Each year we ask members of our selections committee to talk about their favourite films of the festival, using their own words. Its important to highlight, that selections committee members are not involved in festival judging.

With such a tremendous latitude and intensity of titles on offer this, our seventh year, I questioned my profundity regarding the enormity of the task set: namely, highlighting several entries ‘not to be missed’. Four titles from so many being shown? It’s just not cricket to ask. But faint heart ne’er won fair lady, so try I must.

It's confession time, I love a good documentary – with the emphasis on good. Which fundamentally means: Finding a subject matter and translating it into a great story and unquestionably, being as technically proficient as possible. It doesn’t sound much, does it? But in truth it’s an infrequent beast that’s all too often strangely difficult to track down.

‘Langford Tales’ is a delightfully poetic documentary by Theo Maximilian Goble that could easily have been two hours and I would have wanted more! It speaks to the village of Langford, Bedfordshire, and in particular the contrasting, captivating Second World War tales of those who went off to fight and just as importantly, those that were left behind. With super writing, directing and photography, immaculate research (including archive stills and movie footage) and quite simply one of the best scores you'll hear for a very long time this is undoubtedly one to highlight in your program.

‘Eric Ravilious – Drawn to War’ is another documentary that meets the criteria, and some. Director, Margy Kinmonth has produced an informative and performative documentary of the highest order, that perfectly conveys onto the screen the incredible talents of Ravilious and his truly wonderful watercolours. She creatively illustrates the peaceful and foreboding, the romantic and ominous, the childlike and almost disquieting aura of this unique artist. This is technically faultless in every department and includes a most perfectly aligned score. With outstanding research that beautifully manifested itself via film, photography, locations, reconstructions, rostrum, animation, and a vast array of interesting and knowledgeable talking heads, this really does have the lot!

Of course, a good narrative suspends time and the following feature and short froze it in the most elegant and enjoyable of ways. Powerful characters and storylines are a must, as are aspirations for technical and creative artistry. It isn’t easy, but these next two achieved it with flying colours.