Annika Ranin graduated from out MA Film Distribution and Marketing course in 2018 and is now a Filmmaker and Producer. She spoke to us about the release of her recent film, Boarders, and the creative process behind it.
In Annika's own words, "Boarders is a feature documentary about British Skateboarding. The film explores the fascinating and controversial moment in time for the "sport" where the growing commercial expectations meet the rule-breaking ethos of skateboarding. Considered by many practitioners as a lifestyle and an art form rather than a sport, Boarders addresses a key talking point in the skate community of weather skateboarding will change as a result of the Olympics."
The film follows the aspiring GB Olympic Skateboarding team including X games gold medallist Sam Beckett, Alex Hallford, Jordan Thackeray and Alex Decunha, while also examining the sport’s recent rise in popularity and the history of skateboarding in the UK with the use of extensive and rare archival footage spanning over six decades.
"My name is Annika Ranin, filmmaker and producer. I completed my degree at BCU and graduated in 2018 with a Masters in Film Distribution and Marketing. After completing the degree, I went onto to work in film finance as an investment associate at the Fyzz Facility, which at the time was an international film finance company. I have always wanted to produce and my aim with the degree as well as my work in finance has been to learn the business side of the industry to be able to produce my own work.
The idea for Boarders came in 2017 while developing a project for a module as part of my studies. During my MA we were tasked to put together a feature film project that could work for a brand partnership; I imagined a documentary film that would focus around British skateboarding ahead of the sports inclusion in the Olympics. After the module was finished, and I graduated, I ended up working in film finance and put the project to rest for a while. Then later on in 2019, I picked up the idea again and started to pursue actually making the film.
We started filming in in November 2019 and filmed on and off for about 12 months. We finished the editing in February 2021, and then sold the film to a UK distributor in April 2021. We are currently negotiating US distribution for the film.
For me the film was never about who makes it to the Olympics, even though the film touches on the Olympic qualification process. The centre of the film is the idea that skateboarding is included for the first-time and the various responses to that. As you know a lot of people are dubious about it, and I think that the sentiment of protecting what you love from massive commercial influences is a relatable position, even though there are great benefits to be had from the Olympics and the heightened interest, including more facilities and investment etc.
As we were filming for such a long time, the narrative of the film kept shifting; as things happened to the main characters we found ourselves constantly thinking about the narrative, three act structure, character journeys etc. This is something I love about documentary films as the movie unfolds in front of you while making it.
Before we started making the film, I was quite worried about being accepted to make this film. I am not a skateboarder myself and I am not British either, so I was worried that there would be some push back but in retrospect I could not have been more wrong. People were really open to talking to me and excited to share their stories, and their footage or collaborate some other way. It has been a great experience to be able to take a deep dive into the skateboarding world this way."
Watch the full Boarders documentary feature
Follow Annika and her work on Twitter, Instagram or via her website. To get in touch, email annika@annikaranin.com.
