Sheffield DocFest
sheffield docfest formerly styled sheffield docfest abbrsheffield international documentary festival sidf international documentary festival industry marketplace held annually sheffield england festival revolves around film screening interactive virtual reality exhibition talk session marketplace talent funding distribution documentary development filmmaker live event award since beginning docfest become uk biggest documentary festival third largest world public service broadcaster bbc described one leading showcase documentary film year festival held venue across sheffield surrounding area including light cinema sheffield town hall sheffield city hall docfest exchange tudor square developed wellcome trust fun key element festival hold many party festival gained popularity steadily recent year docfest screening help many film achieve wider audience attracting distribution screening opportunity film show sheffield docfests marketplace talent segment major part festival includes meetmarket film series achieve funding distribution alternate reality market interactive virtual reality project live pitch training initiative interactive immersive virtual reality documentary also central element festival interactive exhibition commissioned work scattered across city alternate reality summit taking place entire day festival addition festival day june sheffield docfest present yearround workshop screening lab mentoring opportunity uk internationally peter symes bbc tv feature bristol idea creating forum british documentary filmmaker debate discus craft set festival board included representative channel united artist discovery channel central independent television granada television chose hold festival sheffield english industrial town beginning develop medium cultural sector first sheffield international documentary festival held formatted international film festival conference documentary professional included film programme one two masterclasses party lasted two day mainly attracted londonbased filmmaker producer plus several international commissioner distributor next eight year festival continued around delegate attending total audience reaching around festival became opportunity londonbased independent filmmaker talk commissioner bbc channel otherwise difficult reach success festival might mean landing job coming year docfest attracted mostly uk delegate enjoyed almost screening session admission however change factual television marketplace time docfest move primarily craftbased event increase marketplace activity chairman time steve hewlett visited australian international documentary conference aidc met director heather croall background filmmaking founded crossplatform storytelling event digidocs invited croall come work festival subsequently festival director ceo early turning around festival fortune rise international coproductions meant british producer could longer rely solely one big broadcaster entire budget instead look abroad piece together financing film internationalise festival help filmmaker achieve financing croall introduced meetmarket pitching forum filmmaker pitch idea funders onetoone meeting meetmarket developed help karolina lidin marketplace executive producer since developed first meetmarket croall aidc later brought sheffield croall also introduced digitalfocused summit crossover market alternate reality talent market – like meetmarket – pair buyer commissioner game designer technologist producer digital agency filmmaker looking tell story interactive realm hussain currimbhoy joined programmer docfest early advocate crowdfunding source finance documentary filmmaker staged first festivalbased crowdfunding pitching event also industry first campaign launched indiegogo goal raise k festival help stage special event exceeded target festival moved november june better fit industry calendar ensure better weather lighter evening visitor selected highlight festival often played bfi southbank london festival began producing film project including sea land beyond big melt festival became recognised academy award oscarqualifying festival best documentary short subject category docfest short doc award winner eligible enter consideration many docfest short doc awardwinning film gone shortlisted oscar docfest presented film including beyond clueless love latitude festival sigur ro scored archive film show show year vaudeville circus carnival montage heck sound cosmos number short also featured partnership continued docfest brought selection virtual reality project latitude first time alongside curated programme short highlevel staff change deputy director charlie phillips left head documentary arm guardian director berwick film medium art festival melanie iredale taking position director programming hussain currimbhoy left sundance film festival former executive content adviser independent television service itvs claire aguilar becoming head programming industry engagement croall returned australia become artistic director ceo adelaide fringe following heather departure crossover lab director mark atkin stepped acting director festival liz mcintyre discovery network joined ceo festival director september mcintyres appointment festival championed diverse pluralist voice inclusiveness accessibility example creating crèche service introducing british sign language interpreted talk dementiafriendly screening docdinner championing diverse talent within industry door doc scheme affording reduced rate entry screening hardtoreach area sheffield highlevel staff appointment luke moody formerly britdoc doc society joined director film programming replacing head programming industry engagement claire aguilar former dogwoof distribution manager patrick hurley joined head marketplace talent replacing marketplace manager anna parker bbc dan tucker joined curator alternate reality following delivery th anniversary festival liz mcintyre stepped ceo festival director deputy director melanie iredale stepped interim director lead edition whilst organisation began search new director following edition director film programming luke moody resigned challenging tension board programme internationalism comment made bfis sight sound magazine announced organisation successfully applied charitable status year operating subsidiary sheffield medium exhibition centre smec organisation became independent registered charity time announced chair board trustee alex graham would step following nine year service former codirector portuguese film festival doclisboa cíntia gil would join festival director regarding move charitable status gil said become charity opportunity provide u space public service interest filmmaker artist publicsheffield docfest festival committed value freedom social engagement collective development art therefore purpose work becomes even clearer new status gil oversaw curation festival due take place june year cancelled original form due covid pandemic film programme moved online screening festival pitching forum meetmarket alternate reality talent market also taking place online festival also committed hosting series autumn film screening community engagement activity sheffield cinema reopened late festival appointed alex cooke chair board trustee cooke ceo executive producer one cofounder renegade picture festival programmer sheffield docfest programming film masterclasses despite pressure programming pandemic festival returned cinema th edition june august announced following two year festival director cíntia gil stepped director partnership sylvia bednarz acted interim managing director festival moved towards planning edition later festival appointed clare stewart former director sydney film festival – bfi london film festival – interim ceo stewart joined steer festival work alongside board trustee develop new longterm strategy festival included introduction new jointleadership model developing role managing creative director lead festival stewart leadership festival appointed raul niño zambrano previously senior film programmer idfa head film programme festival celebrated predominantly inperson edition following pandemic festival zambrano promoted acting creative director festival began search managing director following stewart term interim ceo festival appointed annabel grundy formerly bfi managing director work alongside zambrano jointleadership model developed stewart week festival organisation celebrated th edition zambrano promoted permanent role creative director following successful year acting creative director th sheffield docfest took place – june film programme comprised film feature short including world premiere international premiere european premiere uk premiere retrospective film country production language represented project exhibited alternate reality programme project presented meetmarket pitching forum festival expanded offering include theatre production live podcast event well premiere new tv series world premiere paul sngs tish opened festival sheffield city hall film previously pitched meetmarket festival also celebrated work renowned iranian filmmaker rakhshan banietemad guest honour screening retrospective work well world premiere short film narrative ad hominem complement retrospective festival also screened selection title offered different perspective iran including film mania akbari mehran tamadon talk session programme welcomed guest munya chawawa david olusoga rose aylingellis laura whitemore david harewood following success talent initiative led asif kapadia festival welcomed filmmaker kevin macdonald mentor filmmaker challenge initiative challenged six earlycareer filmmaker make documentary one day drawing festival tagline th edition sparking curiosity th sheffield docfest took place – june first predominantly inperson edition since pandemic saw industry delegate taking meeting participating pitching session inperson first time since festival attracted inperson admission online admission welcomed delegate country festival opened uk premiere moonage daydream brett morgan sheffield city hall ziggy stardust performed year prior programme included film country world premiere international premiere european premiere uk premiere project exhibited alternate reality programme project pitched meetmarket festival saw world premiere werner herzogs fire within requiem katie maurice krafft yorkshire title bunch amateur kim hopkins audience award sansón rodrigo reyes took top prize international competition rosa ruth boestens master light previously pitched meetmarket first feature competition award awardwinning filmmaker asif kapadia welcomed guest curator curated selection film programme significant impact journey filmmaker kapadia also spearheaded talent initiative challenged six filmmaker make short documentary around sheffield festival initiative supported amazon studio canon kurious part special programme section festival celebrated work ukrainian documentary maker kicked british council ukrainian institute ukukraine season culture programme ukraine focus password palianytsia included selection film ukrainian filmmaker due screen docudays ua festival postponed due russian invasion ukraine docudays ua curated screening talk delegation visiting ukrainianfilmmakers supported british council amongst film event notable guest featured talk session programme included pratibha parmar asif kapadia editor chris king nainta desai charlie craggs ellie simmonds young clive myrie community programme made link across film alternate reality industry programme collaborated local audience broaden engagement across festival amongst event programme included group walk discussion right roam uk history trespass art therapy workshop also saw festival support firsttime local filmmaker free pass attend festival th sheffield docfest took place – june hybrid format online physically sheffield partner cinema across uk inperson film screening sheffield took place showroom cinema historic cinema abbeydale picture house exhibition took place across artspace site gallery sheffield hallam university performance lab festival opened european premiere summer soul questlove closed world premiere story looking mark cousin previously pitched meetmarket programme led gil included film submission world premiere international premiere european premiere uk premiere across country language represented film programme included guest curated retrospective black british cinema saw curatorial contribution mark sealy parable campbell x dir stud life judah attille karen alexander george amponsah film programme also welcomed new northern focus strand curated festival industry programme producer manon euler film programme coordinator owen jones film programme producer mita suri strand spotlighted film filmmaker northern county england included amongst selection kim flitcrofts tale hard city documentary set sheffield first premiered festival speaker festival talk session programme included david olusoga lydia lunch mark cousin betsy west julie cohen amongst others docfest exchange programme supported wellcome trust explored world nonhuman centred lens programme curated jamie allan drew influence evolutionary theory life evolved symbiosis organism coming together form organism programme included talk workshop well film screening including title karrabing film collective indigenous filmmaking group northern territory gunda viktor kossakovsky well oneoff mm screening claude nuridsany marie pérennous documentary microcosmos festival also developed community programme partnership people artist organisation basedin sheffield programme featured dedicated community screening live performance online workshop inperson workshop festival partnered sheffieldbased migration matter festival uk largest festival sanctuary refugee bring free mobile broadband online festival pass refugee seeking asylum sheffield community programme offered free discounted ticket needed support attend lowincome background effort tackle social isolation th sheffield docfest due take place – june however due covid pandemic cancelled original form planned film activity moved online format programme included film country representing spoken language world premiere international premiere european premiere uk premiere programme featured firsttime filmmaker film available watch online festival videoondemand platform docplayer industry delegate selection title made available uk audience via sheffield docfest selects streaming platform festival qas panel industry session moved virtual format artist spotlight series launched online highlight maker project selected alternate reality programme festival pitching forum meetmarket alternate reality talent market also took place online autumn cinema temporarily reopened following lockdown festival hosted number weekend screening qas bring film official selection audience sheffield th sheffield docfest held – june attracted admission previous year industry delegate visiting country festival opened sheffield city hall uk premiere diego maradona asif kapadia programme featured documentary world premiere international european uk premiere film chosen submission pool country around world programme included rest ai weiwei nomad footstep bruce chatwin werner herzog midnight family luke lorentzen earth nikolaus geyrhalter one child nation nanfu wang love archana atul phadke sama waad alkateab edward watt alternate reality programme featured project included subconscious sensibility – exhibition virtual augmented reality game interactive documentary largescale digital installation site gallery converging sensibility hallam performance lab collection ° documentary presented vr cinema vr experience festival included echo georgie pinn le lac nyasha kadandara algorithmic perfumery frederik duerinck spectre bill poster dr daniel howe – sheffield docfest commission partnership site gallery british council mutek support art council england speaker shared experience th sheffield docfest talk session programme included werner herzog paul greengrass jenn nkiru asif kapadia chidera eggerue stacey dooley rodney p michael dapaah jeremy deller paddy wivell industry session programme included big break featuring roxy rezvany ellie flynn eliza capai discussing career high low breaking class ceiling danny leigh fiona campbell kieran yates billy porter mia bay paul sng exploring barrier entry industry decision maker country attended festival including executive netflix arte bbc channel cinereach doc society dogwoof altitude submarine entertainment espn national geographic pov ryot artangel passion picture pulse film two day team took approximately matchmade meeting decision maker meetmarket alternate reality talent market th edition sheffield docfest held – june event took place – june record total audience attended including industry delegate travelled country public audience virtual audience experiencing festival livestream film programme hosted record film world premiere international european uk premiere film programme boasted premiere including daisy asquiths queerama opening night film scored john grant laura poitras new julian assange documentary risk whitney nick broomfield winnie pascale lamche originated docfests meetmarket alternate reality programme featured project world premiere international european uk vr experience festival included chasing coral vr experience presented dome accompanied feature documentary film programme unrest vr accompanied feature film unrest future aleppo alex pearson marshmallow laser feast commission docfest partnership fact support art council england talk session programme included bigname speaker lenny henry peter greenaway ian hislop stacey dooley nick broomfield louis theroux industry session included panel making film oscarready featuring tom oyer academy motion picture art science session god country director francis lee northern talent talk free public interview youtube sensation elijah quashie aka chicken connoisseur two session editor walter murch reinvention film strand concisely represent creative vision festival seen new strand featured docvision docadventure docexpose doclove docthink docrhythm focusindustry featuring workinprogress piece focusindia featuring collection documentary year focus country choice mark year partition also use new venue light cinema moor offering luxury cinema screen following festival nine virtual reality work alternate reality exhibition chosen tour latin america part docfests realidades alternativas tour support british council tour visited festival docmontevideo uruguay docsp brazil noviembre electrónico argentina notable screening event included world premiere opening night film queerama director daisy asquith soundtrack john grant alison goldfrapp hercules love affair chronicling year decriminalization homosexuality uk bfi archive opening night event included qa asquith grant hosted campbell x performance grant closing night honoured mp jo cox closing night film jo cox death mp director toby paxton discussion legacy great get together held tudor square encourage festivalgoers public unite remember livestream uk premiere nick broomfields whitney featuring qa broomfield radio presenter sarahjane crawford live tribute performance michele john broadcast live cinema across uk return desert island doc featuring northern film star maxine peake discussed favourite documentary influence hold life work joe cocker mad dog soul saw soldout screening iconic leadmill joe cocker frequently performed introduction doc til dawn showcasing rare cult documentary midnight doc til dawn programme included adam curtis hypernormalisation introduction curtis retrospective looking back year summer love discontent featuring film allan king warrendale far vietnam produced chris marker directed french new wave filmmaker jeanluc godard alain resnais agnès varda joris ivens william klein claude lelouch rare screening edouard yves de laurots silent revolutionblack liberation immersive live cinema european premiere florian habichts spookers shown abbeydale picture house featuring frightnight cast performer staged building world premiere jamaican dancehall competition film bruk director cori wapnowski including followup dancehall dance class held film protagonist ale camara docfest exchange tudor square channel party code featuring performance dancer featured film workinprogress special preview minute alexander whitley dance company combining contemporary dance nasa visuals baftawinning artist tal rosner ahead sadler well premiere july alternate reality summit returned full day panel session keynote speaker featuring google jessica brillhart guardian vr deputy editor nicole jackson amnesty international uk che ramsden robin mcnicholas marshmallow laser feast using latest technology create project like future aleppo including surprise skype future aleppo yearold inspiration syrian refugee mohammed kteish european premiere vr installation munduruku fight defend heart amazon grace boyle feelies james manisty alchemy vr pete speller greenpeace went win alternate reality audience award docfest tour latin america docfests international vr tour realidades alternativas support british council live vr experience doom room hosted theatre delicatessen mixed performance art virtual reality uk premiere danish artist mads damsbo source return docfest exchange developed wellcome offering element film alternate reality talk programme free public year year frontman olly alexander new documentary growing gay personal struggle mental health lgbtq community nick broomfield conversation louis theroux bbc interview held soldout crucible theatre introduction craft summit presented documentary campus featuring industry heavyweight dissect art documentary filmmaking speaker included editor walter murch field vision charlotte cook ben steele serialised documentary balz bachmann nainita desai composing director film programme julia dahr thank rain shaul schwarz trophy egil håskjold larsen minute day directing cinematography event took place – june total audience attended including industry delegate travelled country public audience figure record increase film programme hosted record film world premiere international european whopping uk premiere different country audience attracted big filmmaking name documentary world including u director michael moore – whose film invade next opened festival – louis theroux palme dor winning director ken loach legendary filmmaker pennebaker chris hegedus woman lgbt subject feature prominently throughout festival selection making two festival strand plus retrospective honouring chantal akerman speaker represented talk session programme female newly renamed alternate reality programme featured immersive medium experience millennium gallery virtual reality documentary site gallery space union street alternate reality summit daylong event focus virtual reality artificial intelligence mixed reality morning session saw keynote ramona pringle bina artificially intelligent robot afternoon session saw keynote google jessica brillhart also saw inaugural alternate reality commission supported site gallery art council england darren emerson indefinite previously invisible £ prize world premiere festival indefinite detention immigrant britain later featured new york time came introduction docfest exchange tudor square developed wellcome hosted series public talk including interview england director shane meadow notable screening event included uk premiere michael moore invade next opened festival sheffield city hall attended moore postscreening qa live streamed cinema nationwide uk premiere season quincy four portrait john berger closed festival sellout screening showroom cinema attended director tilda swinton bartek dziadosz live performance accompanied film screening including performance protagonist famous street dancer storyboard p following world premiere storyboard p stranger sweden solo set princess shaw following uk premiere presenting princess shaw youre meant screened abbeydale picture house followed set arab strap aidan moffat bothy ballad singer following uk premiere strike pose kiki vogue strike pose party invited madonna backup dancer kevin stea new york ballroom leader twiggy pucci garcon house voguers academy usc shoah foundation new dimension testimony world pwemiere part alternate reality exhibition showcasing groundbreaking technology natural language processing software hologram holocaust survivor pinchas gutter project awarded alternate reality interactive award audience award interactive project also featured alternate reality summit creator dr stephen smith presenting keynote joined gutter stage sir david attenborough came festival first time seeing soldout talk crucible theatre live broadcast outdoor screen tudor square ken loach held packed qa following versus life film ken loach pennebaker honoured retrospective also attended uk premiere film unlocking cage legendary documentary maker also featured conversation collaborator chris hegedus crucible theatre joanna lumley delivered packed talk crucible theatre snooker legend ronnie osullivan returned crucible theatre five world championship title discus favourite documentary nd festival ran six day – june venue used host film session interactive exhibition networking event full programme announced morning general election may record number audience attended festival festival delegate member public total film shown record breaking world premiere including sean mcallisters hotly anticipated syrian love story brian hill confession thomas quick jake witzenfelds oriented uk premiere international premiere european premiere nearly film programming headed female filmmaker film either produced directed woman filmmaker notable screening event included uk premiere joshua oppenheimer look silence showroom cinema opened festival sell screening screen opening night continued sheffield city hall world premiere archive film show show year vaudeville circus carnival directed benedikt erlingsson scored georg hólm orri páll dýrason sigur rós head pagan church iceland godfather icelandic music hilmar örn hilmarsson film feature never seen footage fairground circus variety performance vaudeville birth film present day including footage university sheffield national fairground archive special screening jessica edward biodoc mavis documenting life mavis staple held classic victorian sheffield botanical garden sheffield repertory orchestra performing gustav holsts planet live screening interplanetary odyssey commissioned visuals sheffield creative design agency human commentary astronomer paul crowther woman doc strand celebrating film woman screen behind lens war work song film master work poetic musical archive composed directed michael nyman performed michael nyman band hilary summer commemorate first world war retrospective british activist filmmaker john akomfrah closing night event including screening monty python – meaning live roger graef james rogan michael palin attendance postscreening qa book signing idea science strand supported wellcome trust focusing creativity innovation heart documentary digital interactive interactive sheffield exhibition presented crossover lab featuring interactive documentary held millennium gallery dedicated virtual reality arcade site gallery featuring project collection oculus rift samsung gear vr google cardboard final day british artist heather phillipson specially commissioned installation castle house defunct department store heard sheffield supported art council england presented partnership university sheffield serpentine gallery session talk masterclasses speaker including davina mccall nicky campbell jon snow lucy worsley philippa perry ian katz charlotte moore robin ince festival expanded five day six first time began saturday screening took place across wider range unusual venue sheffield peak district film shown world premiere uk premiere european premiere world premiere included martin scorsese documentary new york review book year argument alex holmes stop nothing lance armstrong story last man moon former astronaut eugene cernan also attended festival one rogue reporter written directed former daily star reporter rich peppiatt brilliant creature rebel oz notable screening event included european premiere pulp film life death supermarket directed florian habicht telling story pulp final concert sheffield including simulcast live satellite qa band broadcast cinema across uk ireland premiere kim longinottos love chatsworth house soundtrack richard hawley combining film material bfi national archive original music similar vein previous docfest project sea land beyond big melt saint etienne performing live score used live paul kelly documentary vanishing london summer camp performing live soundtrack guardian writer charlie lynes film essay beyond clueless teen movie hell wheel strand cycling film celebrate tour de france visiting yorkshire nightly screening peak cavern including thomas balmes happiness spotlight south africa including miner shot marikana miner strike retrospective experimental greekfrench director agnès varda interactive sheffield exhibition presented crossover lab featuring interactive documentary delivered device including oculus rift virtual reality headset included first documentary videogames shown festival riot paper please immersive documentary door dark speaker included peter bazalgette jeremy deller brian eno sue perkins grayson perry john pilger jon snow ondi timoner conference session masterclasses record number pitch opportunity filmmaker worth £ record number film delegate delegate number rose record international delegation including representative armenia canada jordan morocco netherlands state palestine russia south africa south sudan attending festival special focus factual filmmaking region country presented buyer decision maker film submission topped first time film shown numbered least feature length documentary short interactive project one art installation world premiere uk premiere european premiere record film screening docfest developed funded meetmarket including joshua oppenheimer act killing went win audience award world premiere included basically johnny moped emptying sky everybodys child fragile trust plagiarism power jayson blair new york time cuba mirage men note inside james rhodes particle fever plot peace project wild thing richard pryor omit logic big melt way front line life time tim hetherington man whose mind exploded road fame secret life uri geller – psychic spy thin ice let world european premiere included tiller dirty war pandora promise uk premiere included act killing crash reel act killing went win bafta named best film guardian film strand included behind beat best british crossplatform eurodoc first cut global encounter new york time opdocs queer screen resistance short habit art sporting life new strand film film screened notable film documentary example exorcist director cut fear god year exorcist john water female trouble divine strand aimed attract wider mix people supported lottery funding bfis film festival fund provides extra resource help grow film festival audience docfest retrospective strand celebrated work japanese filmmaker shōhei imamura director present took part qa session notable screening event included three opening night film big melt documentary film sheffield steel industry martin wallace live soundtrack jarvis cocker musician incave screening summit climbing documentary nick ryan quest reach peak k screened peak cavern cave known devil arse peak district european premiere pussy riot punk prayer followed skype interview katya samutsevich one member pussy riot live soundtrack performance song shipyard mercury prizenominees unthanks look behindthescenes bbcs think series day event centred ken loach documentary spirit tedxsheffield fringe event took place day festival howard street outdoor screen showed film free hour day festival blast theory interactive online game id hide docfeast street food market made local foodie business plus special docfest ale conference session masterclasses speaker notable speaker included adam buxton melvyn bragg jonathan franzen uri geller ira glass alex graham janice hadlow jay hunt ross kemp mark kermode sir trevor mcdonald hardeep singh kohli walter murch miranda sawyer interviewing michael palin sue perkins captain sensible alan yentob total delegate country attended festival general admission notable screening event included debut sea land beyond documentary penny woolcock live soundtrack performance british sea power surprise performance sixto rodriguez star opening night film searching sugar man went win oscar best documentary speaker included gareth malone tim pool festival moved november june right back november festival festival opened morgan spurlocks pom wonderful present greatest movie ever sold featured boxoffice hit senna alma harels debut bombay beach albert maysels retrospective oscarwinning director barbara kopples gun fight sheffield docfest award honour best documentary docfest programme judged industry professional sheffield docfest audience award voted audience award given feature film programme grand jury award international competition honour film best display strong artistic vision courageous storytelling award academy award® accredited grand jury award international short film competition honour best creative approach documentary minute award academy award® bafta bifaaccredited grand jury award international first feature competition honour future nonfiction film celebrates promising talent grand jury award international alternate reality competition honour best innovative nonfiction work tim hetherington award presented association dogwoof award introduced honour photojournalist filmmaker tim hetherington award recognises film filmmaker best reflects legacy tim hetherington committed humanitarian social concern throughout world includes cash prize decided jury including tims mother judith hetherington youth jury award selected uk passionate young documentary lover jury made five young people aged – take part series workshop industry professional ahead festival inspiration award introduced celebrates figure industry championed documentary helped get great work public eye dark audio award introduced highlight global creativity innovation audio storytelling illuminate award supported wellcome exploring screen chemistry human storytelling scientific understanding environmental award given documentary best address raise awareness environmental challenge face world art doc award championing bold new creative form nonfiction cinema artist film new talent award discovers honour future documentary film celebrating new talent fresh perspective student doc award film made part tertiary course work uk international university judged panel industry expert alternate reality interactive award awarded project exhibit originality approach form storytelling delivery alternate reality virtual reality award celebrating virtual reality documentary flourishing creative genre awarding project display excellence factual storytelling well technical ingenuity innovation award whicker film tv funding award presented annually sheffield docfest whicker since prize awarded emerging filmmaker anywhere world promising pitch directorled documentary eda award best femaledirected film presented sheffield docfest alliance woman film journalist femaledirected film festival programme eligible award first ever peter wintonick award celebrates activist filmmaking honour late canadian documentary filmmaker friend festival peter wintonick awarded creative leadership award launched highlight influential individual contribution international documentary industry award unsung hero factual tv launched honouring vital undertheradar contribution british factual television jerwood first cut award festival cancelled due covid pandemic screening moved online award placed year award held june crucible theatre award held june first time awardwinning documentary short automatically qualifies consideration academy award lifetime achievement award presented roger graef award held june presented jeremy hardy alliance woman film journalist also presented special eda award sheffield docfests festival director heather croall naming ambassador womens film award held june lifetime achievement award presented albert maysles sheffield docfests film programme showcase international documentary new work nonfiction film programme includes screening feature midlength short documentary work nonfiction year qas filmmaker protagonist film strand panel corresponding main programme featuring filmmaker protagonist film including session workshop pitching competition free outdoor screening urated documentary series film competition prestigious award sheffield docfest run number programme focused new medium development interactive immersive project virtual reality titled alternate reality alternate reality programme includes alternative reality summit full day session exploring digital revolution broadcasting delegate network representative film tv industry included keynote speaker google jessica brillhart bbc north richard deverell frank rose steven johnson katerina cizek highrise day includes breakout session round table discussion alternative reality market pitching event interactive digital project run similar way festival meetmarket took place first time project team pitched crossplatform decision maker strand alternative reality panel main festival conference programme includes session commissioning editor panel workshop project showcasing crossplatform pitching competition alternative reality exhibition show host interactive vr including commissioned especially festival also space delegate meet network meet maker session allow audience meet artist behind project featured exhibition informal qas alternate reality sheffield docfest awarded art council england npo status helping programme grow even sheffield docfests talk session programme feature highprofile speaker industry creatives documentary talent variety discussion large public talk commissioning question panel interview showcasing session past highprofile speaker include sir david attenborough louis theroux nick broomfield stacey dooley joanna lumley reggie yates walter murch michael moore kim longinotto tilda swinton pennebaker john akomfrah brett morgan sue perkins joan river meetmarket alternate reality market documentary pitching event held sheffield docfest filmmaker pitch project idea oneonone uk international broadcaster funders distributor former festival director heather croall introduced meetmarket docfest developed alternative public pitching filmmaker pitch large audience meeting matchmade scheduled relevant decision maker year approximately project hold many onetoone across two day event attended decision maker since introduction nearly meeting taken place documentary digital project july meeting held meetmarket requested party meaning likely deal made focus achieving funding distribution participant also benefit advice production distribution exhibition marketing outreach filmmaker guy davidi said pitching intimate roundtable session big comfort reduces tension competitiveness make whole thing much relaxed fun created important connection one case led directly investment project country including new film michael moore mark cousin kim longinotto dionne walker laura poitras jerry rothwell alternate reality project selected including work charlotte mikkelborg richard nockles ink story decision maker took part including representative submarine bbc earth vr royal shakespeare company national film board canada vice pulse film project country chosen participate including new film orlando von einsiedel jennifer brea mike lerner stefan kloos nick fraser christoph jorg david letterman al morrow jeanie finlay andre singer amir amiriani catherine allen alternate reality market project chosen including work katharine round alex pearson darren emerson jennifer brea decision maker took part meetmarket alternate reality market various marketplace initiative organisation including red bull canal al jazeera discovery national geographic google netflix project country chosen participate meetmarket submission including new film john akomfrah lindsey dryden maheen zia executive distributor commissioner funders advisor buyer across documentary digital medium took part meetmarket marketplace activity including guardian bbc arte dogwoof channel project chosen participate meetmarket including new film franny armstrong william karel stanley nelson jr investor commissioner production partner took part including commissioner netflix dazed vice vimeo nowness distributor oscilloscope laboratory dogwoof pb meetmarket attracted application project country chosen participate filmmaker included franny armstrong marshall curry jeanie finlay alex gibney phil grabsky brian hill viktor kossakovsky joshua oppenheimer selection also included six crossplatform project meetmarket film alternate reality market project tracked success across award film festival film project gone win award sundance tribeca idfa hot doc docfest notable film achieve funding meetmarket include unrest unrest vr note blindness note blindness darkness joshua oppenheimer act killing look silence searching sugarman jeanie finlays great hip hop hoax ping pong broken camera god love uganda marketplace play host initiative pitch prize competition pitched project selected open call cover range topic offer funding inkind support festival pas prize previous pitch include bfi film fund whicker world foundation film tv award offering £ winning pitch bbc northern doc pitch guardian pitch vice rule britannia pitch channel first cut pitch virgin money short competition marketplace also hold year training initiative including future producer school future producer school created sheffield docfest bungalow town production successfully run every year since launch aimed emerging producer currently working industry primary outcome future producer school develop industry partnership provide industry knowledge experience upandcoming producer ambition become international feature documentary producer notable alumnus include eloise king julia nottingham lindsey dryden sky neal onscreen talent market sheffield docfest initiative connect charismatic subjectspecialists producer commissioner decision maker looking fresh face programme programme includes intensive morning training programme giving insight industry via firsthand encounter established professional designed expert hone skill presenting medium followed afternoon matchmade onetoone meeting talent television executive programme designed delivered collaboration academic idea lab docdinner allows group emerging filmmaker dine industry executive exchange idea expertise hosted yates exec bbc channel vice pulse film guardian met young filmmaker docfest host number international national delegation year including delegation norway scotland palestine indonesia jordan cuba wider europe year docfest host party social industry networking drink event festival including annual guilty pleasure party held docfest amsterdam idfa social event themed around programme example included always love doc party celebrating premiere whitney great get together lunchtime picnic celebrating life legacy jo cox mp premiere closing night film jo cox death mp vogue – strike pose party celebrating premiere strike pose kiki year also see award ceremony usually hosted sheffield crucible theatre honouring best documentary festival festival see dozen networking drink hosted partner sponsor supporter image nation abu dhabi academy motion picture art science shooting people many docfest activity outside fiveday festival include film example docfest present take selection festival film programme around uk screening latitude festival alternate reality tour across uk various venue latitude festival internationally docfest toured latin america realidades alternativas exhibition talk session across various film festival featuring member docfest staff marketplace talent including ongoing mentoring programme filmmaker networking event filmmaker structured internship volunteer programme young people annabel grundy appointed managing director new jointleadership model working alongside creative director raul niño zambrano melanie iredale deputy director – later appointed interim director liz mcintyre – heather croall – brent wood – kathy loizou – paula shirley midge mackenzie alex cooke chair –present brian wood deputy chair –present alex graham – steve hewlett – christo hird – roger james – marian bowan peter symes – stephen bowen jo clintondavis gali gold daniel gorden fozia khan jennifer kimber derren lawford lucy mcdowell sacha mirzoeff zoe mumba beejalmayer patel helen scott