Interview with filmmaker Charlie Shackleton at Documenta Madrid 2026

This interview explores the creative journey behind some of Charlie Shackleton‘s most acclaimed works and offers invaluable insights into the art of storytelling, with a twist. What happens when you create new works from existing footage or when things don’t go according to plan?

We talk to the winner of the NEXT Innovation Award at last year’s Sundance, while in Spain for a retrospective of his work as part of this year’s Documenta Madrid.

The Art of Re-telling Stories

Charlie Shackleton’s work is characterised by a deliberate exploration of form and content. Whether creating a film that exists as a single 35-millimetre print by constructing an intricate collage of archival footage or a documentary based on a failed film project, his work challenges traditional cinematic boundaries. In this interview, he emphasises the importance of fragility and impermanence, characteristics that add a poetic layer to his creations. This innovative mindset turns each film into a reflection on mortality, time, and memory, inviting viewers to reconsider the meanings of cinema.

An Innovative Approach to Filmmaking

Charlie Shackleton‘s approach often involves working within constraints, which paradoxically fuels creative innovation. For example, “The Afterlight” (2021), one of the films shown at Documenta Madrid, exists as a single 35mm print that deteriorates with each screening, inevitably leading to its eventual disappearance. This emphasises the fleeting nature of existence and of the art object, making every viewing a unique experience. This dedication to experimentation cements his reputation as a visionary in contemporary filmmaking.

This feature-length experimental film is a collage composed of hundreds of fragments from early 20th-century fiction films from around the world. The piece delves into the archival and fragile nature of film history, highlighting the importance of preservation and the passage of time.

When A Failed Fiction Film Project Becomes a Documentary

Another notable film selected for Documenta Madrid this year is “Zodiac Killer Project” (2025).  When Charlie Shackleton found out that the true-crime documentary film he had been working on for years would never be made because clearing the rights to the book it was based on was impossible, he was frustrated but decided to make a documentary about his experience instead.  Consisting of a series of long takes on would-be film locations, fragments from various true-crime TV series, Charlie Shackleton‘s voiceover (and some behind-the-scenes footage), the film is a humorous account of the process of making a true-crime documentary that ultimately never materialised. By blending elements of documentary and video essay, the film critiques genre conventions while maintaining a personal and reflective tone. Another example of how his work consistently pushes the boundaries between traditional filmmaking and experimental media, showcasing their versatility and depth as a filmmaker.