I’m a BAFTA Scotland winning non-fiction filmmaker from Scotland, whose left-field films are known for their heart and their humour.
Some audiences have described my work as “skew-whiff, deliciously deadpan and funny as f*ck...” whilst others have slammed it as “poignant, beautiful and devastating”.
I cut my documentary teeth studying filmmaking at Edinburgh College of Art 2011-2013, before working at the internationally renowned Scottish Documentary Institute 2013-2015 and then setting up as a freelancer and starting my own production company Relative Films in 2016.
I embed both the filmmaking journey and me as a filmmaker firmly within the narrative of my work. This self-aware style leads to a playful and more honest approach to my documentaries.
I typically film what and who I’m curious about.
I want less facts, more truth.
I’ve made the following short films...
- Outlets (2022)
- Desire Lines (2022)
- Sighscape (2022)
- In the Company of Insects (2020)
- Just Agree Then (2018)
- Taking Stock (2017)
- Alexithymia (2016)
- Isabella (2016)
- Directed by Tweedie (2015)
- Radio Silence (2014)
- The Lady with the Lamp (2012)
All of these shorts screened at film festivals across the UK and internationally, including many A-list festivals such as BFI London Film Fest and Edinburgh International Film Festival.
These short films have won me a selection of awards including a BAFTA Scotland Award. I’ve also had some nominations like being twice shortlisted for a London Critics Circle Awards for Best British Short Film. Check out some of my press highlights here.
I wrote, directed and presented this six episode TV series Scary Adult Things for BBC Scotland in 2021.
My first theatrical feature film Silent Men is on the way, supported by Screen Scotland & The Whickers.
I’ve directed 20 Duncan & Duncan short films for the acclaimed BBC TV show A View from the Terrace.
TED once commissioned me to make a film to be shown at their annual conference called It’s Not Amazing Enough, and one year I was asked to make The Ultimate Xmas Advert by Adobe and It’s Nice That. I’ve also created two pieces of radio for Josie Long’s BBC Radio 4 podcast Short Cuts called Get Pierced and The Awkward Encounter.
To sum up. I’ve been commissioned by cool people with good taste such as Channel 4, BBC, STV, BBC Radio 4, TED, Adobe, Red Bull and more.
If you’d like to get in touch, my email address is duncan@duncancowles.com
P.S.
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