.
Sloan Foundation, the Sundance Institute, Film Independent, DCTV, Doc NYC, the NYU Production Lab, Gotham Documentary Lab, MacDowell, Logan Nonfiction, Women Make Movies and BAVC Media. Delivery is scheduled for later this year. We spoke to Scoggin ahead of Visions du Réel.
First of all, you’ve collaborated with doc luminary Laura Poitras on many of her award-winning films. What would you say you have learnt from working with her? Katy Scoggin: Most of what I know about verité-filmmaking comes from working with Laura. I started as an intern, then evolved as an associate producer, a co-producer and camera person.