Daniel Friederich, Luthier d’Art – documentary film by Jeff Cogan, edited by Armando Diaz.
Film Festival Awards
Daniel Friederich, Luthier d’Art has won awards at film festivals and competitions. For example, the Woodstock Museum Film Festival (2016) in addition to the Accolade Global Film Competition (2015).
Daniel Friederich, the greatest guitar builder in history
Jeff Cogan purchased a guitar from Daniel Friederich in 2005. He was joined by his close friend, French guitarist Olivier Chassain, at the Friederich “atelier” (workshop). During Chassain’s chat with the builder, Cogan set about photographing the wood, tools, workbenches as well as Friederich. Subsequently (10 years later), he revisited the workshop on the Rue Sergent Bouchat to interview Friederich. This would become the basis of the acclaimed documentary film detailing the life and work of Daniel Friederich.
Interviews with the “stars of the guitar”
The film features interviews with Daniel Friederich, as well as many well known contributors to the classical guitar world. For instance: Pepe Romero, Jack Sanders, Alvaro Pierri, Zoran Dukic, Stein-Erik Olsen, Gaelle Soleil, Scott Tennant, Bernard Malliot, Olivier Chassain, Greg Byers, Yuris Zeltans, and others.
The Friederich “atelier” in Paris, France (2014)
Jeff Cogan observed the various processes used in the construction of the classical guitar during his visit to the Friederich “atelier”. Most importantly, Friederich shared his meticulous documentation, technical designs, measurements and specifications used in his unique process. Friederich’s early instruments were inspired by those made by historic builders. Examples are René Lacote and Robert Bouchet from France as well as Antonio Torres and Francisco Simplicio from Spain. As a result, he developed his own style of building that certainly made his instruments truly unique.
