Franny Armstrong

Franny's first documentary, "McLibel" (1997, 2005), told the inside story of the infamous McDonald's libel trial. Filmed over ten years with no commission, no budget and a voluntary crew - including Ken Loach, who directed the courtroom reconstructions - it shot to notoriety after getting stopped by lawyers at first BBC1 and then Channel 4 on its first release in 1997. Eight years later - after the "McLibel Two" had defeated the British government at the European Court of Human Rights - it was finally broadcast on BBC2, to excellent viewing figures (1 million at 10:30pm on Sunday) and fantastic reviews. It was then broadcast on TV in 15 countries - including Australia, Canada & America - and released on DVD worldwide. Cinema Libre distributors released "McLibel" in American cinemas and DVD stores in Summer 2005 and "Revelation" followed in the UK in 2006. "McLibel" was nominated for (but never won) numerous awards, including the Grierson Documentary Award and the British Independent Film Awards.

It was recently picked as one of only two UK films in the the British Film Institute's prestigious series, "Ten Documentaries Which Changed The World" (the other being no less than Michael Buerk's Ethopia report, which led to Live Aid).

Franny's second feature doc, "Drowned Out"(2002), follows an Indian family who choose to stay at home and drown rather than make way for the Narmada Dam. It too sold to TV round the world, was nominated for Best Documentary at the British Independent Film Awards 2004 and was released theatrically in America and on DVD worldwide in 2006.

With zero backing from the UK TV industry, Franny's films have been seen by more than 56 million people.