ReConnect with Documentary sheffdocfest.com @SheffDocFest #SheffDocFest2022
Festival Guide
Contents Introduction
Alternate Realities
p.119
Welcome from the Chair................................................ p.4
Site Gallery......................................................................p.120
Welcome from Interim CEO........................................... p.5
Site Studio.......................................................................p.126
Funders, Partners and Sponsors................................. p.7
VR Library: Workstation Mezzanine.......................p.129
Thanks.................................................................................. p.8
Installations....................................................................p.131
Festival Information....................................................... p.10
Performances................................................................p.133 Alternate Realities Summit........................................p.134
Schedule
p.14 Talks & Sessions
Opening Night: Moonage Daydream
p.27
p.137
Talks..................................................................................p.138 Craft Summit..................................................................p.140 Sessions..........................................................................p.142
p.28 A Tribute – Roger Graef
p.148
Marketplace & Talent
p.151
Special Focus Ukraine – Password: Palianytsia...............................p.32 A Documentary Journey with Asif Kapadia ����������p.40
Contents
Awards
Marketplace....................................................................p.152 MeetMarket....................................................................p.156
p.47
Alternate Realities Talent Artists.............................p.158
International Competition............................................p.48
Amplify: Production Talent........................................p.159
International First Feature Competition �����������������p.53
Delegations.....................................................................p.160
Film Programme
Debates..............................................................................p.60 Journeys............................................................................p.66 Memories..........................................................................p.72
Drinks and Parties
p.164
Team and Contributors
p.170
Index
p.172
Venue Information and Map
p.178
People & Community.....................................................p.80 Rebellions..........................................................................p.86 Rhythms.............................................................................p.92 Short Film Compilations..............................................p.98 Additional Short Film Programmes........................p.106
Co-Creation: Changing Our World
p.108
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Welcome from the Chair Sheffield DocFest is back in-person! And we are excited to come back together to reconnect. The festival team have worked tirelessly, through waves of the Covid-19 pandemic, to bring you this impressive, jam-packed line-up of world class screenings and events. You are in for many treats. Three people have gone above and beyond to create this event. Interim CEO, Clare Stewart, whose enthusiasm, generosity, and strategic vision are exemplary. Partnerships and Operations Director, Sylvia Bednarz, her boundless energy and commitment are admirable. And Guest Curator, Asif Kapadia, whose passion and creative flair is infectious.
Welcome
Special thanks to the whole festival team of programmers, consultants, advisors, production and operations staff, and volunteers. DocFest would not happen without your hard work and perseverance. Thank you to the industry advisors who produce talks and sessions; and to our committed Trustees who bring great wisdom, and insight, and give so generously of their time. Our deepest gratitude to our sponsors and business partners, old and new, who have shown real patience and loyalty in these difficult times. I especially want to acknowledge the important, foundational support of our Principal Funders in BFI, Arts Council England and Sheffield City Council. And a heartfelt thank you to the filmmakers and artists for trusting us with their work. In particular, thanks to our Ukrainian colleagues, whom we are honoured to be hosting in this appalling time for their country.
Sheffield Docfest is a special institution for me personally. From 1997–2001 I was the sole film programmer at the Festival. It was a dream job and a real privilege to facilitate global filmmakers, artists, and journalists to celebrate their work. And to bring new voices to new audiences. It is with enormous pride that I returned to be part of its continued growth and development in a changing landscape. Along that journey I met two remarkable people who sadly passed away this last year. My dear friend, the beautiful and talented producer Diane Weyermann, who did more to shape the world of documentary cinema than most, and eminent filmmaker Roger Graef who was endlessly generous, open-spirited and inquisitive. We invite you to pay tribute with us during the festival. Isolationism, fake news, culture wars, propaganda wars, real wars, tribalism, the onslaught on Public Service Broadcasting – there has never been a more important time for documentaries. They take us into worlds and lives and help us understand, they let us empathise and connect, and hold those in power to account. Many of us are enraged and heart-broken by the war in Ukraine, the treatment of women under the Taliban in Afghanistan, the conflicts in Ethiopia and Sudan, the devastation of Syria and Yemen – the needless disruption of so many lives, alongside the real losses and hardships being faced closer to home. So, I hope you find real comfort in the community that this special Festival affords us. I hope you forge new friendships; I hope you feel welcome, and that you leave feeling re-energised. Most of all, I hope you have some much-needed fun.
We hope the MeetMarket will create opportunities for the stories yet to be told. And we are excited to share the works that were born here, at Sheffield DocFest, that return now fully formed. As ever, we aim to be a forum for debates that matter. Alex Cooke Chair of The Board of Trustees
4
Welcome from Interim CEO ReConnect with documentary. Sheffield DocFest has an extraordinary legacy of making connections. We bridge the global with the local, connecting the international documentary ecosystem with the people of Sheffield and South Yorkshire. As one of the world’s leading documentary festivals, and the UK’s most impactful film & TV marketplace, we create opportunities for business through our industry programme; for creativity by bringing filmmakers and artists together; and for exchange between makers and audiences through our screening programmes, exhibitions, and talks & sessions.
I want to congratulate my colleagues working across all four pillars of the Festival – Film Programme, Alternate Realities, Marketplace & Talent, and Talks & Sessions – on an exceptional line-up which includes: • 135 films in our screening programme from 55 countries
Our Guest Curator Asif Kapadia, who joined when we were starting this year’s programming journey, and whose own contribution is a testimony to how great documentaries of the past can shape the creative imaginations of the future; An urgent and essential collaboration with our respected colleagues at Docudays UA, who started working with us when their own Festival could not go ahead due to the Russian invasion; we are proud that this programme will launch the British Council and Ukrainian Institute’s ‘UK/ Ukraine Season of Culture’ And with Kat Cizek from the Co-Creation Studio at MIT’s Open Documentary Lab, who collaborated on a programme illuminating the philosophies and rich tradition of Co-Creation, where projects ‘emerge out of process, and evolve from within communities and with people, rather than being made for or about them’. Huge thanks to the extraordinary, resilient Team; to our indefatigable Chair, Alex Cooke, as well as to all the partners and people she acknowledges; equally to the Board of Trustees for their commitment. It is a privilege to be working on a 5-year plan for the organisation, as well as steering the 29th edition of this beloved Festival.
Welcome
When we started shaping this year’s Festival, the imperative to reconnect was high on everyone’s agenda – filmmakers and artists were keen to be back in cinemas and galleries with people appreciating their work in real life; industry delegates were eager to take meetings and do pitching sessions face-to-face; and the Sheffield DocFest team were craving the energy and reward that comes with bringing community together.
Three exceptional collaborations have shaped this year’s Festival programme:
We can’t wait to have everyone back in-person.
• 29 projects exhibiting in Alternate Realities, our programme for innovative non-fiction and immersive documentaries, plus the Alternate Realities Summit • 40 new projects in the MeetMarket pitching forum, three live pitches, Works-in-Progress screenings, networking events and sessions, and the Craft Summit • Headline talks from Guest Curator Asif Kapadia with editor Chris King, p.41; Brett Morgen (Opening Night film Moonage Daydream, p.27), Pratibha Parmar (My Name is Andrea, p.50) and David Olusoga (StoryTrails, p.135). • Broadcaster talks include the BBC Interview with renowned journalist, newsreader and presenter Clive Myrie (p.138); the Channel 4 Interview with Will Young, discussing the recent documentary Losing My Twin Rupert (p.139), and the ITV Interview with the British Paralympian swimmer Ellie Simmonds (p.139).
Clare Stewart Interim CEO
5
Funders, Partners & Sponsors Principal Funders
Major Funders, Partners & Sponsors
Funders, Partners & Sponsors
Funders, Partners & Sponsors
7
Thanks The Sheffield DocFest team would like to thank the following for their support:
Thanks 8
Ade Rawcliffe ITV Adrian Kawaley-Lathan Bertha Foundation Alexis Galfas Cinetic Media Amanda Michel Angelica Sule Site Gallery Barry Vincent and Team Northend Ben Luxford British Film Institute Ben Roberts British Film Institute Beth Kettel Site Gallery Technician Bill Allard Sound of Music Lord Bob Kerslake Caroline Cooper Charles Screen Yorkshire Christine Bardsley British Council Colin Pons Sheffield Hallam University Digna van Nielen Fiona Festivals Diana Buckley Sheffield City Council Ella Thompson ROMFC Dr. Emmie McFadden Sheffield Hallam University Emma France Marketing Sheffield Fiona Fletcher Doc Society Ian Wild Showroom Cinema Hussain Currimbhoy James Lock Opus James Birch Cutlers’ Hall James Oliver Longley Park Sixth Form Jane Tompkins Marketing Sheffield Jim Dummett Cinebox Joe Cutts S1 Artspace Judith Harry Site Gallery Judith Nichol BBC Karen Coy Novotel Sheffield Kat Cizek MIT Open Documentary Lab Co-Creation Studio Kate Brindley South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority Katie Ellen British Film Institute Lindsay Poulton The Guardian Lindsey Dryden Little by Little Films Lisa Marie Russo Louise Hewitt Unite Students Lucy Wardley Open City Documentary Festival Mandy Chang Fremantle Manon Euler Film Hub Midlands Marcus Williams Developer Joi Polloi Mark Mobbs Marketing Sheffield Matt Jamieson Site Gallery Technician Melanie Iredale Birds Eye View Nahrein Kemp ITV Nick Randles Cinebox Nigel Fischer University of Sheffield Nur Ali ShipShape Community Hub
Patrick Hurley Sandbox Films Patrick O’Reilly Cinebox Paul Allison Fast Signs Paul Inott CVC Petra Luckman Petra Luckman Partnerships Rajesh Thind Pindu Rebecca Bell Site Gallery Rebecca Maddox Sheffield City Council Reinel García Pérez Doc & Rio Festivals Rita Daniels Channel 4 Robert Lee Site Gallery Roland van Putten Fiona Festival Rosie Thompson Site Gallery Russell Stearman Technical Director Joi Polloi Ruth Johnson FURD Nur Ali ShipShape Community Hub Sam Tatlow ITV Sarah Leahy The University of Newcastle Simon Lee Channel 4 Stef Dore Channel 4 Steven Ellis Storyman Tammy Longley Jurys Inn Tiny Mungwe STEPS Tony Tabatznik Bertha Foundation Professor Vanessa Toulmin University of Sheffield Zeynep Güzel Documentary Association Europe (DAE) We would also like to thank all at the following organisations: Access Space
Sensoria
Art Works
Sheffield Culture Consortium
Cinema For All Create Sheffield Doc Society Docudays UA Eventive Freeman College Hawsons Chartered Accounts INDY Cinema Into Film Joi Polloi
Showroom Workstation System Sound Universal Pictures Virtual Umbrella XR Stories Sheffeld City Council Licensing Service Sheffield Royal Society for the Blind Yorkshire Sound Women Network
The Kurious Sheffield DocFest would also like to thank all those who have made a donation, and all of the filmmakers, artists and producers who each contributed to an official selection we are proud to present.
Festival Information Booking Information
DocLover Ticket Packages
All tickets and passes are available to buy online at www.sheffdocfest.com or in person at our box office locations.
Be the envy of documentary fans everywhere and become a DocLover at this year’s festival. See the best of the fest for less:
Single Tickets
DocLover 5 £40 (full) / £30 (conc)
You don’t need to buy a pass or ticket package to enjoy Sheffield DocFest. Individual tickets are available for film screenings, talks and special events, from sheffdocfest.com (except Opening Night tickets which are available from www.sheffieldcityhall.co.uk/box-office) Standard in-cinema film screenings £9.50 (full) / £7.50 (conc) / £5 (off peak: screenings starting before 2pm on weekdays)
Festival Information
Opening Night: £21.50 (full) / £18 (conc) includes booking fee www.sheffieldcityhall.co.uk/box-office Talks & Events £12 (full) / £10 (conc) Alternate Realities Summit (includes access to David Olusoga: StoryTrails – A Journey Through Time and Space) £40 (full) / £32 (conc) Alternate Realities, The Acquisitions Panel £5 *Complimentary Festival Tickets are available for Personal Assistants, Carers or sign language interpreters, but must be booked in advance, and proof of DLA or a valid CEA card or international equivalent is required. Please note that wheelchair spaces are subject to availability.
Fine print All information is correct at the time of publication. Sheffield DocFest reserves the right to add and remove content and make changes and updates. Please visit www.sheffdocfest.com for the most up to date information.
International Documentary Festival Sheffield is a charitable incorporated organisation (CIO) with registered charity number: 1184849 10
DocLover 10 £70 (full) / £50 (conc) Once purchased, you can select film tickets online, in advance of the festival. Show your ticket QR code on your phone (or print at home), along with your DocLover wristband, at the door of the screening to gain entry. If you do not have a smartphone or cannot print at home, you can go to one of our box offices during the festival to print your tickets. You can collect your DocLover wristband from the Box Office at Showroom Cinema from Wed 22 June. DocLover packages allow up to two tickets per screening. Please see www.sheffdocfest.com for more details.
Important information for all ticket and pass holders Due to high demand, if you are not in your seat 5 minutes before the event start time, your ticket may be forfeited and reallocated to the standby queue.
Festival Information Online Screenings
Box Office Information
Our online programme is a special selection of films from the main programme, released during the course of the festival, and available to watch on our website, sheffdocfest.com, for 72 hours. The online programme will be announced and on sale from Thu 9 June. You must be within the UK to buy and stream a film.
Festival Box Office at the Showroom Cinema Paternoster Row, S1 2BX Tue 31 May – Wed 22 June, 11:00 – 21:00 Thu 23 – Tue 28 June, 08:30–last film T: 0330 122 8870 Card & cash payment available
Alternate Realities Exhibition
The Light Cinema The Moor, S1 4PF Fri 24 – Tue 28 June, 09:00–last film Card payment only
The Alternate Realities exhibition, which is held in a number of locations, is predominantly free and open to all. Advance booking is possible – and advised – for the following free activity:
VR Library The Workstation Mezzanine The Sound Voice Project Sheffield Hallam University Performance Lab Kubo Walks the City The Kurious at Kommune Common Good #3 Site Gallery Square The Acquisitions Panel Town Hall also requires booking, and is £5. For booking times and reservations, please visit www.sheffdocfest.com If you reserve a ticket but cannot make an event, we encourage you to cancel your ticket through our online ticket system. Please arrive promptly; due to high demand during the festival, if you are not at the venue 5 minutes before the start time of the event, your ticket may be reallocated to a stand-by queue. The following locations and events are free and do not need advance booking: Alternate Realities Exhibition Site Gallery Studio Escaping Gravity Access Space at Event Central
Curzon Cinema 16 George Street, S1 2PF Fri 24 – Tue 28 June, 09:00–last film Card payment only ODEON Luxe Arundel Gate, S1 1DL Fri 24 – Tue 28 June, 9:00–last film Card payment only Sheffield City Hall (Opening Night tickets only) Barkers Pool, S1 2JA Mon – Fri, 10:00–16:00 www.sheffieldcityhall.co.uk/box-office boxoffice@sheffieldcityhall.co.uk
Festival Information
Alternate Realities Exhibition Site Gallery
Showroom Cinema is also the DocLover wristband collection point from Wed 22 June.
We encourage card and contactless payments. For enquiries please email – boxoffice@sheffdocfest.com or call 0330 122 8870
Contact Information T: +44 (0)114 276 5141 E: info@sheffdocfest.com Sheffield DocFest office hours are 09:30 – 17:30 BST For the most up-to-date announcements, follow us on on our social media channels: sheffdocfest #SheffDocFest2022
@sheffdocfest
Sign up to our enews on our website – www.sheffdocfest.com
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Festival Information Industry Pass
DocPlayer
Work in the industry and want to attend the whole festival? The Industry Pass gives access to films, talks, panel sessions, pitches, Marketplace, networking events and parties, as well as DocPlayer, our online industry streaming platform.
DocPlayer is our online platform for industry screenings. Available internationally to Industry Pass holders only, films can be watched directly on our website – just go to the film page and click the Watch Now button. Please note: you must be registered for an Industry Pass and logged in to your Industry account for the shows to be visible. Films are released throughout the festival at the end of each day (midnight), following their screening in cinema, and are then available until 23:59 on Wed 6 July 2022.
An Industry Pass can be purchased at www.sheffdocfest.com or in person during the festival at the Industry Delegate Centre. Day Passes are also available.
Industry Tickets
Festival Information
This year we have a new ticket system, powered by Eventive. When you buy an Industry Pass you are automatically assigned an Eventive account. The first time you try to access the MyTickets area, or reserve a ticket, you will be asked to log in. Please use the same email address that is connected to your Industry account and pass. You will only need to log in one time, this will connect your accounts, and then you can reserve tickets. Tickets are required* to access Film Screenings & Talks, and are available 48 hours before the event time. Tickets will be connected to your pass, and your pass will be scanned at the door of the event. For all other Industry events, advance tickets are not required; simply show your pass at the door to gain entry. In all cases, ticket availability and entry to industry events is subject to capacity on a first come, first served basis. Due to high demand, if you are not in your seat 5 minutes before the event start time, your ticket may be forfeited and reallocated to the standby queue. *If tickets are unavailable, Industry Pass holders can join stand-by queues at the venue in case of no-shows. We encourage Industry Pass holders to return any tickets they may not use, via our online system, to help reduce stand-by queues
Industry Delegate Centre The Industry Delegate Centre is the place to collect or buy your Industry Pass. It also hosts our Press Desk and Hospitality services, cloakroom, and lost property: The Workstation, 15 Paternoster Row, S1 2BX Wed 22 June, 17:00 – 21:00 Thu 23 – Tue 28 June, 09:00 – 21:00
Code of Conduct We aim to create a safer festival, where we care and look out for each other. We are committed to providing an environment that is welcoming, accessible, and inclusive for all festival guests and attendees, and for all team members and volunteers, in-person and online. Harassment or harmful behaviour has no place at our festival or on any of our online platforms. By participating in Sheffield DocFest events, in person and online, you agree to abide by and embrace our shared code of conduct. Anyone violating these principles will be asked to stop and are expected to comply immediately, and, at the discretion of the organisers, may be expelled from the activity, event or viewing (without refund). If you observe or experience a violation of our code of conduct, please contact a member of staff or security personnel, or email – saferfestival@sheffdocfest.com For our full code of conduct please visit – www.sheffdocfest.com/safer-festival
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Festival Information COVID-19
Access at the Festival
The government has removed remaining domestic restrictions in England.
Sheffield DocFest is committed to providing a positive and inclusive experience for all.
However, as a courtesy, we encourage visitors to the festival to take a lateral flow test ahead of attending events, and if testing positive for COVID-19 or experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, we ask that you do not attend. Lateral flow tests are available to buy from most chemists. Please see our festival map online for locations within the city centre.
All venues are wheelchair accessible. For more venue information, including details of blue badge parking, wheelchair spaces, accessible toilets, and hearing loops, please visit – www.sheffdocfest.com/attend/venues
Audiences are welcome to wear masks if they wish, and masks will be available around the festival. Please respect those who chose to wear masks at events.
Age Ratings and Content Guidance Films will not have an age rating at the time of going to print, as they are screened prior to distribution. We are updating our age ratings regularly so please check our website for the most accurate information. For guidance on age rating for the Alternate Realities Exhibition, please refer to the programme online. Similarly, please check our website for any further information about the content guidance for any activity taking place in the festival.
Support for those with Babies & Children Sheffield DocFest is a breastfeeding friendly event, and those with babies should feel welcome to breastfeed at any of our participating venues.
Early Doors: Over 55 screening Sit back and enjoy coffee, cake and the big screen at Showroom Cinema for just £6 with a special all-in-one ticket for over 55’s. Screenings are on Thursday mornings from 11am, with refreshments served in the Café Bar from 10am. This screening is not available to Industry Pass holders. Relaxed screenings Open to everyone and designed for people who will benefit from a more relaxed cinema environment including people with sensory or communication disorders, a learning disability, those with age-related impairments and parents/ carers with babies or young children. The lights will always be on and the volume lowered. You will be able to move freely around the auditorium and leave and return as many times as you would like.
Festival Information
A number of screenings at the festival will require audiences to wear masks and will operate at lower capacities – please check our website for further details www.sheffdocfest.com/COVID-19
We offer a number of screenings and talks with further access adjustments. For a complete list of accessible screenings or talks please go to sheffdocfest.com/attend/accessibility. For all enquiries please contact access@sheffdocfest.com or call +44 (0) 330 122 8870 Alternatively, speak to a member of the team at the Box Office.
Socially Distanced Screenings For those who would prefer to attend a quieter screening, we have marked some as ‘Socially Distanced Screenings’ which will operate at lower capacities and require audiences to wear masks throughout the film. For more details, please see – www.sheffdocfest.com/attend/accessibility
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Schedule Thu 23 June 09:00
10:00
11:00
12:00
13:00
14:00
15:00
SHOWROOM SCREEN 1
13:00 Love, Deutschmarks and Death p.76
16:00 These Are My People Screening with You Are on Indian Land p.111 15:30 The Happy Worker – or How Work Was Sabotaged p.63
SHOWROOM CHANNEL 5 SCREEN 2
12:30 Peace and Tranquility & Boney Piles + Discussion p.143
14:30 Midwives p.83
11:00 Early Doors Screening I Didn’t See You There p.69
SHOWROOM BERTHA DOCHOUSE SCREEN 3
16:00
15:45 1341 Frames of Love and War p.73
SHEFFIELD CITY HALL OVAL HALL
SHOWROOM ASSOCIATED PRESS SCREEN 4
13:00 Shorts Myths of Objectivity p.102
11:00 SITE GALLERY AND SITE STUDIO Alternate Realities Exhibition p.120 – 128 ALTERNATE REALITIES VARIOUS VENUES
11:00 SHEFFIELD HALLAM PERFORMANCE LAB The Sound Voice Project p.132 11:00 ACCESS SPACE AT EVENTS CENTRAL E scaping Gravity p.131 11:00 THE KURIOUS AT KOMMUNE Kubo Walks the City p.131 11:00 THE WORKSTATION MEZZANINE VR Library p.129 – 130
KOMMUNE
KOLLECTIVE KITCHEN SITE GALLERY
SOUTH STREET AMPHITHEATRE
13:45 Feminist Economics Football: A Cooperative Game for Sheffield p.120
09:00 14
Films
10:00 Events
11:00
Alternate Realities
12:00 Talks
13:00
14:00
15:00
16:00
Schedule Thu 23 June 20:00
21:00
23:00
00:00
01:00
20:45 Mutzenbacher p.76
18:15 Nelly & Nadine p.77
SHOWROOM SCREEN 1
18:00 London p.44
22:00
21:15 Not a Love Story: A Film About Pornography p.113
SHOWROOM CHANNEL 5 SCREEN 2
19:00
20:30 When We Were Kings p.45
17:30 The Business of Birth Control p.62
18:30 Beba p.67
SHOWROOM BERTHA DOCHOUSE SCREEN 3
18:00
21:15 Eat Your Catfish p.82
SHOWROOM ASSOCIATED PRESS S CREEN 4
17:00
SOUTH STREET AMPHITHEATRE
ALTERNATE REALITIES VARIOUS VENUES
SHEFFIELD CITY HALL OVAL HALL
19:30 Opening Night Moonage Daydream p.26
KOLLECTIVE KITCHEN SITE GALLERY
17:00 Alternate Realities Preview Drinks p.164
17:00
18:00
19:00
20:00
21:00
22:00
23:00
00:00
KOMMUNE
22:00 Opening Night Drinks (til 1am) p.164
01:00 15
Schedule Fri 24 June 10:00
11:00
12:00
10:00 Fourteen Days in May p.42
SHOWROOM SHOWROOM SHOWROOM SHOWROOM ASSOCIATED BERTHA CHANNEL 5 SCREEN 1 PRESS DOCHOUSE SCREEN 2 SCREEN 4 SCREEN 3
09:00
13:00
10:15 No U-Turn p.71
13:00 Infinity According to Florian p.36
10:15 Mutzenbacher p.76
13:00 Eat Your Catfish p.82
THE LIGHT SCREEN 6 THE LIGHT SCREEN 9
15:30 No Simple Way Home p.70 15:45 Nothing Compares p.89 15:30 Cutting the ‘Fame’ Trilogy: Asif Kapadia and Chris King p.41
13:00 Exposing Muybridge p.74
10:00 Beba p.67
15:30 My Paper Life p.70
12:30 1341 Frames of Love and War p.73
10:15 No Place for You in Our Town p.84
15:15 Dancing Pina p.95
12:45 I Didn’t See You There p.69
11:00 Relaxed Screening The Happy Worker – or How Work Was Sabotaged p.63
16:00 15:15 Ladies Only p.69
12:45 Electric Malady p.82
10:15 Our Bodies Are Your Battlefields p.89
CURZON SCREEN 1
15:00
12:45 Overcoming the Darkness p.90
10:15 Nelly & Nadine p.77
15:30 A Story of Bones p.77
13:30 Pryvoz p.37
16:00 Shorts I Am Your Sister p.101
ODEON SCREEN 3
ODEON SCREEN 1
14:00
11:00 SITE GALLERY AND SITE STUDIO Alternate Realities Exhibition, p.120 – 128 ALTERNATE REALITIES VARIOUS VENUES
11:00 SHEFFIELD HALLAM PERFORMANCE LAB The Sound Voice Project, p.132 11:00 ACCESS SPACE AT EVENTS CENTRAL E scaping Gravity, p.131 11:00 THE KURIOUS AT KOMMUNE Kubo Walks the City, p.131
TAMPER SELLERS WHEEL
WINTER GARDEN
KOLLECTIVE KITCHEN SITE GALLERY
11:00 THE WORKSTATION MEZZANINE VR Library, p.129 – 130
OTHER
10:00 SIDNEY & MATILDA Doc Society Drop In Day, p.153
09:00 16
Films
10:00 Events
11:00
Alternate Realities
12:00 Talks
13:00
14:00
15:00
16:00
Schedule Fri 24 June 19:00
20:00
21:00
22:00
23:00
00:00
01:00
00:00
01:00
20:30 Pongo Calling p.91
17:45 Shorts Beyond Our Own Eyes p.115 18:00 Garçonnières p.63
20:45 Julie on Line p.55
18:30 This is National Wake p.57
20:45 Ithaka p.64
17:45 A Bunch of Amateurs p.49
20:30 One Day in Ukraine p.51
21:00 In the Court of the Crimson King p.97 21:15 Four Journeys p.68
21:15 North Circular p.85
21:15 Plai. A Mountain Path p.37 21:15 Off the Rails p.71
ALTERNATE REALITIES VARIOUS VENUES
18:00 Midwives p.83
ODEON SCREEN 1
18:15 Shorts Myths of Objectivity p.102
CURZON SCREEN 1
18:30 New Pigs on the Block p.84 + The Unofficial Countryside
THE LIGHT SCREEN 9
18:15 McEnroe + Spotlight Conversation p.80
THE LIGHT SCREEN 6
18:00 Cesária Évora p.94
ODEON SCREEN 3
18:00
SHOWROOM SHOWROOM ASSOCIATED BERTHA SHOWROOM PRESS DOCHOUSE CHANNEL 5 SHOWROOM SCREEN 1 SCREEN 4 SCREEN 3 SCREEN 2
17:00
KOLLECTIVE KITCHEN SITE GALLERY
18:00 Alternate Realities Happy Hour p.164
WINTER GARDEN
18:30 British Council Reception: UK/Ukraine Season of Culture p.164
TAMPER SELLERS WHEEL
19:30Meet the North Norwegian Delegation p.164
17:00
18:00
19:00
20:00
21:00
22:00
23:00
OTHER
21:30 NETWORK WAKE UP! Friday Night Party (til 1am) p.164
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Schedule Sat 25 June 10:00
11:00
12:00
10:00 North Circular p.85
THE LIGHT SHOWROOM SHOWROOM SHOWROOM SHOWROOM SCREEN 6 ASSOCIATED BERTHA CHANNEL 5 SCREEN 1 PRESS DOCHOUSE SCREEN 2 SCREEN 4 SCREEN 3
09:00
13:00
14:00
15:45 As Prescribed p.61
13:00 Hafreiat p.55
15:30 The Oil Machine + Spotlight Conversation p.60
13:30 The New Greatness Case p.64
10:00 Moonage Daydream p.26
13:15 Alis p.81
10:30 The Happy Worker – or How Work Was Sabotaged p.63 10:00 Adam Ondra: Pushing the Limits p.67
THE LIGHT SCREEN 9
16:00 Songbirds p.112
13:00 Four Journeys p.68
10:30 Pongo Calling p.91
15:00 The Melt Goes on Forever: The Art & Times of David Hammons p.50
13:00 In the Court of the Crimson King p.97
15:45 Fragile Memory p.75
15:15 Beba p.67
12:30 Shorts Choosing To Be Seen p.99
10:00 Mountains and Heaven in Between p.36
16:15 The Territory p.91 15:45 Some Women p.57
12:30 Singing on the Rooftops p.52
10:15 Beneath the Surface p.61
CURZON SCREEN 1
16:00
12:45 Shorts Unknown Natures p.105
10:15 The Business of Birth Control p.62
ODEON SCREEN 3
ODEON SCREEN 1
15:00
ALTERNATE REALITIES VARIOUS VENUES
11:00 SITE GALLERY AND SITE STUDIO – Alternate Realities Exhibition, p.120 – 128 (includes Goodnight, Sleep Tight performance today) 11:00 SHEFFIELD HALLAM PERFORMANCE LAB – The Sound Voice Project, p.132 11:00 ACCESS SPACE AT EVENTS CENTRAL – Escaping Gravity, p.131 11:00 THE KURIOUS AT KOMMUNE – Kubo Walks the City, p.131 11:00 THE WORKSTATION MEZZANINE – VR Library, p.129 – 130 10:00 SITE GALLERY SQUARE – Common Good #3: Senses of Belonging (Pilot), p.133
TOWN HALL RECEPTION ROOMS A+B
Craft Summit – p.140 10:00 Composing Masterclass: Nainita Desai
12:00 Cinematography Masterclass
12:30 Sustainable Film Production for a Sustainable Future, p.142
16:00 Co-Creation: Collective Dreams, Co-Created Realities p.138
OTHER
OTHER
OTHER
CHANNING HALL
10:00 New Talent on the Rise p.142
16:00 Breaking Into Craft Editing – A Call to Action
14:00 Craft Masterclass: Brett Morgen
09:00 18
Films
10:00 Events
11:00
Alternate Realities
12:00 Talks
13:00
14:00
15:00
16:00
Schedule Sat 25 June 19:00
20:00
21:00
22:00
23:00
00:00
01:00
00:00
01:00
20:30 Rising Sun Blues p.65
18:15 Overcoming the Darkness p.90 18:30 One Day at a Time p.85
20:45 Our Bodies Are Your Battlefields p.89
18:15 Master of Light p.56
21:00 Children of Las Brisas p.54
18:45 My Name is Andrea p.50
21:30 A Film About Studio Electrophonique + Spotlight Conversation p.92
18:30 El Arena p.96
21:00 AGE OF RAGE – The Australian Punk Revolution p.93 20:40 After the End of the World p.48 20:45 Delikado p.87
CURZON SCREEN 1
18:15 Outside p.90
THE LIGHT SCREEN 9
18:00 Ladies Only p.69
20:30 Love, Deutschmarks and Death p.76
ALTERNATE REALITIES VARIOUS VENUES
18:00 My Paper Life p.70
ODEON SCREEN 1
20:15 Dark Days p.42
17:45 TS Eliot – Into the Waste Land p.78
ODEON SCREEN 3
18:00
SHOWROOM SHOWROOM ASSOCIATED BERTHA SHOWROOM THE LIGHT PRESS DOCHOUSE CHANNEL 5 SHOWROOM SCREEN 3 SCREEN 6 SCREEN 4 SCREEN 2 SCREEN 1
17:00
CHANNING HALL
TOWN HALL RECEPTION ROOMS A+B
18:00 KOLLECTIVE KITCHEN Alternate Realities Happy Hr.
18:30 THE KURIOUS AT KOMMUNE The Kurious Drinks, p.165
17:00 BIRDHOUSE Meet the Filmmakers Drinks p.165
17:00
18:00
OTHER
21:30 NETWORK acme Saturday Night Party (til 1am) p.165
19:00 TAMPER SELLERS WHEEL Meet the Scottish Delegation Drinks, p.165
19:00
20:00
OTHER
17:15 TOWN HALL SILVER ROOM Molinare Craft Summit Drinks, p.165
19:30 FURNACE Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences Drinks, p.165
OTHER
18:00 CURZON ROOFTOP NFTS’s Networking Drinks Reception, p.165
21:00
22:00
23:00
19
Schedule Sun 26 June
09:00
10:00
11:00
12:00
13:00
THE LIGHT SHOWROOM SHOWROOM SHOWROOM SHOWROOM SCREEN 6 ASSOCIATED BERTHA CHANNEL 5 SCREEN 1 PRESS DOCHOUSE SCREEN 2 SCREEN 4 SCREEN 3
10:00 Jane p.78
15:45 Shorts Unknown Natures p.105 15:30 Exposing Muybridge p.74 15:30 Peace and Tranquillity + Boney Piles p.38
Nothing Compares p.89
10:00 Garçonnières p.63
15:15 The Fire Within: Requiem for Katia and Maurice Krafft + Spotlight Conversation p.72 15:00 No Place for You in Our Town p.84
12:45 Beauty of the Beast p.81
10:15 Fragile Memory p.75
THE LIGHT SCREEN 9
16:00
13:00 One in a Million p.56
10:15 Shorts This Land is Our Land p.104
13:00 Sansón and Me p.51
15:30 Swing and Sway p.52 15:15 Dear Jackie p.54
12:45 Shorts Electric Animal p.100
10:15 Roger Graef Memorial Screening A Complaint of Rape – p.149
CURZON SCREEN 1
15:00
12:45 The Business of Birth Control p.62
10:00 Shorts I Am Your Sister p.101
15:00 Goodbye, Captain p.75
12:15 Relaxed Screening North Circular p.85
10:00 A Film About Studio Electrophonique p.96
ODEON SCREEN 3
ODEON SCREEN 1
14:00
13:00 New Pigs on the Block p.84
10:15 Shorts Between One World and the Next p.98
9:30 CHANNING HALL – Alternate Realities Summit, p.158 ALTERNATE REALITIES VARIOUS VENUES
11:00 SITE GALLERY AND SITE STUDIO – Alternate Realities Exhibition, p.120 – 128 (includes Goodnight, Sleep Tight performance today) 11:00 SHEFFIELD HALLAM PERFORMANCE LAB – The Sound Voice Project, p.132 11:00 ACCESS SPACE AT EVENTS CENTRAL – Escaping Gravity, p.131 11:00 THE KURIOUS AT KOMMUNE – Kubo Walks the City, p.131 11:00 THE WORKSTATION MEZZANINE – VR Library, p.129 – 130 TOWN HALL COMMITTEE ROOM
11:00 The Acquisitions Panel, p.133
16:00 The Acquisitions Panel, p.133
TOWN HALL TOWN HALL SHU SHEFFIELD RECEPTION RECEPTION PENNINE CITY HALL ROOM B ROOM A THEATRE MEMORIAL HALL
15:30 David Olusoga: StoryTrails – A Journey Through Time and Space, p.138
14:00 Pratibha Parmar in Conversation p.139
16:15 ITV Interview: Ellie Simmonds p.139
11:00 Journalism & Creative Documentary p.142 15:15 The Whickers Pitch p.143
10:00 Celebrating Trans-led Stories and representation p.142
16:00 CUT. HALL HADFIELD HALL Who’s Who p.153
OTHER
11:30 CURZON ROOFTOP Roger Graef Memorial Tea & Cake p.166
OTHER
12:00 CUTLERS’ HALL, OLD BANQUETING HALL Marketplace Café, p.152
14:00 CUT. HL. HADF. HL. Snap Chats: 10 Minute Meets, p.153
09:00 20
13:30 The Acquisitions Panel, p.133
Films
10:00 Events
11:00
Alternate Realities
12:00 Talks
13:00 Marketplace
14:00
15:00
16:00
20:00
21:00
22:00
Schedule Sun 26 June 23:00
00:00
21:15 The Joys and Sorrows of Young Yuguo p.106
18:30 Shorts Choosing To Be Seen p.99 18:15 Lyra p.88
21:00 The Melt Goes on Forever: The Art & Times of David Hammons p.50
18:30 Karaoke Paradise p.97
21:00 And Still I Sing p.93 21:15 A Bunch of Amateurs p.49
18:15 Marwan – Tomorrow’s Freedom + Spotlight Conversation p.86
20:30 All Man: The International Male Story p.73
18:00 Fashion Reimagined p.62
THE LIGHT SCREEN 6
17:45 Before We Move p.94
01:00
SHOWROOM SHOWROOM ASSOCIATED BERTHA SHOWROOM PRESS DOCHOUSE CHANNEL 5 SHOWROOM SCREEN 4 SCREEN 3 SCREEN 2 SCREEN 1
19:00
20:45 Man on Earth p.49
18:00 Breaking the Brick p.87
THE LIGHT SCREEN 9
18:00
20:30 Shorts Learning from the Living, Learning from the Dead p.103
CURZON SCREEN 1
17:00
ODEON SCREEN 1
19:15 Off the Rails p.71
ALTERNATE REALITIES VARIOUS VENUES
ODEON SCREEN 3
20:15 Some Women p.57
18:00 Bike Life Extreme p.68
18:00 KOLLECTIVE KITCHEN Alternate Realities Happy Hr.
20:15 Brett Morgen in Conversation p.139
SHEFFIELD TOWN HALL TOWN HALL SHU CITY HALL RECEPTION RECEPTION PENNINE MEMORIAL ROOM B ROOM A THEATRE HALL
17:00 CUTLERS’ HALL, MAIN HALL Marketplace Kick-off Drinks, p.153 19:30 CURZON ROOFTOP
18:30 TAMPER Chiledoc Drinks, p.167 SELLERS WHEEL 20:00 AMBULO Grierson Trust New Together Films Drinks Talent Drinks, p.166 p.167
17:00
18:00
19:00 BIRDHOUSE BBC Arts Drinks, p.166
OTHER
17:30 MILENNIUM GALLERY StoryTrails Drinks Reception p.166
21:30 LEADMILL Massaoke Paradise Sunday Night Party (til 1am) p.167
OTHER
18:00 BBC Interview: Clive Myrie p.138
19:00 WINTER GARDEN Women in Film and TV Drinks Reception, p.166
19:00
20:00
21:00
22:00
23:00
00:00
01:00 21
Schedule Mon 27 June
09:00
10:00
11:00
12:00
13:00
14:00
THE LIGHT SHOWROOM SHOWROOM SHOWROOM SHOWROOM SCREEN 6 ASSOCIATED BERTHA CHANNEL 5 SCREEN 1 PRESS DOCHOUSE SCREEN 2 SCREEN 4 SCREEN 3
10:00 Cesária Évora p.94
THE LIGHT SCREEN 9
16:00 Beauty of the Beast p.81
13:00 El Arena p.96
10:00 Fashion Reimagined p.62
12:45 McEnroe p.83
10:15 One in a Million p.56
13:00 Lyra p.88
15:30 Our Bodies Are Your Battlefields p.89 15:45 Garçonnières p.63 15:45 This is National Wake p.57
12:45 Master of Light p.56
10:00 The Fire Within: Requiem for Katia and Maurice Krafft p.74 10:00 Ithaka p.64
CURZON SCREEN 1
16:00
13:15 Plai. A Mountain Path p.37
10:15 As Prescribed p.61
15:15 AGE OF RAGE – The Australian Punk Revolution p.93 15:30 TS Eliot – Into the Waste Land p.78
13:00 After the End of the World p.48
14:45 Delikado p.87
12:30 A Great Day in Harlem p.43 + Rendezvous p.45
10:15 Shorts Electric Animal p.100
ODEON SCREEN 3
ODEON SCREEN 1
15:00
13:45 Goodbye, Captain p.75
11:00 Kino Bambino Screening And Still I Sing p.93
ALTERNATE REALITIES VARIOUS VENUES
11:00 SITE GALLERY AND SITE STUDIO – Alternate Realities Exhibition, p.120 – 128 (includes Goodnight, Sleep Tight performance today) 11:00 SHEFFIELD HALLAM PERFORMANCE LAB – The Sound Voice Project, p.132 11:00 ACCESS SPACE AT EVENTS CENTRAL – Escaping Gravity, p.131 11:00 THE KURIOUS AT KOMMUNE – Kubo Walks the City, p.131 11:00 THE WORKSTATION MEZZANINE – VR Library, p.129 – 130
CUTLERS’ HALL TOWN HALL TOWN HALL SHEFFIELD VARIOUS ROOMS RECEPTION RECEPTION CITY HALL ROOM B ROOM A MEMORIAL HALL
TOWN HALL COMMITTEE ROOM
11:00 The Acquisitions Panel, p.133
13:30 The Acquisitions Panel, p.133
16:00 The Acquisitions Panel, p.133
10:30 Channel 4 First Cut Pitch p.143 16:00 Does Length Matter? Making Short Docs That Count, p.145
13:45 Star Power – Is Talent Vital for Factual Success?, p.144
11:00 Bullying & Harassment in the Industry p.144
12:45 ITV Presents Fresh Cuts p.144
10:00 How ScreenSkills is Boosting Skills in an Unscripted TV Boom, p.143
15:00 Beyond Centres of Power p.145
9:00 MAIN HALL – MeetMarket, p.157 9:00 OLD BANQUETING HALL – Marketplace Café, p.152 9:00 RECEPTION ROOM – Switchboard & Consultancies, p.152 13:30 DRWNG. RM. How to Co-produce with the UK, p.154
10:00 DRAWING ROOM
Pitch Your Short, p.154
15:00 CUTLERS’ HALL, HADFIELD HALL Producers Meet Producers, p.154
16:00 CHANNING HALL The Rise of the Celebrity Documentary p.145
OTHER
OTHER
12:00 CHANNING HALL Working with National Geographic, p.144
09:00 22
Films
10:00 Events
11:00
Alternate Realities
12:00 Talks
13:00 Marketplace
14:00
15:00
16:00
19:00
20:00
21:00
23:00
00:00
21:00 Electric Malady p.82 20:45 Hafreiat p.55
18:15 Mountains and Heaven in Between p.36
21:00 The Territory p.91
18:30 Bike Life Extreme + Spotlight Conversation p.66
20:45 Adam Ondra: Pushing the Limits p.67
18:15 8 Bar – The Evolution of Grime p.53
01:00
20:30 Nothing Compares p.89 20:45 Breaking the Brick p.87 20:30 Singing on the Rooftops p.52
CURZON SCREEN 1
18:00 One Day in Ukraine p.51
THE LIGHT SCREEN 9
17:45 Dear Jackie p.54
THE LIGHT SCREEN 6
18:00 Children of Las Brisas p.54
17:30 Alis p.81
Schedule Mon 27 June SHOWROOM SHOWROOM ASSOCIATED BERTHA SHOWROOM PRESS DOCHOUSE CHANNEL 5 SHOWROOM SCREEN 4 SCREEN 3 SCREEN 2 SCREEN 1
18:00 Dancing Pina p.95
22:00
20:00 The Oil Machine p.65
ODEON SCREEN 1
18:00
20:30 The New Greatness Case p.64
ALTERNATE REALITIES VARIOUS VENUES
18:00 Shorts Between One World and the Next p.98
ODEON SCREEN 3
17:00
18:00 KOLLECTIVE KITCHEN Alternate Realities Happy Hr.
17:00 CUTLERS’ HALL CAFÉ UKTV Drinks, p.168 18:00 TAMPER S.W. Sky Documentaries Drinks, p.168
17:00
18:00
19:00
21:30 CRYSTAL BAR Channel 4 Monday Night Party (til 1am) p.168
OTHER
19:30 BIRDHOUSE ScreenSkills Drinks p.168 20:00 WINTER GARDEN Irish Delegation Reception p.168
20:00
21:00
OTHER
17:30 MILENIUM GALLERY Banijay UK’s Emerging Talent Drinks p.168
SHEFFIELD TOWN HALL TOWN HALL CITY HALL CUTLERS’ HALL RECEPTION RECEPTION MEMORIAL VARIOUS ROOMS ROOM B ROOM A HALL
20:00 Dust & Metal with a live performance by Xo Xinh p.95
17:00 Channel 4 Interview: Will Young p.139
22:00
23:00
00:00
01:00 23
Schedule Tue 28 June
09:00
10:00
11:00
12:00
13:00
THE LIGHT SHOWROOM SHOWROOM SHOWROOM SHOWROOM SCREEN 6 ASSOCIATED BERTHA CHANNEL 5 SCREEN 1 PRESS DOCHOUSE SCREEN 2 SCREEN 4 SCREEN 3
10:00 Italianamerican – p.43 + La Jetée – p.44 10:15 Master of Light p.56
15:30 My Name is Andrea p.50 15:00 One Day in Ukraine p.51 15:45 A Film About Studio Electrophonique p.96
13:00 Infinity According to Florian p.36
10:15 Julie on Line p.55
THE LIGHT SCREEN 9
15:30 And Still I Sing p.93
12:15 Outside p.90
10:30 Overcoming the Darkness p.90
10:00 No Simple Way Home p.70
CURZON SCREEN 1
16:00 15:215 No U-Turn p.71
12:45 The Melt Goes on Forever: The Art & Times of David Hammons p.50
10:00 One Day at a Time p.85
12:45 Rising Sun Blues p.65
15:30 Love, Deutschmarks and Death p.76
12:45 A Bunch of Amateurs p.49
15:30 Man on Earth p.49
13:00 Work-in-progress Screening: Ukraine p.155
10:00 BFI Doc Society Fund Works in Progress p.155
CURZON SCREEN 2
15:00
13:00 Focus: Filmmaker Talent with Asif Kapadia p.41
10:15 The Oil Machine p.65
16:00 Pongo Calling p.91
13:30 Shorts Learning from the Living, Learning from the Dead p.103
11:00 Relaxed Screening Hafreiat p.55
ODEON SCREEN 3
ODEON SCREEN 1
14:00
12:45 Swing and Sway p.52
TOWN HALL TOWN HALL SHEFFIELD ALTERNATE REALITIES RECEPTION RECEPTION CITY HALL VARIOUS VENUES ROOM B ROOM A MEMORIAL HALL
11:00 SITE GALLERY AND SITE STUDIO – Alternate Realities Exhibition, p.120 – 128 11:00 SHEFFIELD HALLAM PERFORMANCE LAB – The Sound Voice Project, p.132 11:00 ACCESS SPACE AT EVENTS CENTRAL – Escaping Gravity, p.131 11:00 THE KURIOUS AT KOMMUNE – Kubo Walks the City, p.131 11:00 THE WORKSTATION MEZZANINE – VR Library, p.129 – 130 14:00 Meet the Commissioners p.146 10:30 Paramount+ Factual: UK Commissioning... p.146 10:00 BBC Three Northern Docs Pitch p.145
12:30 Channel 4: Pride at 50 p.146
9:00 OLD BANQUETING HALL – Marketplace Café, p.152 9:00 RECEPTION ROOM – Switchboard & Consultancies, p.152 10:00 HADFIELD HALL Meet the Festivals & Markets p.154
13:30 DRAWING ROOM The Fundamentals of Budgeting, p.155
SHOWROOM BAR
CUTLERS’ HALL VARIOUS ROOMS
9:00 MAIN HALL – MeetMarket, p.157
09:00 24
Films
10:00 Events
11:00
Alternate Realities
12:00 Talks
13:00 Marketplace
14:00
15:00
16:00
19:00
20:00
21:00
22:00
Schedule Tue 28 June 23:00
00:00
01:00
23:00
00:00
01:00
18:15 Fashion Reimagined p.62
21:00 Nelly & Nadine p.77
18:15 8 Bar – The Evolution of Grime p.53
21:00 Beneath the Surface p.61
18:00 Sansón and Me p.51
SHOWROOM SHOWROOM ASSOCIATED BERTHA SHOWROOM PRESS DOCHOUSE CHANNEL 5 SHOWROOM SCREEN 4 SCREEN 3 SCREEN 2 SCREEN 1
20:45 A Story of Bones p.77
18:00 No Place for You in Our Town p.84
20:45 The Fire Within: Requiem for Katia and Maurice Krafft p.74 20:30 Karaoke Paradise p.97
THE LIGHT SCREEN 6
18:00 Pryvoz p.37
20:45 Marwan – Tomorrow’s Freedom p.88
18:15 ALL MAN: The International Male Story p.73
21:00 Before We Move p.94
CURZON SCREEN 2
18:30 Some Women p.57
THE LIGHT SCREEN 9
18:00
CURZON SCREEN 1
17:00
ODEON SCREEN 1
21:15 I Didn’t See You There p.69
18:30 Shorts This Land is Our Land p.104
SHEFFIELD TOWN HALL TOWN HALL CITY HALL RECEPTION RECEPTION MEMORIAL ALTERNATE REALITIES ROOM B ROOM A HALL VARIOUS VENUES
ODEON SCREEN 3
20:30 One in a Million p.56
18:00 The Joys and Sorrows of Young Yuguo p.106
18:00 KOLLECTIVE KITCHEN Alternate Realities Happy Hr.
CUTLERS’ HALL VARIOUS ROOMS
18:30 DocFest Awards Ceremony p.169
17:00
18:00
19:00
20:00
21:00
SHOWROOM BAR
19:30 Closing Night Drinks p.169
22:00
25
★★★★★ ★★★★★ ★★★★★ The Telegraph
The Daily Mail
The Guardian
IN CINEMAS SEPTEMBER
Breathtaking True Stories Intimate Access to the World’s Best Loved Icons The Highest Quality Filmmaking Acquisitions and Development contact: jessica.horne@nbcuni.com lewis.meade@nbcuni.com
IN CINEMAS JULY 15
Thu 23 June, 19:30 Sheffield City Hall – Oval Hall
Moonage Daydream
He worked with Bowie’s long-time collaborator, friend and music producer Tony Visconti and Academy Award-winning sound mixer Paul Massey (Bohemian Rhapsody) to remix and translate Bowie’s original stems for a theatrical environment. The resulting film is an intoxicating match for the artistry of an icon who helped shape and ch-ch-chch-change our culture for over 50 years.
Brett Morgen’s glorious cinematic odyssey features kaleidoscopic imagery, personal archive footage and unseen performances, all anchored by David Bowie’s music and words. Moonage Daydream will thrill Bowie fans and film-lovers alike. This immersive, genre-defying documentary is like an extension of Bowie’s imagination – dazzling, slippery and wildly inventive. The David Bowie Estate granted Morgen unprecedented access to their collection, presenting over 5 million assets, including rare and never-before seen drawings, recordings, films, and journals. Morgen spent more than five years, first assembling the film, then designing the soundscape, animations and colour palette.
I am overjoyed that Moonage Daydream is the opening night movie for this year’s Sheffield DocFest. Moonage Daydream invites audiences to come together to participate in a shared experience, to share in the wonder of Bowie. The opportunity to unspool the film at the historic City Hall, where Ziggy performed 50 years ago is in many ways, the fulfilment of that dream.” – Brett Morgen
Opening Night
Opening Night
Brett Morgen (The Kid Stays in the Picture, Crossfire Hurricane) returns to Sheffield DocFest in person for the first time since Cobain: Montage of Heck screened in 2015. He discusses his career in a public talk (p.139); and presents a masterclass at our Craft Summit for delegate passholders (p.140). He will also introduce a special screening of Jane (p.78), his portrait of the trailblazing primatologist Jane Goodall.
Director: Brett Morgen Producers: Andrew Murray Brett Morgen Sales Agent: Universal Pictures
Country: Year: Duration: Premiere:
USA 2022 135mins UK
Language: English
27
Awards
Sheffield DocFest 2022 Official Selection
International Competition
First Feature Competition
The Award for Best Film honours films that display strong artistic vision and courageous storytelling.
The award for Best First Feature honours the future of non-fiction film and celebrates promising talent.
This section is Academy Award® accredited.
Nominees
Nominees
After the End of the World..................................p.48
8 Bar – The Evolution of Grime �������������������������p.53
A Bunch of Amateurs..........................................p.49
Children of Las Brisas.........................................p.54
Man on Earth........................................................p.49
Dear Jackie..........................................................p.54
The Melt Goes on Forever: The Art & Times of David Hammons ����������������p.50
Hafreiat.................................................................p.55
My Name is Andrea.............................................p.50
Master of Light....................................................p.56
One Day in Ukraine..............................................p.51 Sansón and Me....................................................p.51
Film Awards
Singing on the Rooftops.....................................p.52 Swing and Sway...................................................p.52
One in a Million....................................................p.56 Some Women......................................................p.57 This is National Wake..........................................p.57
Short Film Competition
Alternate Realities Competition
The Award for Best Short Film honours the best creative approach to documentary under 40 minutes.
The Alternate Realities Award honours the best innovative non-fiction work.
This section is Academy Award®, BAFTA and BIFA accredited.
Nominees The Acquisitions Panel......................... p.133
On the Morning You Wake.................. p.122
after HOURS............ p.120
OnlyBans.................. p.122
Child of Empire........ p.129
Ravi and Emma....... p.123
Calling Cabral.....................................................p.103
Disarmed.................. p.129
Recharge.................. p.127
The Family Statement.......................................p.102
Escaping Gravity ���� p.131
Fawley.................................................................p.100
Gondwana................ p.121
A Rest Guide for a Tired Nigerian Artist......... p.128
Nominees 1 Kilo – 3 Euros.................................................. p.101 Aunt, a Tricycle.................................................. p.101
Happiness is £4Million.....................................p.102 How to See the Night........................................p.100 The Joys and Sorrows of Young Yuguo ���������p.106 Leaves of K......................................................... p.101 Mirrors..................................................................p.98 The Rightful........................................................p.104 28
Julie on Line.........................................................p.55
KidzWorks................ p.121 Kubo Walks the City...................... p.131 Monoliths................. p.130 Nocturnes................ p.127
Rozsypne.................. p.123 Safe Space............... p.124 Santa Barbara.......... p.124 The Sound Voice Project........... p.132
Awards Tim Hetherington Award
Youth Jury Award
This award recognises a film and filmmaker that best reflects the legacy of photojournalist and filmmaker Tim Hetherington.
This award is presented by five of the UK’s most passionate young documentary lovers to celebrate non-fiction cinema.
Nominees 1341 Frames of Love and War ���������������������������p.73 Beneath the Surface............................................p.61 Delikado................................................................p.87 Lyra.......................................................................p.88 Overcoming the Darkness..................................p.90 The Territory.........................................................p.91
Nominees Alis........................................................................p.81 Eat Your Catfish...................................................p.82 Electric Malady....................................................p.82 Four Journeys......................................................p.68 Goodbye, Captain................................................p.75 No Simple Way Home.........................................p.70 Rising Sun Blues..................................................p.65
Film Awards
Audience Awards Films Every feature film in the programme is eligible for this award – and the jury is you, the audience. Look out for our volunteers with tear slips at the cinemas to help you cast your vote.
Alternate Realities All of the works in this year’s Alternate Realities programme are eligible for this award. Look out for our volunteers with tear slips at the various venues for you to cast your vote.
29
From Jeremy Kyle Show: Death on Daytime to Undercover Police: Hunting Paedophiles, Channel 4 isn’t afraid to shine a light into the darkest corners of our world, bringing you documentaries that provoke uncomfortable and important conversations.
Special Focus
Ukraine
Password: Palianytsia Films ͡ Palianytsia [pɐlʲɐˈnɪtsʲɐ] – is a large Ukrainian traditional bread made of wheat grain.
Alternate Realities Talks & Sessions Marketplace 32
At the beginning of the war, the word was used at checkpoints to identify saboteurs. Even Russianspeaking Ukrainians can easily handle the demand to say ‘Palianytsia’. Russians cannot pronounce a soft ‘ts’ sound – it doesn’t exist in Russian. The sound ‘a’ persistently turns into ‘o’. And the sound ‘y’ in Ukrainian is formed by another part of the language apparatus. In general, the process is reminiscent of trying to stuff a suitcase with a huge number of things – all the time something falls out of it. Use of the word has given rise to many memes, posters and popular songs. There are even intercepted radio broadcasts where the Russian military is training to say it to each other – fearing exposure if they can’t. This word alone testifies to Ukrainian identity and brings us security. I would like to cite here some particularly clear facts of the Russian struggle against the Ukrainian word. Wikipedia contains references to Ukrainian linguicide dating back to the 17th century, when Patriarch Joachim ordered the removal from Ukrainian books of pages ‘not similar to Moscow’s’. After the invasion of Kyiv in 1918, the Bolsheviks purposefully hunted down Ukrainian-speaking residents, alongside those who owned books in Ukrainian or wore a national costume. By order of Stalin, individual letters that differed from Russian were removed from the Ukrainian language. In particular, the letter ‘g’ (hard ‘ґ). It is significant that the protection of Russianspeaking residents of Ukraine was the official reason for Russia’s invasion in 2014. It means that this war also began due to the word; because Ukrainians stubbornly did not want to become Russians.
These days, a school textbook on the history of Ukraine, along with a list of classical Ukrainian fiction, has been included by Russia in the list of ‘extremist books’. Russian occupying forces, breaking into the homes of civilians, burn these books as soon as they are found. The imperial regime is threatened by our words, our history, our works of art. At Docudays UA, we believe that the language of the modern world is the language of cinema. Every year, we have made every effort – with our film programmes, master classes and industry events – to develop this film language in Ukraine in context, and in sync, with the rest of the civilised world. On behalf of the entire team of Docudays UA, I thank the amazing people from Sheffield DocFest for the initiative to create this programme of solidarity with Ukraine. In the year when the war started in our country and when we have to postpone our festival until the moment of liberation from the enemy, this is an invaluable step. New Ukrainian films and projects – in spite of everything – will be able to gain their fans and jury evaluations. Now is an especially favourable time to hear the voices of Ukrainian authors. Feel their poetry, strength and unique motivation. It is time to truly discover Ukraine’s identity. To stop considering it as one of the ‘post-Soviet’ colonies. To see how modern and fresh our cinematic language can be. Come to our screenings and events. Stand with Ukraine. Roman Bondarchuk Art Director of Docudays UA International Human Rights Documentary Film Festival
Special Focus Films The fact that this collaboration has expanded, and is now represented across all of our programme, is a testimony to the resilience and the commitment of our Ukraine colleagues, who despite the unimaginable challenge of living in a state of war, continue to fight for the future of Ukrainian culture.
This war did not start on 24 February 2022, with Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. It started in February 2014, when Russian forces annexed the Crimean Peninsula following the Ukraine Revolution of Dignity (Maidan). We launch this programme with the World Premiere of One Day in Ukraine, a film that sharply reminds us that the day in focus is the 2,944th of the war.
At Sheffield DocFest this year, you will encounter contemporary Ukrainian life – including the reality of this war – in the selection of four films from Docudays UA, in four additional films screening across our Official Selection, and in the VR, art and TikTok works in Alternate Realities. There is also a screening and talk that contextualises the current military aggression looking at how Ukrainian documentary filmmakers have experienced and comprehended the years since Maidan.
During all these years, Ukrainian people continue to stand tall. They tell their own stories, and assert a contemporary Ukrainian culture, one that departs, as the UK/Ukraine season outlines, ‘from stereotypes and narratives that have been shaped through the lens of another culture’.
•O ur colleagues at Docudays UA, Ukraine’s leading documentary festival, have been a defining force in the protection, development and dissemination of contemporary Ukraine voices and stories. The war prevented their March festival – a deep reminder of the privilege of being able to go ahead with our own – and so we offered the space for Docudays’ Ukrainian films in Official Competition to be screened at Sheffield DocFest.
Clare Stewart Interim CEO Sheffield DocFest
Marketplace
•A nd well before this latest iteration of the war, we were already working with the Ukrainian Institute to bring a delegation of filmmakers with works-inprogress to Sheffield as part of the long-planned UK/Ukraine season. This would be the latest in several exchanges and initiatives between DocFest and our Ukraine partners since 2012.
It is in this context, where nascent projects are supported, developed, and find partners, and where talent have the opportunity to make connections, that we play a part in ensuring that despite all the attempts to oppress and eliminate the voices of contemporary Ukraine, they will continue to be heard. And in this way, we also honour those who have stayed to fight, as well as those who have had to flee, by fostering new work that will contribute to, and reinforce, the culture and identity of Ukraine.
Talks & Sessions
The inception of this collaborative programme was two-fold:
As importantly, for the future of Ukraine, five documentary projects in development and three works-in-progress will be presented in our MeetMarket and industry programme, and we will host a large delegation of Ukrainian filmmakers and artists in Sheffield, itself a City of Sanctuary.
Alternate Realities
Sheffield DocFest stands in solidarity with Ukraine. There is a war on. It is brutal and unjustifiable. It’s long-term impact on Ukraine, its people, heritage and culture is as inconceivable as the immediate horror of genocide and the largest refugee crisis Europe has known since the Second World War
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Special Focus
Ukraine Password: Palianytsia Films from Docudays UA Official Competition These films were originally selected by Docudays UA for their festival (25 March – 3 April) which was cancelled due to the war. We stand with Ukraine and give space for them to screen in Sheffield.
Films
See p.36–37 for full film details
Films in Sheffield DocFest Official Selection Alternate Realities Talks & Sessions Marketplace 34
Alternate Realities at Site Gallery
These films have been selected by the Sheffield DocFest film programme team and they screen across our programme.
Rozsypne (p.123) A virtual reality piece set in the summer of 2014, where as war raged around the otherwise peaceful rural village of Rozsypne, in east Ukraine, elderly Nina tries to preserve her everyday life.
Fragile Memory (p.75) Part of the Memories strand Ihor Ivanko sheds light on the life of his grandfather, Leonid Burlaka, a cinematographer from the glory days of Odessa Film Studio, who is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.
Out of Body Experience (p.39) Striving to maintain their connection and artistic practice during lockdown, Ukrainian artist collective Photinus Studio created an online performance where all participants become one malleable body and documented it in video.
One Day in Ukraine (p.51) Part of the International Competition Media activist and filmmaking collective Babylon’13, formed during the Maidan uprisings, focus on the events of March 14, 2022 – the 2,944th day of the Russian-Ukrainian War.
A TikTok War (p.125) From hiding out in bunkers to traveling across Europe as refugees, TikTok has been appropriated to chronicle and explain the horror of the Ukraine war.
Outside (p.90) Part of the Rebellions strand Olha Zhurba’s powerful debut feature tells the story of Roma, who at 13 years old became the poster child of the 2014 revolution. Overcoming the Darkness (p.90) Part of the Rebellions strand This kaleidoscope of short stories shines a light on Ukrainians bravely defending their land against the Russian invasion, with millions struggling for their right to exist.
Works-in-progress Screenings
Special Focus
Ukraine Password: Palianytsia
The Work-in-Progress Screening is an opportunity for three film teams from Ukraine to screen part of their rough cut for a room of industry delegates and decision-makers to have a discussion and find partners to move their project forward (see p.155).
Five Ukrainian projects in production will pitch in Sheffield DocFest’s flagship documentary pitching forum (see p.156). Intercepted Ukraine, Canada Director: Oksana Karpovych Producers: Giacomo Nudi, Rocío Barba Fuentes
Expedition 49 Ukraine, France, Poland Director: Alisa Kovalenko Producers: Stephane Siohan, Valery Kalmykov, Tomek Morawski Fragments of Ice Ukraine Director: Maria Stoianova Producers: Alina Gorlova, Maksym Nakonechnyi Iron Butterflies Ukraine Director: Roman Liubiy Producers: Andrii Kotliar, Volodymyr Tykhyy
Talk
Nice Ladies Netherlands, Ukraine Director: Mariia Ponomarova Producers: Rogier Kramer, Maksym Nakonechnyi, Anna Zobnina, Alina Gorlova
It’s the ninth year that Ukraine has been living in a state of war with the Russian Federation, which in February 2022 took the form of open military aggression. We now know that the 2014 conflict and the annexation of Crimea received insufficient attention, even as the current generation of Ukrainian filmmakers and artists were grappling with it. How have they experienced and comprehended reality in this time?
Shut the Fuck Up! Ukraine, France Director: Taisiia Kutuzova Producers: Stephane Siohan Olga Beskhmelnytsina
This talk follows the screenings of Peace and Tranquillity and Boney Piles (p.38).
Opposite Top: Outside, p.90 Opposite Bottom: Rozsypne, p.123 Above: Up in the Air
Marketplace
Up in the Air Ukraine, Czech Republic Director: Oksana Syhareva Producers: Oksana Syhareva Nataliia Pogudina, Karla Stojakova
Screening + Discussion: When it comes to Ukraine, what should one know?
Talks & Sessions
Ivan & Marta. A Day Before the War Ukraine Director: Sergey Bukovsky Producer: Oksana Ivaniouk
Alternate Realities
MeetMarket Project Selection
Films
Open to delegate passholders.
35
Special Focus
Films from Docudays UA Official Competition Infinity According to Florian As this riveting portrait of the multi-hyphenate artist Florìan Jur’jev unfurls, the acclaimed architect is facing one of the greatest challenges of his storied career.
Films Alternate Realities Talks & Sessions Marketplace 36
Oleksiy Radynski’s film details the decades-long career of the artist, musician, filmmaker and architect, highlighting the way Jur’jev embraced the aesthetics of Modernism, while also exploring the potential of colour, light and sound and railing against both conformity and orthodoxy. One of the pinnacles of his creative output is a concert hall in Kyiv, a radical design whose exterior resembles a flying saucer. But this otherworldly building is under threat from developers – an acquaintance of Donald Trump’s, no less. They want to turn it into a shopping mall. But they underestimate its creator, who sees the campaign to save his building as a battle for the very soul of art.
Director: Oleksiy Radynski Producer: Lyuba Knorozok Sales Agent: filmdelights
Country: Year: Duration: Premiere:
Ukraine 2022 70mins UK
Language: Ukrainian, Russian English Subtitles Throughout
Screenings Fri 24 June, 13:00, Showroom Channel 5 Screen 2 Tue 28 June, 13:00, The Light Screen 6
Mountains and Heaven in Between An intimate portrait of life in a remote mountain village, seen through the eyes of four paramedics, as the spectre of COVID-19 looms over it. Mariia, Tetiana, Anna and Svitlana are well-known figures in Kolochava, a small village that sits on the edge of the Carpathian Mountains, in the southwest of Ukraine. The paramedics operate the only ambulance in an area that has changed little in decades. The women bear witness to the cycle of life, from births to deaths, treating illnesses and infirmities. But the growing threat of the pandemic, filling local hospitals, endangers outpatients and visitors. Through its focus on the paramedic’s daily routine, Dmytro Hreshko’s film presents a compelling portrait of this remote world. Screenings Sat 25 June, 10:00, Odeon Screen 1 Mon 27 June, 18:15, Showroom Channel 5 Screen 2
Original Title: Між небом та горами Director: Dmytro Hreshko Producer: Polina Herman Sales Agent: UP UA STUDIO
Country: Year: Duration: Premiere:
Ukraine 2022 70mins International
Language: Ukrainian English Subtitles Throughout
Special Focus
Films from Docudays UA Official Competition Plai. A Mountain Path Eva Dzhyshyashvili’s contemplative film details rural life for a couple whose world is irrevocably impacted by conflict but whose resilience perseveres.
Films
Married for over 30 years, Hannusia and Dmytro live in the shadow of the Carpathian Mountains. Time in this remote, rural world passes slowly. Winter can be as harsh as summer is idyllic. But the couple and their family face a new challenge when Dmytro, having fought in a conflict in East Ukraine, returns home with only one leg. The burden of work is placed on Hannusia, as her husband faces up to the limitations of his new life. Dzhyshyashvili’s film skilfully locates the trials of her subjects’ lives within the wider scope of regional and international affairs.
Director: Eva Dzhyshyashvili Producer: Oksana Ivanyuk Sales Agent: Natalia Libet
Country: Year: Duration: Premiere:
Ukraine 2021 75mins UK
Language: Ukrainian English Subtitles Throughout
Alternate Realities
Screenings Fri 24 June, 21:15, Odeon Screen 1 Mon 27 June, 13:15, Showroom Channel 5 Screen 2
Pryvoz
Screenings Fri 24 June, 13:30, Odeon Screen 1 Tue 28 June, 18:00, The Light Screen 6
Director: Eva Neymann Producers: Gennady Kofman Olha Beskhmelnytsina Sales Agent: Gennady Kofman
Country: Year: Duration: Premiere:
Ukraine 2021 72mins UK
Language: Ukrainian, Russian English Subtitles Throughout
Marketplace
Spanning seven acres in the centre of the Black Sea port city, Pryvoz has existed for almost 200 years. It is Ukraine’s biggest market and is one of the largest markets in the world. Neymann captures daily activity there – the interaction between sellers and shoppers, who ruminate on camera about its past, present and future. All walks of life can be found at Pryvoz, the variety as rich as the produce on display. Security guards, a flea market manager, fortune tellers, shoppers and traders share their thoughts about their world and how it has changed.
Talks & Sessions
Eva Neymann documents everyday life in Odessa’s vast market, recording the thoughts of its traders and visitors, and highlighting its role as a vital artery in the city.
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Special Focus
Talk & Films from Docudays UA Screening Together
Boney Piles A moving portrait of life for a group of children in east Ukraine, eking a living amidst the detritus of conflict, just prior to the recent Russian invasion.
Films Alternate Realities Talks & Sessions Marketplace 38
The house’s facade displays a map of the former USSR, while right next door a second-hand clothing store advertises ‘European quality’. In this part of eastern Ukraine, where war has left nothing but bombed-out houses and desolation, live Nastya and Yarik. Along with other children who once called this place a real home, they exist among the ruins and junkyards with playful resilience. But the years of conflict have created traumas, indelibly scarring the children’s psyches. Taras Tomenko’s powerful and moving film was shot before the recent escalation of Russian’s incursion into Ukraine and is a chilling monument of the barbarity of war.
Original Title: Terykony Director: Taras Tomenko Producer: Volodymyr Filippov Sales Agent: Insightmedia
Country: Year: Duration: Premiere:
Ukraine 2022 80mins UK
Language: Ukrainian, Russian English Subtitles Throughout
Peace and Tranquillity As Russian troops were crossing into Ukraine, playwright Andrii Bondarenko wrote a play that looks back on a life bookended by conflict. Two weeks after Russia invaded his country, Bondarenko focused on the life he has lived. A peaceful childhood had followed bloodshed. And now, in adulthood, he faced the threat that previous generations of his family had witnessed. These thoughts took form in a one-act play, written in response to events as they were unfolding. To accompany this filmed version of the play, director Myro Klochko draws on photographs from Bondarenko’s life, conjuring up the people who have populated it and, by extension, the people of Ukraine. The result is an act of artistic expression, of remembrance and, ultimately, of resistance. Screening Thu 23 June, 12:30, Showroom Channel 5 Screen 2 Screening & Extended Discussion Sun 26 June, 15:30, Showroom Bertha DocHouse Screen 3 For details of discussion, see p.35
Original Title: Мир і спокій Director: Myro Klochko Producer: Noah Birksted-Breen Sales Agent: Noah Birksted-Breen
Country: Ukraine Year: 2022 Duration: 12mins Language: Ukrainian Partial English Subtitles
Special Focus
Alternate Realities Curated by Docudays UA Out of Body Experience Site Gallery Ukrainian artist collective Photinus Studio created an online performance where all participants become one malleable body, and documented it in video.
Artists: Photinus Studio Curated by: Docudays
Country: Year: Premiere:
Ukraine 2022 International
Alternate Realities
Out of Body Experience is contextualised by Capturing with an Unprecedented Task, which explains the complex science of cybernetics, both as a position and attitude in the world.
Films
To maintain contact with one another and continue practicing their art through an extended period of self-isolation, the participants of Photinus Studio devised a concept that allowed collaboration, with everyone becoming a part of a shared body/collective character that can take any form, from anthropomorphic to informational, in accordance with the environment and the goals; the goal being the journey of the protagonist – a collective character – to the sea. By losing our subjectivity, we take a step towards creating a shared group structure which becomes a driver of change – spatial, social and cultural.
Talks & Sessions Marketplace 39
Special Focus Films Alternate Realities Talks & Sessions Marketplace 40
A Documentary Journey with
Asif Kapadia Our 2022 Guest Curator, Asif Kapadia, is the Academy Award® and BAFTA-winning filmmaker whose acclaimed documentary films include Senna (2010), Amy (2015) and Diego Maradona (2019). Asif has selected films that had significant impact for him, inspiring his own style and creative choices as a filmmaker.
This selection is personal to me, as someone who grew up in Hackney in the 1970s and 1980s. I didn’t come from an art or film background. It was quite profound to know that it was possible for someone to make films like these.” – Asif Kapadia Asif Kapadia’s cinema is one of dazzling virtuosity. Some will know him as the filmmaker behind one of the most striking British feature debuts of the last few decades. Others from his series of documentary portraits which share a similar style yet remain singular works. Kapadia’s is a career that doesn’t so much blur the line between factual and narrative filmmaking as raise the question of whether such distinctions matter. He is a filmmaker. Period. Kapadia studied directing at London’s Royal College of Art. His graduation film The Sheep Thief (1998) screened at the Cannes Film Festival. He followed it with The Warrior (2001), a stunning, wide-screen revenge drama filmed in India, that combined myths from a variety of cultures to create something wholly unique. The existential arctic thriller Far North (2007) was equally bold.
An offer to make a documentary about the ill-fated Formula One driver Ayrton Senna found Kapadia searching for a different way to encapsulate a short but eventful life. His solution was to immerse audiences in the world of his subject. Skilfully piecing together a life from archive footage, Senna (2010) gave us a sense of what it must have been like to move within that world. He went further with Amy (2015). Achieving an extraordinary level of intimacy with his subject, Kapadia dispenses with salacious rumour and cliché, instead focussing on what made Amy Winehouse such a singular performer, but also acknowledging that with such raw talent lay a self-destructive urge. Diego Maradona (2019) once again went deeper, past all the headlines, in its portrayal of a largerthan-life individual. In addition to his talks and talent development contributions at Sheffield DocFest this year, Asif Kapadia has curated this programme of screenings. The chosen films have played a key role in his development as a filmmaker. Some are easily recognisable as documentaries. Others less so. But each highlights the work of a filmmaker who embraces whatever form is required to achieve their vision.
Cutting the ‘Fame’ Trilogy: Asif Kapadia and Chris King
Special Focus
A Documentary Journey with Asif Kapadia
Fri 24 June, 15:30 Showroom Associated Press Screen 4 Asif Kapadia will participate in a conversation with frequent collaborator, editor Chris King.
Films
This will be the first occasion in which Kapadia and King come together to discuss their decisionmaking regarding the scenes and sequences they chose to leave out of Senna, Amy and Diego Maradona. Opening up the archives to these films, they will revisit unused material, in this frank and insightful discussion. Chair: Jason Wood (Executive Director of Public Programmes and Audiences, BFI) Speakers: Asif Kapadia, Chris King
Alternate Realities
Focus: Filmmaker Talent Tue 28 June, 13:00, Showroom Channel 5 Screen 2
This talent initiative finds it origins in a creative challenge that Asif undertook early in his career. Having made award-winning short films, he found the experience of being ‘commissioned’ exciting and creatively liberating. The energy of making something on the fly during a film festival, with no creative constraints, on a tight budget and with the only limitation being the deadline, gave him the opportunity to play and experiment. He also met some great people – and had fun – whilst doing it. All filming is to be undertaken in a single day and the final work will be screened on the last day of Sheffield DocFest.
Marketplace
See www.sheffdocfest.com for participating talent
Talks & Sessions
Our Guest Curator, Asif Kapadia, working with the DocFest team, is inviting six filmmakers to make a short documentary, in and around Sheffield, during the Festival.
With the support of Amazon Studios, Canon and The Kurious at Kommune
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Special Focus
A Documentary Journey with Asif Kapadia Dark Days First time filmmaker Marc Singer creates a powerful, visually striking account of a large homeless community leaving beneath the streets of New York.
Films
The ‘Freedom Tunnel’, a disused Amtrak rail line that stretches from Penn Station to Harlem, had become refuge to New York’s homeless. Singer first became aware of it when he saw someone emerge from a manhole in Manhattan. He ventured into this world, handing out video cameras for people to record their lives. The result, shot in black and white and with music by DJ Shadow, is a profoundly affecting experience.
Sales Agent: Oscilloscope Laboratories
Alternate Realities
The filmmaker was so invested in the characters and the subject; the homeless people became the crew, and the filmmaker became homeless. The story and the passion that filmmaker invested in it really moved me.” – AK
Country: USA Year: 2000 Duration: 82mins Language: English
Screening Sat 25 June, 20:15, Odeon Screen 1
Fourteen Days in May
Talks & Sessions
This account of a US convict’s final days on death row is an uncompromising portrait of the country’s legal system and an indictment of capital punishment. Edward Earl Johnson was on death row in Mississippi for a crime he claims he did not commit. Paul Hamann’s film details his case and the days leading up to his execution. Highlighting the prevalence of African Americans on Death Row, with testimony by Clive Stafford Smith, a lawyer and advocate against capital punishment, Fourteen Days in May is a searing critique of a flawed system. I was in my teens when I saw this and Clive Stafford Smith became a hero to me – the story of a UK lawyer who fights for death row inmates in the US.” – AK
Marketplace 42
Director/Producer: Marc Singer
Screening Fri 24 June, 10:00, Showroom Screen 1
Director: Paul Hamann Producers: Vivian Ducat Pat Holland Sales Agent: BBC
Country: United Kingdom Year: 1987 Duration: 87mins Language: English
A Great Day in Harlem
Special Focus
A Documentary Journey with Asif Kapadia
Some 40 years after many of the greatest US jazz musicians posed for a photograph in Harlem, this film gathers together the stories of their lives.
Director/Producer: Jean Bach Sales Agent: Carol Friedman
Country: USA Year: 1994 Duration: 60mins Language: English
Alternate Realities
This film taught me about the importance of editors in the process of making a documentary. They’re so essential in the process of creation. You can make a movie out of anything. If you have will.” – AK
Films
In 1958, photographer Art Kane invited some of the finest musicians in American jazz to appear in a portrait on the front stoop of a house in Harlem. 35 years later, Jean Bach interviewed the surviving members of that group for this film. Using only the photograph as its visual material, what emerges is a living history of a golden era in music and turbulent time for the musicians and the neighbourhood they frequented.
Screening with Rendezvous, p.45 Screening Mon 27 June, 12:30, Odeon Screen 1
Italianamerican
In 1974, the renowned director filmed a conversation with his parents. Over dinner, they look back on their experiences as the children of Italian Immigrants in New York. What emerges is a rich portrait of a close-knit family and the filmmaker’s affection, not only for his parents – who would appear in many of their son’s films – but for the culture he was raised in.
Screening with La Jetée, p.44 Screening Tue 28 June, 10:00, Showroom Screen 1
Director: Martin Scorsese Producer: Elaine Attais Sales Agent: Janus Films
Country: USA Year: 1974 Duration: 49mins Language: English
Marketplace
This has always been a favourite because the relationship he has with his parents is so funny and there’s no embarrassment. I’ve lost my parents and I wish I had a record like this of them.” – AK
Talks & Sessions
Martin Scorsese’s portrait of his parents is warm, funny and affectionate – a simple film whose depth lies in the openness between subjects and maker.
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Special Focus
A Documentary Journey with Asif Kapadia La Jetée Chris Marker’s legendary sci-fi short presents a past world and dystopian future through a series of still images, told from the perspective of a narrator.
Films
Save for one brief moment, Marker’s photo roman solely comprises beautifully composed photographs. It tells the story of a prisoner in a post-apocalyptic world who is sent through time, where he falls in love. But little does he realise that his destiny is inextricably linked to his own past. It’s not strictly a documentary, but it is documenting a life – albeit a fictional one – through still images. It’s like so many documentaries, like so many films, which exist beyond easy definition and draw on so many different styles..” – AK
Alternate Realities
Screening with Italianamerican, p.43
Director: Chris Marker Producer: Anatole Dauman Sales Agent: Janus Films
Country: France Year: 1962 Duration: 28mins Languages: French, German English Subtitles Throughout
Screening Tue 28 June, 10:00, Showroom Screen 1
London Patrick Keiller’s wholly original journey through the UK capital is both a paean to the city and a critique of what it has come to represent.
Talks & Sessions
Paul Scofield’s narrator, accompanied by his fictional friend and one-time lover Robinson, journeys through the British capital. His musings, as Keiller’s camera passes through various boroughs, cover art and culture, politics and social movements, all of which played a role in the development of the sprawling metropolis. This captivating portrait, beautifully shot and mischievously witty, is a frank and occasionally wistful love letter to an ever-changing city. It was a film made about a place that I recognised – my city – but revealed it in a completely new way to me.” – AK
Marketplace 44
Screening Thu 23 June, 18:00, Showroom Screen 1
Director: Patrick Keiller Producer: Keith Griffiths Executive Producers: Ben Gibson Sales Agent: BFI
Country: United Kingdom Year: 1994 Duration: 85mins Language: English
Rendezvous
Special Focus
A Documentary Journey with Asif Kapadia
Claude Lelouch takes us on a high-velocity thrill ride through the streets of Paris, speeding past cars and ignoring traffic signs, just to be on time for a date.
Is it a movie? Is it a doc? A short film? Part of a longer film? I love the fact you cannot neatly place it in a box.” – AK
Films
Early morning in the French capital. A car comes speeding out of a tunnel. There’s a moment’s lapse before we hear the engine roar; then it hits us. Driving himself, with a camera attached to his souped-up Mercedes, the filmmaker takes advantage of a lull in traffic to race along boulevards and through every red light. There are no effects here, just a single, hairraising phantom shot.
Original Title: C’était un rendez-vous Director/Producer: Claude Lelouch Sales Agent: Metropolitan Films
Country: France Year: 1976 Duration: 9mins Language: No Dialogue
Alternate Realities
Screening with A Great Day in Harlem, p.43 Screening Mon 27 June, 12:30, Odeon Screen 1
When We Were Kings Muhammad Ali’s legendary heavyweight encounter with George Foreman is the centrepiece of Leon Gast’s celebrated, Oscar-winning sports film.
Without this film, there would be no Amy. There would be no Senna. There would be no Diego Maradona.” – AK
Director: Leon Gast Producers: Leon Gast Taylor Hackford Executive Producers: David Sonenberg Sales Agent: Park Circus
Country: Year: Duration: Premiere:
USA 1996 88mins International
Language: English
Marketplace
Screening Thu 23 June, 20:30, Showroom Bertha DocHouse Screen 3
Talks & Sessions
Generally regarded as the greatest sporting event of the 20th century, the ‘Rumble in the Jungle’ boxing match between world champion Foreman and Ali took place in Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo) on 30 October 1974. The circus behind it was eventful enough, but the climactic bout was a knockout. It was regarded as a shoo-in for the title defender. But everyone underestimated Ali, as Gast’s film thrillingly recounts.
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RELEASED OCTOBER 2022 | AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER NOW
Special Focus
Films
Films Talks & Sessions
The year’s programme features 135 films from 55 countries. 117 are recent productions, with a selction of 18 archive films playing across the various strands and special focus sections. Of the new films, 38 are world premieres. There are 22 international premieres and 11 European premieres. And 46 films will be enjoying their UK premiere across the course of the festival. Together, they not only add up to an exciting, wide-ranging, provocative, engaging and entertaining programme, they are a barometer of the importance of documentary film upon the world stage. And after two years of uncertainty, they show, along with the other facets of this fantastic festival, that Sheffield DocFest is back – stronger and more vital than ever.
Alternate Realities
Raul Niño Zambrano Head of Film Programmes
In an age when we are inundated with images, documentaries continue to play an essential role in the way we interact with the world. They not only show us the realities of life across the globe, they forge a connection between audience and subject, as the rich and diverse programme of features and shorts in this year’s festival show. The films we have chosen span the full spectrum of documentary production, from investigative journalism to experimental/hybrid works – and everything in between. Each film invites audiences to engage with them; to be inspired and even challenged by the stories they tell.
Marketplace 47
Special Focus Films Alternate Realities Talks & Sessions Marketplace 48
International Competition The International Competition selection is made up of five world premieres and four international premieres from Australia, Brazil, Lebanon, Mexico, Poland, Spain, the UK, the USA and Ukraine.
Films in this strand
They span a wide range of topics and are distinctive in their approach, inviting us to reconnect with the world in new ways. Two of the films selected – My Name is Andrea and Swing and Sway – previously participated in MeetMarket, Sheffield DocFest’s flagship documentary pitching forum, at their development stage. And A Bunch of Amateurs was part of Sheffield DocFest’s docs-in-progress showcase at the 2021 Marché du Film in Cannes.
Sansón and Me....................................................... p.51
After the End of the World �������������������������������������� p.48 A Bunch of Amateurs ��������������������������������������������� p.49 Man on Earth.......................................................... p.49 The Melt Goes on Forever: The Art & Times of David Hammons ����������������������� p.50 My Name is Andrea................................................. p.50 One Day in Ukraine.................................................. p.51 Singing on the Rooftops ����������������������������������������� p.52 Swing and Sway...................................................... p.52
After the End of the World Set amongst the constantly changing city of Beirut, this rousing film explores the knowledge and history spaces can hold, and what happens when those spaces disappear. In this depiction of a modern dystopian metropolis, the filmmaker and friends try to make sense of Beirut in the 30 years since the civil war. Nadim Mishlawi journeys through its recent history via a rich archive – capturing a place caught ‘between states of being and fading’. The textures of the environment are further enhanced through the use of an evocative soundscape. Stories held within the fabric of buildings and their surroundings emerge, begging us to consider the way we live, how we can learn from the past and the importance of finding some harmony between the natural and man-made world. Screenings Sat 25 June, 20:45, The Light Screen 9 Mon 27 June, 13:00, Curzon Screen 1
Original Title: ما بعد النهاية Director: Nadim Mishlawi Producer: Georges Schoucair Sales Agent: ABBOUT PRODUCTIONS
Country: Year: Duration: Premiere:
Lebanon 2022 72mins World
Languages: Arabic, English Partial English Subtitles
Special Focus
International Competition A Bunch of Amateurs This affectionate tribute to silver screen dreamers details a group of ageing cinephiles’ attempts to save their filmmaking club, including remaking a classic musical.
Films
Director: Kim Hopkins Producer: Margareta Szabo Kim Hopkins Sales Agent: MetFilm Sales
Country: Year: Duration: Premiere:
United Kingdom 2022 94mins World
Languages: English
Alternate Realities
Formed in 1932, Bradford Movie Makers is one of the oldest amateur filmmaking clubs in the world. But continuing in this day and age is no easy task. To ensure its survival, the group has decided to embark on its most ambitious project: to remake a beloved musical. Desperately clinging to their dreams – and each other – and fuelled by endless cups of tea, this group speaks to the escapist dreamer in us all. And Kim Hopkins’ quietly hilarious, profoundly moving portrait of shared artistic folly highlights the need for us to spend time together, face-to-face, in an increasingly lonely, digital age. Screenings Fri 24 June, 17:45, Showroom Associated Press Screen 4 Sun 26 June, 21:15, Showroom Associated Press Screen 4 Tue 28 June, 12:45, Curzon Screen 1
Man on Earth
Bob has lived fearlessly – he snuck off to Woodstock at 15, hung out with Blondie and the Sex Pistols and ended up designing bathrooms for Elton John, Janet Jackson and Versace. But when we meet him, Bob is being cared for by one of his sons. Trapped in a world of pain and unrelenting movement, he has decided to utilise the Death with Dignity law. Courtin Wilson’s camera stays unflinchingly close on the anger, sadness and joy of Bob’s last seven days while he continues to rail against his disease and says goodbye to family and friends.
Content Guidance: Bereavement & Death Director: Amiel Courtin-Wilson Producers: Alice Jamieson-Dowd Amiel Courtin-Wilson Sales Agent: Flood Projects
Country: Year: Duration: Premiere:
Australia 2022 90mins World
Languages: English
Marketplace
Screenings Sun 26 June, 20:45, The Light Screen 9 Tue 28 June, 15:30, Curzon Screen 1
Talks & Sessions
In this visceral, intensely intimate film, 65-year-old Bob has decided to end his own life after four years of living with Parkinson’s Disease.
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Special Focus
International Competition The Melt Goes on Forever: The Art & Times of David Hammons A striking portrait of an African American artist who has steadfastly remained an outlier in the art world but whose work offers an essential commentary on race in the US.
Films Alternate Realities Talks & Sessions Marketplace 50
David Hammons’ singular career covers life in LA during a turbulent 1960s through to his prominence within the global art world today. Key to his work has been an analysis of African American society and its representation within US life. Featuring interviews with eminent artists, curators and critics; a wealth of archival footage; an evocative soundscape that includes Marshall Allen, Idris Ackamoor and Shabaka Hutchings; and a reading by The Last Poets member and hip-hop forefather Umar Bin Hassan, The Melt Goes on Forever is a revelatory journey through six decades of art and culture. Screenings Sat 25 June, 15:00, The Light Screen 9 Sun 26 June, 21:00, Showroom Channel 5 Screen 2 Tue 28 June, 12:45, Showroom Bertha DocHouse Screen 3
Directors: Harold Crooks Judd Tully Producers: Judd Tully Andrew Mer Executive Producers: Lisa Cortés Rea David Tully
Country: Year: Duration: Premiere:
USA 2022 101mins World
Languages: English Partial English Subtitles
Sales Agent: BigFuss
My Name is Andrea Using archival footage and re-enactments, director Pratibha Parmar brings new light to the work of feminist writer and public intellectual Andrea Dworkin. Dworkin presented a revolutionary analysis of the myth of male supremacy with a singular urgency and iconoclastic flair. Decades before #MeToo, she called out the pervasiveness of sexism and rape culture, and the ways it impacts every woman’s daily life. My Name is Andrea focuses on key moments from the life of this fearless fighter, who was shaped by the civil rights movement and its values of justice and equality. Performances by Ashley Judd, Soko, Amandla Stenberg, Andrea Riseborough and Christine Lahti – all of whom have spoken out against sexual abuse – are intercut with rare, electrifying archival footage of Dworkin. Screenings Sat 25 June, 18:45, Showroom Associated Press Screen 4 Tue 28 June, 15:30, Showroom Bertha DocHouse Screen 3
Director: Pratibha Parmar Producer: Shaheen Haq Executive Producers: Gloria Steinem, Regina K Scully, Amy Scholder, Matthew Perniciaro, V (formerly Eve Ensler), Kimberly Agnew, Jenny Warbug, Ruth Ann Harnisch, Abigail E. Disney, S. Mona Sinha, Geralyn White Dreyfous, Simon Kilmurry, James Costa, Shelly Leslie
Sales Agent: The Film Collaborative , Submarine Country: Year: Duration: Premiere:
USA 2022 94mins International
Languages: English
Special Focus
International Competition One Day in Ukraine A mesmerizing feature length documentary from the Babylon’13 collective, focused on a single day: March 14, 2022, the 2,944th day of the Russian-Ukrainian War.
Original Title: Den Dobrovoltsya Content Guidance: War Director: Volodymyr Tykhyy Producers: Igor Savychenko Volodymyr Tykhyy Executive Producer: Kamil Rutkowski Sales Agent: Igor Savychenko
Country: Year: Duration: Premiere:
Ukraine, Poland 2022 77mins World
Languages: Ukrainian English Subtitles Throughout This film is paired with America a.k.a. Amerika (Newsreel#?) in Co-Creation, p.110
Sansón and Me
Borders have defined Sansón’s life. There’s the physical and psychological border between Mexico and the US. And now, looking at a life behind bars, there’s the one that separates him from his loved ones. Since it is forbidden to film inside the jail, Reyes recreates Sansón’s life – with the help of his family – through letters and by casting an untrained actor to play his friend. The resulting film is a reflection on migration, the notion of family, what it means to see one’s life on film, and the harshness and injustice of the US prison system.
Director: Rodrigo Reyes Producer: Su Kim Sales Agent: The Film Collaborative
Country: Year: Duration: Premiere:
Mexico, USA 2022 83mins International
Languages: English, Spanish Partial English Subtitles
Marketplace
Screenings Sun 26 June, 13:00, The Light Screen 9 Tue 28 June, 18:00, Showroom Associated Press Screen 4
Talks & Sessions
Rodrigo Reyes reconnects with Sansón, a Mexican migrant sentenced to life in prison, who he met when the director was a translator at his trial.
Alternate Realities
Screenings Fri 24 June, 20:30, Showroom Associated Press Screen 4 Mon 27 June, 18:00, Curzon Screen 1 Tue 28 June, 15:00, Showroom Associated Press Screen 4
Films
In recent weeks, intense warfare in Ukraine has created a post-apocalyptic scenario that has seen thousands of Kyivans living in subway stations. The capital city’s previously calm suburbs have been transformed into battle zones of destruction and looting by their Russian occupiers. There are no longer ‘workdays’ or ‘weekends’, just the number of days since Russia’s full-scale invasion. Babylon’13 collective’s film presents one of these days, witnessed by a pop music star, video engineer, historian, art restorer, polar researcher and pensioner, who have all been forced to radically change and re-evaluate their lives.
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Special Focus
International Competition Singing on the Rooftops The life of nonagenarian Gilda, a drag-queen in Barcelona, dramatically changes when they are asked to take care of an abandoned threeyear-old girl.
Films Alternate Realities Talks & Sessions Marketplace 52
Eduardo is well known in his neighbourhood as Gilda Love, perhaps the last of the older ‘transformistas’ (drag queens) in Barcelona. Now in his nineties, Eduardo’s life takes a surprising turn when he agrees to take care of a three-yearold girl whose father has been sent to prison and whose mother is nowhere to be found. His small apartment in the centre of Barcelona is a world unto itself, imbued with the glamour of Gilda Love. But now there is the disruptive influence of a child to contend with. Little by little the girl wins him over, giving him the opportunity to form the family he never had. Screenings Sat 25 June, 12:30, The Light Screen 9 Mon 27 June, 20:30, Curzon Screen 1
Original Title: Cantando en las azoteas Director: Enric Ribes Producer: Valérie Delpierre Sales Agent: BTEAM PICTURES, Inicia Films S.L
Country: Year: Duration: Premiere:
Spain 2021 78mins International
Languages: Spanish English Subtitles Throughout
Swing and Sway During the pandemic, two filmmakers – one in Brazil, the other in the US – send each other video letters, each inspired by a woman experimental filmmaker, over the course of one year. Renata and Fernanda conduct an interesting cinematic experiment. From Brazil to the US, where Fernanda has recently arrived as a migrant, they exchange video letters and they have one rule: each letter will be inspired formally and thematically by the work of a different female experimental filmmaker. As the year progresses, they address elections in both countries, personal fears, the experience of migration and the idea of motherhood. The inherent violence of the Trump and Bolsonaro administrations is felt through the letters, but also the presence and inspiration of the women who surround and inspire them. Screenings Sun 26 June, 15:30, The Light Screen 9 Tue 28 June, 12:45, Showroom Screen 1
Original Title: Vai e Vem Directors: Fernanda Pessoa Chica Barbosa Producer: Paola Wink Executive Producer: Jessica Luz Sales Agent: Jessica Luz
Country: Year: Duration: Premiere:
Brazil 2022 82mins International
Languages: Portuguese, English, Spanish English Subtitles Throughout
Films in this strand 8 Bar – The Evolution of Grime ������������������������������� p.53 Children of Las Brisas �������������������������������������������� p.54 Dear Jackie............................................................. p.54 Hafreiat.................................................................. p.55 Julie on Line........................................................... p.55 Master of Light....................................................... p.56 One in a Million....................................................... p.56 Some Women......................................................... p.57 This is National Wake ��������������������������������������������� p.57
Alternate Realities
These nine films celebrate the work of filmmakers making courageous choices and offer a view of the future of documentary filmmaking. Two of the films selected – Children of Las Brisas and Master of Light – previously participated in MeetMarket, Sheffield DocFest’s flagship documentary pitching forum, at their development stage.
8 Bar – The Evolution of Grime
Directors: Ewen Spencer Aleksandra Bilic David Upshal
Country: Year: Duration: Premiere:
Producer: Jamie Clark Aleksandra Bilic David Upshal
Language: English
Sales Agent: Gunpowder & Sky, 8 Bar Film LTD
United Kingdom 2022 89mins World
Marketplace
Screenings Mon 27 June, 18:15, Showroom Associated Press Screen 4 Tue 28 June, 18:15, Showroom Bertha DocHouse Screen 3
Talks & Sessions
The riveting story of Grime, told from the inside, taking in the characters, the music, the fashion, the hits that got away and the way the scene won over the world. Against a backdrop of austerity, riots and institutional racism, Grime became the defining sound of an era. Ewen Spencer’s exhilarating film is told through Grime’s grass-roots originators, from major players like Dizzee Rascal, to unsung heroes such as DJ Slimzee, along with behind-the-scenes operators who propelled, and continue to drive, the music’s relentless 140BPM heartbeat. 8 Bar shines a light on an untold history, bringing a cultural art-form the recognition it deserves and highlighting the impact of these Black British artists on contemporary music, fashion and popular culture.
Films
The International First Feature Competition selection is made up of five world premieres and four international premieres, representing Canada, France, Germany, Jordan, Netherlands, Qatar, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, the UK, the USA and Venezuela.
Special Focus
International First Feature Competition
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Special Focus
International First Feature Competition Children of Las Brisas Marianela Maldonado’s observational documentary charts nine years in the lives of young Venezuelans whose musical talent offer a chance for them to escape poverty.
Films Alternate Realities Talks & Sessions Marketplace 54
In the heart of the city of Valencia lies the neighbourhood of Las Brisas. Crime and poverty dominate daily life, but for Dissandra, Edixon and Wuilly there is an opportunity to break away. ‘The System’ is a state-funded orchestra programme that gives young talent of limited means a hopeful future. However, as the years pass, the children face new obstacles and when their dreams are almost within reach, Venezuela’s economic instability could jeopardize everything. Maldonado’s film skilfully balances intimate portraits of its subjects with a more expansive overview of a country reaching breaking point. Screenings Sat 25 June, 21:00, Showroom Bertha DocHouse Screen 3 Mon 27 June, 18:00, The Light Screen 6
Original Title: Niños de Las Brisas Director: Marianela Maldonado Producers: Andy Glynne Luisa De La Ville Luc Martin-Gousset Sales Agent: Mosaic Films Inc
Country: U nited Kingdom, Venezuela, France, USA Year: 2022 Duration: 85mins Premiere: World Languages: Spanish English Subtitles Throughout
Dear Jackie This cinematic letter to the first Black man to play Major League Baseball explores Jackie Robinson’s time in Montreal and testifies to his experience of racism and inequality. Henri Pardo’s fascinating film is shot in lustrous monochrome and employs stunning archive footage. It focuses on the period the Georgia-born player was contracted to the minor-league Montreal Royals, prior to his rapid ascent and stellar career in the US. Constructed as a direct address to the baseball star, the film also explores life in Montreal’s Black community of Little Burgundy, once known as the ‘Harlem of the North’. Viewed through the prism of past and present, it contemplates both the legacy of Robinson’s achievements and the impact of the Black Lives Matter movement today. Screenings Sun 26 June, 15:15, Curzon Screen 1 Mon 27 June, 17:45, The Light Screen 9
Director: Henri Pardo Producer: Katarina Soukup Sales Agent: Cinema Politica
Country: Year: Duration: Premiere:
Canada 2021 90mins International
Languages: English, French Partial English Subtitles
Special Focus
International First Feature Competition Hafreiat Whilst labouring on an archaeological dig in Jordan, a father excavates his troubled past. With another baby on the way, he ponders the possibility of a better future.
Director: Alex Sardà Producers: Carlota Coloma Jumana Saadeh Adria Lahuerta Sales Agent: 15L FILMS
Country: Year: Duration: Premiere:
Jordan, Spain, Qatar 2022 78mins World
Languages: Arabic, English, Spanish English Subtitles Throughout
Alternate Realities
Screenings Sat 25 June, 13:00, Showroom Bertha DocHouse Screen 3 Mon 27 June, 20:45, Showroom Channel 5 Screen 2 Tue 28 June, 11:00, Odeon Screen 1
Films
Under the heat of the sun at a Spanish archeological mission in northern Jordan, local workers dig the land for long hours. The wages are poor and the cost of living is on the rise. Abu Deya, a Palestinian Jordanian, wants to provide a different life for his family, but a criminal record stymies his efforts. Alex Sardà’s observational film sensitively documents one man’s relationship to his family, the land and its laws. Ultimately, it questions the possibility of exorcising the past in a society that seems opposed to the notion of rehabilitation.
Julie on Line Shot over five years, director Mia Ma follows her friend Julie as she tries to reinvent her future and find a way to live with schizophrenia.
Original Title: Fréquence Julie Content Guidance: Sexual abuse is discussed Director: Mia Ma Producer: Florent Coulon Sales Agent: Florent Coulon
Country: Year: Duration: Premiere:
France 2021 77mins International
Languages: French English Subtitles Throughout
Marketplace
Screenings Fri 24 June, 20:45, Showroom Channel 5 Screen 2 Tue 28 June, 10:15, The Light Screen 9
Talks & Sessions
Through the compassionate lens of friendship, we follow Julie – a Senegalese woman living in France – and her struggle to integrate in a culture where she is deemed ‘80% mentally disabled’ by the health system. Julie undergoes various treatments – pharmaceutical and alternative – in an attempt to live her life as fully as she can. We learn that childhood trauma and a history of abuse has played a devastating role in her condition. This frank, often lyrical film, is a deeply affecting tribute to one woman’s courage in attempting to overcome her severe mental condition.
55
Special Focus
International First Feature Competition Master of Light After a decade in prison, artist George Anthony Morton returns home to reconcile with his family and grapple with past traumas by painting a series of portraits.
Films Alternate Realities Talks & Sessions Marketplace 56
While serving out a federal sentence for drug dealing, classical painter Morton further developed his artistic approach. Upon his release, he chose to rail against a predominantly white cultural landscape, forging his own unique style and vision. When he returns to the family home in Kansas City, he faces ghosts from his past. While attempting to rebuild his relationship with his mother, whose life is spent in and out of prison, Morton paints family members in the style of Dutch Masters. But he also explores the influential role that African art has played within the realist tradition. Screenings Sat 25 June, 18:15, Showroom Bertha DocHouse Screen 3 Mon 27 June, 12:45, The Light Screen 9 Tue 28 June, 10:15, Showroom Channel 5 Screen 2
Director: Rosa Ruth Boesten
Sales Agent: One Story Up LLC
Producers: Anousha Nzume Roger Ross Williams Ilja Roomans
Country: Year: Duration: Premiere:
Executive Producers: Jody Allen Ruth Johnston Rocky Collins Jannat Gargi Geoff Martz
Language: English
Director: Joya Thome
Country: Year: Duration: Premiere:
USA, Netherlands 2022 83mins International
One in a Million Whitney is a rising star of the US gymnastics scene, who has a sizeable following on YouTube. Among them is Yara, who lives in Germany and is one of her biggest fans. Two teenage girls live in different continents but are connected by their screens. Whitney Bjerken has a million YouTube subscribers; she creates challenges and posts updates on her training. Yara idolizes Whitney and follows her every move. As time progresses, Whitney starts looking for other sources of content outside gymnastics. Yara discovers a new side to her personality, which develops in tandem with Whitney’s everexpanding online activity. Joya Thome’s cautionary film about our increasing attachment to social media reflects on the limits of what we can – or should – share online. Screenings Sun 26 June, 13:00, Showroom Bertha DocHouse Screen 3 Mon 27 June, 10:15, The Light Screen 6 Tue 28 June, 20:30, Odeon Screen 3
Producers: Katharina Bergfeld Martin Heisler Sales Agent: Syndicado Film Sales
Germany 2022 84mins World
Languages: English, German Partial English Subtitles
Special Focus
International First Feature Competition Some Women Drawing on her own experiences to reclaim her transgender identity, Singaporean director Quen Wong’s directorial debut disrupts the silence around trans discrimination.
Director: Quen Wong Producer: Zi Qui Low Executive Producer: Glen Goei Sales Agent: Tiger Tiger Pictures
Country: Year: Duration: Premiere:
Singapore 2021 71mins International
Languages: English, Mandarin, Cantonese, Malay English Subtitles Throughout
Alternate Realities
Screenings Sat 25 June, 15:45, The Light Screen 6 Sun 26 June, 20:15, Odeon Screen 3 Tue 28 June, 18:30, Curzon Screen 1
Films
Counting down to her wedding day, Quen explores the journey to her current trans woman identity. In looking back through her past, she shares intimate moments, with her fiancé, which were key to her transition. Her journey also features glimpses of Bugis Street, the trans community’s haven, in its glory days. These are contrasted with present-day Singapore, where the trans community has become marginalised. Quen eloquently chronicles the untold stories of trans women from three different generations, posing critical questions about the survival of the present LGBTQIA+ community under a conservative government.
This is National Wake
Screenings Fri 24 June, 18:30, Showroom Bertha DocHouse Screen 3 Mon 27 June, 15:45, The Light Screen 6
Director: Mirissa Neff Producers: Mirissa Neff Joshua Jelly-Schapiro Executive Producers: Kwkeu Mandela Kathryn Everett Bryn Mooser Sales Agent: XTR
Country: Year: Duration: Premiere:
South Africa, USA 2022 66mins World
Language: English
Marketplace
National Wake emerged in the late 1970s with anti-establishment ideals and a punk rock sound that won them a massive following within Johannesburg’s underground club scene. Their first and only record was banned by the country’s racist legal system and within a few years the group had disbanded. The two black members, brothers Punka and Gary Khoza, subsequently died tragically young. Eschewing talking heads for a dazzling audio-visual archive, including some great Super-8 footage, debut director Neff has forged a visceral portrait of a dissident group who were dedicated to the fight for racial freedom – a punk legacy that lives on through the band’s legend and its fans.
Talks & Sessions
Employing a rich trove of archive film, Mirissa Neff explores the history of South Africa’s outlaw multi-racial rock group, who formed at the height of Apartheid.
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5 - 13 AUGUST
PRIZREN KOSOVO
Special Focus
Films Strand
Debates
Films
These are films that grapple with topics we need to talk about. From the opioid crisis and systematic racism to the fossil fuel lobby or birth control, each film journeys to the core of each issue, inviting us to be part of the conversation.
Films in this strand As Prescribed..........................................................p.61 Beneath the Surface �����������������������������������������������p.61 The Business of Birth Control ��������������������������������� p.62 Fashion Reimagined ����������������������������������������������� p.62 Garçonnières.......................................................... p.63 The Happy Worker – or How Work Was Sabotaged ��������������������������������� p.63 Ithaka..................................................................... p.64 The New Greatness Case ��������������������������������������� p.64
Alternate Realities
The Oil Machine ����������������������������������������������������� p.65 Rising Sun Blues ���������������������������������������������������� p.65
Spotlight
Talks & Sessions Marketplace 60
In the UK, the commercial oil sector has long enjoyed a close relationship with the government and those making policy. Emma Davie’s film details the impact of these ties, a topic that will be discussed further in this Spotlight conversation. The Oil Machine, p.65 Sat 25 June, 15:30, Showroom Bertha DocHouse Screen 3 Emma Davie and guests will be in conversation after the screening.
Debates
Special Focus
Films As Prescribed Detailing multiple cases of the damage wreaked by benzodiazepine, Holly Hardman’s film offers poignant insight into a devastating social crisis.
Director: Holly Hardman Producer: Holly Hardman Executive Producer: Poull Brien
Country: Year: Duration: Premiere:
USA 2022 95mins International
Language: English
Sales Agent: Films Transit
Alternate Realities
Screenings Sat 25 June, 15:45, Showroom Channel 5 Screen 2 Mon 27 June, 10:15, Showroom Bertha DocHouse Screen 3
Films
For years, doctors have been prescribing benzodiazepine psychoactive medication to patients without acknowledging the harm they cause. While pharmaceutical companies reap considerable profits, users have experienced physical and psychological dependence that has impacted their personal, social and professional lives. Hardman’s compassionate film presents harrowing accounts of those affected and their families, highlighting the profound loss caused by this crisis. At its heart is Geraldine Burns, actively advocating the awareness of benzodiazepine side-effects and campaigning for the ‘Benzo Bill’, aimed at influencing policymaking over the regulations regarding this drug.
Beneath the Surface Alexander Irvine-Cox’s searing investigative documentary explores an overlooked culture of abuse and systemic racism in Norway.
Original Title: Stille i Tysfjord Content Guidance: Sexual abuse
Sales Agent: Autlook Filmsales
Director: Alexander Irvine-Cox
Country: Norway United Kingdom
Producer: Ingvil Giske
Year: 2022 Duration: 90mins Premiere: UK
Executive Producers: Andre Singer Lucie Kon / BBC Fiona Stourton
Language: Norwegian English Subtitles Throughout
Marketplace
Screenings Sat 25 June, 10:15, Curzon Screen 1 Tue 28 June, 21:00, Showroom Bertha DocHouse Screen 3
Tim Hetherington Award Nominee
Talks & Sessions
In 2014, following a tip-off, a group of journalists exposed a troubled history for indigenous Sámi women, men and children. It revealed generations of negligence, abuse and suffering, supported by a mass of evidence and previously unseen archival footage. As the case goes to court, the community remains defiant against a judicial system whose attitudes highlight fissures in the purported equal treatment of all citizens. The community’s battle aims to break a vicious cycle of racism and to achieve meaningful lasting change for future generations.
61
Special Focus
Films
Debates
The Business of Birth Control Once seen as the drug that revolutionised women’s emancipation, the politics of hormonal birth control has a more troubling history.
Films Alternate Realities
The appearance of ‘the pill’ offered the freedom of choice to women and played a key role in the wider feminist movement. But the passing decades have witnessed more detailed examination of the drug’s effects. Abby Epstein’s film grapples with its history, from the racist legacy of hormonal contraception and its ongoing weaponization against communities of colour, to the potentially damaging effects on women’s bodies. Weaving together the stories of bereaved parents, body literacy activists and femtech innovators, the film highlights a new generation of women seeking holistic and ecological alternatives, while redefining the meaning of reproductive justice. Screenings Thu 23 June, 17:30, Showroom Bertha DocHouse Screen 3 Sat 25 June, 10:15, Showroom Channel 5 Screen 2 Sun 26 June, 12:45, Showroom Channel 5 Screen 2
Director: Abby Epstein Producers: James Costa Abby Epstein Anna Kolber Holly Grigg-Spall
Country: Year: Duration: Premiere:
USA 2021 91mins UK
Language: English
Executive Producer: Ricki Lake Sales Agent: Autlook Filmsales
Fashion Reimagined Trailblazing fashion designer Amy Powney is on a mission to create a sustainable collection and transform the way we engage with fashion.
Talks & Sessions Marketplace 62
The designer of cult label Mother of Pearl, Amy Powney is a rising star of the London fashion scene. Winner of the Vogue award for Best Young Designer of the Year, she was raised on a remote, eco-friendly homestead by activist parents. That upbringing instilled in her an uneasy attitude toward the environmental impact of her industry. Powney invested her Vogue prize money into creating a sustainable collection – part of a campaign to transform the fashion business. Becky Hutner documents the challenges facing an artist and realworld influencer as she seeks to introduce change to the fashion world. Screenings Sun 26 June, 18:00, The Light Screen 9 Mon 27 June, 10:00, Showroom Associated Press Screen 4 Tue 28 June, 18:15, Showroom Channel 5 Screen 2
Director: Becky Hutner Producers: Becky Hutner Linsday Lowe Andrea van Beuren Sales Agent: MetFilm Sales
Country: United Kingdom, USA Year: 2022 Duration: 92mins Premiere: European Language: English
Debates
Special Focus
Films Garçonnières A group of men, aged between 30 and 45 talk candidly to Céline Pernet about their relationship to notions of masculinity.
Films
Following a lengthy period on dating websites and meeting a variety of men, Pernet decides to embark on a deeper investigation into what men feel and think. Through an advert, she whittles her subjects down to 30 men, whose ages span 15 years, and who are willing to talk frankly and openly about all aspects of their lives. Filmed mostly in their personal spaces or engaged in some activity – from sports events to crosscountry motorcycling – these men discuss work, love, sex and the frequent disparity between who they are and what is expected of them. The results are funny, revealing and occasionally surprising.
Director: Céline Pernet Producer: Stéphane Goël Sales Agent: Lightdox
Country: Year: Duration: Premiere:
Switzerland 2022 90mins International
Language: French English Subtitles Throughout
Alternate Realities
Screenings Fri 24 June, 18:00, Showroom Channel 5 Screen 2 Sun 26 June, 10:00, The Light Screen 6 Mon 27 June, 15:45, Showroom Associated Press Screen 4
The Happy Worker – or How Work Was Sabotaged
Work has been hijacked by senseless jargon, endless meetings about nothing and activities that go against the possibility of a successful workday. With help from anthropologist and activist David Graeber, psychologist and pioneer of burnout research Christina Maslach, and a variety of office workers and executives, Webster not only explores an environment that results in lower productivity, but the culture of silence that accompanies it. Provocative and frequently hilarious, The Happy Worker is a white-collar call-to-arms.
Director: John Webster Producer: Marko Talli Sales Agent: CAT&Docs
Country: Year: Duration: Premiere:
Finland 2022 79mins UK
Language: English
Marketplace
Screenings Thu 23 June, 15:30, Showroom Channel 5 Screen 2 Fri 24 June, 11:00, Odeon Screen 1 Sat 25 June, 10:30, The Light Screen 6
Talks & Sessions
How has the concept of a productive workday become the last thing on people’s minds. John Webster thinks he knows…
63
Special Focus
Films
Debates
Ithaka Julian Assange’s wife and father battle the British establishment on behalf of the WikiLeaks founder, who faces a 175-year prison sentence if extradited to the US.
Films
Stella and John run a tireless campaign to save Assange, arguably the world’s most visible political prisoner. Filmed over two years, Ithaka follows John as he travels between the UK, Europe and the US, campaigning for his son against a system that seems hell-bent on persecuting him. Assange himself is only heard through his reciting the titular poem, an apt tale of an epic odyssey. Assange’s own journey, his destiny, is one that will impact us all. At stake is the future of free speech, a free press and the ability to bring those in power to account.
Alternate Realities
Screenings Fri 24 June, 20:45, Showroom Bertha DocHouse Screen 3 Mon 27 June, 10:00, Curzon Screen 1
Director: Ben Lawrence Producers: Gabriel Shipton Adrian Devant Executive Producer: Roger Savage
Country: Year: Duration: Premiere:
Australia 2021 111mins International
Languages: English Partial English Subtitles
Sales Agent: Shipton House Pty Ltd
The New Greatness Case Anya Pavlikova’s political case is a chilling example of Russia’s re-emergence as a state of fear and coercion.
Talks & Sessions Marketplace 64
In August 2020, a group of young Moscovites, including Anya Pavlikova, were found guilty of ‘creating an extremist community’. Labelled ‘New Greatness’, the six defendants initially met in a chatroom where they shared their feelings about their government. Anna Shisova’s film questions the true origins of the group, and its move from talk to action, while detailing the impact of the case on Anya and her family. In particular, she focuses on Anya’s mother, whose unwavering belief in her daughter’s innocence appears as an extraordinary act of resistance in a country where free expression is limited and dissent of any kind is punished. Screenings Sat 25 June, 13:30, Showroom Associated Press Screen 4 Mon 27 June, 20:30, Odeon Screen 3
Director: Anna Shishova Producers: Vlad Ketkovich Iikka Vehkalahti Siniša Juričić Torstein Grude Executive Producer: Ina Fichman Sales Agent: Autlook Filmsales
Country: Finland, Croatia, Norway Year: 2022 Duration: 96mins Premiere: European Languages: Russian English Subtitles Throughout
Debates
Special Focus
Films The Oil Machine Emma Davie’s urgent documentary explores our complex relationship with the oil industry, set against the backdrop of the ongoing fight for North Sea reserves.
Director: Emma Davie Producer: Sonja Henrici Sales Agent: Sonja Henrici Creates
Country: Year: Duration: Premiere:
United Kingdom 2022 82mins World
Language: English
Alternate Realities
Screenings Sat 25 June, 15:30, Showroom Bertha DocHouse Screen 3 Mon 27 June, 20:00, Odeon Screen 1 Tue 28 June, 10:15, Showroom Bertha DocHouse Screen 3
Films
From the discovery of huge oil fields off the coast of Scotland to their mass privatisation during the Thatcher era, The Oil Machine highlights how oil became the invisible engine driving UK economic and public policy. In the wake of COP26 in Glasgow, demand for climate action has become a key societal concern and the pressure on both oil companies and the government continues to mount. Bringing together a wide range of voices, from industry executives and economists to young activists, Davie offers a visceral and thoughtprovoking interrogation into how this insidious machine might be dismantled.
See p.60 for the Spotlight discussion
Rising Sun Blues
Screenings Sat 25 June, 20:30, Showroom Screen 1 Tue 28 June, 12:45, The Light Screen 9
Youth Jury Award Nominee
Original Title: Rua dos Anjos Content Guidance: Discussions about sex Directors: Renata Ferraz, Maria Roxo Producer: Ansgar Schaefer Executive Producers Rui Ribeiro, Elsa Sertorio Renata Ferraz Sales Agent: Elsa Sertorio
Country: Year: Duration: Premiere:
Portugal, Brazil 2022 84mins European
Languages: Portuguese English Subtitles Throughout This film is paired with Not a Love Story: A Film About Pornography in Co-Creation, p.113
Marketplace
It began with Brazilian actor Renata Ferraz’s desire to examine the connection between sex work and acting. She approached former sex worker María Roxo with the idea of collaborating on a project that would involve exchanging information and little-known details about their professions. Opening on a theatrical set-up inside a film studio, Renata’s conversation with María about her experiences makes her realise that, despite their differences, they share instances of abuse, coercion and violence. As the film progresses, the line between Renata and Maria’s worlds blur, with unexpected results.
Talks & Sessions
An actress asks a sex worker to help her create a film in which they share secrets of their professions, and they become both filmmakers and characters.
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Films Strand
Journeys
Films
Whether climbing a mountain, biking a city or sifting through the personal lives of their subjects, these films bring us closer to the quests that inspire, haunt or drive us. In doing so, we gain access to these intimate worlds.
Films in this strand Adam Ondra: Pushing the Limits �����������������������������p.67 Beba........................................................................p.67 Bike Life Extreme ��������������������������������������������������� p.68 Four Journeys......................................................... p.68 I Didn’t See You There �������������������������������������������� p.69 Ladies Only............................................................. p.69 My Paper Life �������������������������������������������������������� p.70 No Simple Way Home ��������������������������������������������� p.70 No U-Turn............................................................... p.71
Alternate Realities
Off the Rails............................................................ p.71
Spotlight
Talks & Sessions Marketplace 66
A fascinating look into bike culture as you have never experienced it before, focussing on how the wheelie racers and trickster Jake 100 is turning his sport into a force for good. This Spotlight conversation will look at the issues raised in the film. Bike Life Extreme, p.68 Mon 27 June, 18:30, Showroom Bertha DocHouse Screen 3 A conversation will take place with Martin Read and protagonists from the film after the screening.
Journeys
Special Focus
Films Adam Ondra: Pushing the Limits A thrilling record of the legendary Czech rock climber’s career and his preparations for the debut of the climbing competition at the 2021 Olympic Games in Tokyo.
Original Title: Adam Ondra: Posunout hranice Directors: Jan Šimánek Petr Záruba Producers: Alice Tabery Sebastiano Luca Insinga Executive Producer: Kristina Škodová
Country: Year: Duration: Premiere:
Czech Republic, Italy 2022 77mins UK
Languages: Czech, English Partial English Subtitles
Sales Agent: Cinepoint
Beba
Rebeca ‘Beba’ Huntt accepts the challenge she has set herself: ‘Every one of us inherits the curses of our ancestors. But we may put an end to this cycle by constantly going to war with ourselves. I’m watching the curses of my family slowly kill us. So, I’m going to war… And there will be casualties.’ Her film is an attempt to forge her own creative path, while simultaneously engaging with the history of her family and culture, examining how new and ancient wounds shape people, and how to break free of these burdens against a backdrop of intense racial and political unease.
Director: Rebeca Huntt Producers: Sofia Geld Rebeca Huntt Sales Agent: NEON Rated
Country: Year: Duration: Premiere:
USA 2021 79mins UK
Languages: English, Spanish Partial English Subtitles
Marketplace
Screenings Thu 23 June, 18:30, Showroom Associated Press Screen 4 Fri 24 June, 10:00, The Light Screen 9 Sat 25 June, 15:15, Odeon Screen 1
Talks & Sessions
A raw coming-of-age self-portrait in which the Afro-Latina filmmaker stares down historical, societal and inter-generational trauma with unflinching courage.
Alternate Realities
Screenings Sat 25 June, 10:00, The Light Screen 9 Mon 27 June, 20:45, Showroom Associated Press Screen 4
Films
Adam Ondra is one of the world’s best climbers. He has scaled some of the world’s most challenging heights. A shy introvert who has become an icon of his sport, Ondra’s passion for climbing is now matched by an obligation to win – for his country. As he prepares for sport climbing’s debut at the Tokyo Olympics, Jan Simanek and Petr Záruba document the impact of commercial pressure, mass media attention and a clamouring audience that long for a spectacle, on Ondra’s psyche, as well as the effect on his relationship with fellow climber Iva Vejmolova, and the sport itself.
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Films
Journeys
Bike Life Extreme A different perspective on life in lockdown is presented through Go-Pro and mobile phone footage, detailing how bike culture exploded during the pandemic.
Films Alternate Realities
Jake 100 has built an impressive reputation and amassed a sizeable following through his status as one of the world’s best wheelie racers and tricksters. His Bike Life Circus has helped create a brand-new urban sport, its unofficial races taking place on go kart tracks, cycle parks and around industrial estates. Central to this has been the rapid growth of the ‘knives down, bikes up’ movement, with young riders in London amassing to take a stand against knife crime. Director Martin Read captures the energy of these events, putting audiences at the heart of the action and delivering a visceral thrill-ride of a film. Screenings Sun 26 June, 18:00, Odeon Screen 3 Mon 27 June, 18:30, Showroom Bertha DocHouse Screen 3
Director / Producer: Martin Read Sales Agent: Martin Read
Country: Year: Duration: Premiere:
United Kingdom 2022 60mins World
Language: English
See p.66 for the Spotlight discussion
Four Journeys A second-born child during the height of China’s one-child policy, Louis Hothothot returns home to reconcile decades of guilt and familial discord.
Talks & Sessions Marketplace 68
China introduced its draconian policy in 1979. In 1986, Hothothot was born. The illegality of his existence cost his father three times his annual salary and the end of a promising political career. The profound guilt Hothothot felt over what his life cost his family, along with unspoken resentment that simmered between them failed to abate. Four Journeys sees him return to China to reconcile with his loved ones, only to be surprised by their demands. It also grapples with the legacy of the law, and the impact both Maoism and the Cultural Revolution had on Chinese family life. Screenings Fri 24 June, 21:15, The Light Screen 9 Sat 25 June, 13:00, Showroom Channel 5 Screen 2
Youth Jury Award Nominee
Director: Louis Hothothot Producer: Pieter van Huystee Sales Agent: Pieter van Huystee Film
Country: Year: Duration: Premiere:
Netherlands, China 2021 90mins European
Languages: Chinese English Subtitles Throughout
Journeys
Special Focus
Films I Didn’t See You There This unflinching first-person journey, seen from the perspective of disabled filmmaker Reid Davenport, highlights how differently the world appears to him.
Director: Reid Davenport Producer: Keith Wilson Executive Producers: Alysa Nahmias Bryn Mooser Kathryn Everett Andy Hsieh Dawn Bonder Marci Wiseman
Country: Year: Duration: Premiere:
USA 2022 77mins UK
Languages: English Partial English Subtitles
Alternate Realities
Screenings Thu 23 June, 11:00, Showroom Bertha DocHouse Screen 3 Fri 24 June, 12:45, Curzon Screen 1 Tue 28 June, 21:15, Odeon Screen 1
Films
Davenport sets out to make a film about how he sees the world, and how the world sees him. When a circus marquee appears outside his apartment, Davenport reflects on the corrosive legacy of freak shows and their lingering presence in the lives of disabled people. His perspective reveals the physical barriers, the stares and unsolicited offers of help that punctuate his daily life, but also the striking and often abstract beauty that comes from experiencing the world from the faster speed of his wheelchair.
Sales Agent: The Film Collaborative, Cinetic
Ladies Only
Screenings Fri 24 June, 15:15, Showroom Screen 1 Sat 25 June, 18:00, The Light Screen 9
Director: Rebana Liz John Producer: Kunsthochschule für Medien Köln (Academy of Media Arts Cologne) Sales Agent: Kunsthochschule für Medien Köln (Academy of Media Arts Cologne)
Country: Year: Duration: Premiere:
India, Germany 2021 79mins UK
Languages: Hindi, English, Marathi English Subtitles Throughout
Marketplace
The local train is a sight to behold in the morning, overloaded with crowds fighting to get inside. A special compartment reserved for women appears as a temporary oasis – a haven for solitude and contemplation. Director Rebana Liz John questions the women, who reveal what it means to keep ambitions alive within an oppressive patriarchal system. Black and white imagery evocatively captures the details of the women’s experience in this world. They reflect on their lives, across generations, with humour, disappointment and defiance, forming a complex tapestry whose common ground is endurance and survival.
Talks & Sessions
In the women-only compartments of Mumbai’s complex local train network, passengers share their anger, aspirations and stories of womanhood.
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Films
Journeys
My Paper Life An Iranian filmmaker befriends a Syrian family in Brussels and they communicate past traumas and future dreams through drawings.
Films
Artist and filmmaker Vida Dena’s subtle and intimate film focuses on the two eldest daughters of a Syrian refugee family living in precarious conditions in Brussels. Within the pink walls of their temporary home, Hala and Rima tenderly co-create a poignant and playful world drawn from a past that they knew and a future they imagine. Remembering their old home, and the journey from it, while dreaming of future studies and marriage, their colourful drawings take flight and come to life. This is a nuanced and involving sketch of lives unfolding between two realities.
Alternate Realities
Screenings Fri 24 June, 15:30, The Light Screen 6 Sat 25 June, 18:00, Odeon Screen 3
Director: Vida Dena Producer: Hanne Phlypo Sales Agent: CAT&Docs
Country: Year: Duration: Premiere:
Belgium, France 2022 77mins UK
Languages: Arabic, Farsi, French English Subtitles Throughout
No Simple Way Home The daughter of Rebecca and John Garang returns to South Sudan to document her mother’s attempts to forge peace on the political stage.
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John Garang de Mabior helped broker a peace deal in Sudan that ended the longest civil war in African history. His face adorns the country’s banknotes. He died before the birth of South Sudan, and now his widow has returned with the hope of becoming Vice President. Akuol de Mabior records Rebecca Nyandeng de Mabior – known as ‘the mother of South Sudan’ – as she travels the country on her campaign. Her enquiring, familial lens asks what it means to prioritise your country above all else, and how to identify if your own upbringing was in exile. Screenings Fri 24 June, 15:30, Showroom Channel 5 Screen 2 Tue 28 June, 10:00, Curzon Screen 1
Youth Jury Award Nominee
Director: Akuol de Mabior Producers: Sam Soko Don Edkins Tiny Mungwe Sales Agent: STEPS
Country: Year: Duration: Premiere:
South Africa, Kenya 2022 85mins UK
Languages: English, Arabic English Subtitles Throughout
Journeys
Special Focus
Films No U-Turn For his documentary feature debut acclaimed filmmaker Ike Nnaebue retraces a journey he attempted as a young man.
Director: Ike Nnaebue Producer: Don Edkins Christilla Huillard-Kann Tiny Mungwe Okey Omeire Sales Agent: STEPS
Country: Nigeria, South Africa, France, Germany Year: 2022 Duration: 94mins Premiere: UK Languages: Igbo, French, Bambara, English Partial English Subtitles
Off the Rails
Alternate Realities
Screenings Fri 24 June, 10:15, Showroom Channel 5 Screen 2 Tue 28 June, 15:15, Showroom Screen 1
Films
Celebrated Nigerian director Nnaebue once tried to reach Europe via Benin, Mali, Mauritania and Morocco. But the sea crossing was ultimately deemed too dangerous. Instead, he returned home and entered the film industry. 21 years later, he embarks on the same journey, camera in hand, to interview a younger generation determined to reach Europe, questioning them about their reasons for leaving their home, their expectations of what awaits them and the risks they are willing to take. In doing so, Nnaebue reflects on one of the most important issues of our time – the mass migration of people, and how the world is responding to it.
Two urbex and parkour-obsessed teenagers face-up to reality following the death of their friend, in Peter Day’s riveting portrait of urban life.
Director: Peter Day Producers: Rob Alexander Grant Keir Peter Day Executive Producers: Bizzy Day Mark Thomas Sylvia Stevens Sales Agent: Journeyman Pictures
Country: Year: Duration: Premiere:
United Kingdom 2022 91mins UK
Language: English
Marketplace
Screenings Fri 24 June, 20:45, Odeon Screen 3 Sun 26 June, 19:15, Odeon Screen 1
Talks & Sessions
Best friends Rikke Brewer and Aiden Knox, rebellious working-class teenagers in the unremarkable Surrey town of Guilford, have sought escape for years by recording wild stunts on, off and around the town’s urban environment. But the death of a friend, and the mental health issues the boys experience as a result, highlight the precarious state of their lives. Nye’s film embraces the thrill of urbex and parkour but proves most rewarding in its compassion for Rikke and Aiden’s friendship and their pessimistic worldview. Featuring a decade of self-shot archive material, Off the Rails presents a visceral and moving portrait of growing up.
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Films Strand
Memories
Films
The films in this strand look back to understand the present and redesign the future. These films shine a light on memories, artifacts and events from the past, repositioning them in the present – contemplating their influence and celebrating their essence.
1341 Frames of Love and War �������������������������������� p.73 All Man: The International Male Story ��������������������� p.73 Exposing Muybridge................................................p.74 The Fire Within: Requiem for Katia and Maurice Krafft �����������������������������������������p.74 Fragile Memory........................................................p.75 Goodbye, Captain....................................................p.75 Jane....................................................................... p.78 Love, Deutschmarks and Death �������������������������������p.76
Alternate Realities
Mutzenbacher.........................................................p.76 Nelly & Nadine........................................................ p.77 A Story of Bones..................................................... p.77 TS Eliot – Into the Waste Land ������������������������������� p.78
Spotlight
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Films in this strand
This Spotlight looks at the passionate work of two volcanologists and how their lives are presented through film. Filmmaker Werner Herzog will be live online to discuss the film and his own fascination with the Earth’s violent core. The Fire Within: Requiem for Katia and Maurice Krafft, p.74 Sun 26 June, 15:15, Showroom Associated Press Screen 4 The virtual conversation with Werner Herzog will take place after the screening.
Memories
Special Focus
Films 1341 Frames of Love and War Israeli photographer Micha Bar-Am recalls his journey from Berlin to Palestine, the birth of the state of Israel and its subsequent history, in this compelling film.
Original Title: 1341 Framim Mehamatzlema Shel Micha Bar-Am Director: Ran Tal Producers: Sarig Peker, Ran Tal Sales Agent: RESERVOIR DOCS
Country: Year: Duration: Premiere:
Israel 2022 90mins UK
Languages: Hebrew English Subtitles Throughout
ALL MAN: The International Male Story
Founded by ex-GI Gene Burkard, International Male launched shortly after his arrival in San Diego in the late 1960s. Bryan Darling and Jesse Finley Reed’s celebratory jaunt through Burkard’s storied life and the catalogue’s colourful history is a blast. Narrated by Matt Bomer and featuring a line-up of larger-than-life characters, it offers a fascinating analysis of post-war American masculinity and a moving account of the devastating effects of the AIDS crisis. But ultimately, it’s a celebration of an individual who transformed their dream into reality.
Directors: Bryan Darling Jesse Finley Reed Producers: Bryan Darling Jesse Finley Reed Peter Jones Executive Producer: Peter Jones Sales Agent: Peter Jones Productions
Country: Year: Duration: Premiere:
USA 2022 83mins European
Language: English
Marketplace
Screenings Sun 26 June, 20:30, The Light Screen 6 Tue 28 June, 18:15, The Light Screen 9
Talks & Sessions
The fabulous story of a fashion catalogue that helped define masculinity and male fashions in the US.
Alternate Realities
Screenings Thu 23 June, 15:45, Showroom Associated Press Screen 4 Fri 24 June, 12:30, The Light Screen 9
Tim Hetherington Award Nominee
Films
At the age of 91, Micha has started to lose his memory. Once a member of Magnum photo agency, the images he recorded are now an essential tool in his reminiscence of the past. Sat with his wife, he describes to director Ran Tal the events surrounding his work, the details of which dominate this film. The photographs are also a foundation upon which his fractured recollections grapple with the meaning of what he witnessed. Despite the psychological toll his work had on his personal life, Bar-Am’s vast library of images are an essential historical and cultural artifact.
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Films
Memories
Exposing Muybridge Eadweard Muybridge, pioneering photographer and early filmmaker, was a man of many lives, as this engaging and thrillingly told documentary reveals.
Films Alternate Realities Talks & Sessions Marketplace 74
In 1878, Muybridge not only captured a horse in motion, but in mid-flight, winning a bet with industrialist Leland Stanford along the way. It’s one of the many stories about Muybridge, born Edward James Muggeridge, which appear in Marc Shaffer’s profile. Employing much of his subject’s photographic work, which still looks remarkable today, Shaffer rattles through Muybridge’s life and activities, with the help of various experts – from landscape photographers who attempt to recreate some of his most iconic images to Gary Oldman, an ardent admirer who has designs on a biopic. By turns insightful and inspiring, Exposing Muybridge is a riveting account of a colourful life.
Director: Marc Shaffer
Screenings Fri 24 June, 13:00, The Light Screen 6 Sun 26 June, 15:30, Showroom Channel 5 Screen 2
Sales Agent: Cinetic Media, MetFilm Sales
Producers: Marc Shaffer Elisabeth Haviland James Serginho Roosblad
Country: Year: Duration: Premiere:
USA 2021 88mins International
Language: English
Executive Producers: Nion McEvoy Leslie Berriman Dana O’Kee
The Fire Within: Requiem for Katia and Maurice Krafft Drawing from the personal film archive of two passionate volcanologists, Werner Herzog explores humanity’s fascination with one of our planet’s most elemental forces. On 3 June 1991, a deadly cloud of hot gas and rock spewed out of Japan’s Mount Unzen. Among the 43 people consumed by it were scientist-filmmakers Maurice and Katia Krafft. They left behind over 200 hours of footage from their decades of work, which Herzog draws on for this stunning eulogy. From 1977’s La Soufrière through to 2016’s Into the Inferno, Herzog has long been fascinated by these violent natural events and his deeply personal voiceover is a fitting memorial to two people who gave their lives in the pursuit of both science and the pure cinematic image. Screenings Sun 26 June, 15:15, Showroom Associated Press Screen 4 Mon 27 June, 10:00, The Light Screen 9 Tue 28 June, 20:45, Showroom Associated Press Screen 4
Director: Werner Herzog Producers: Julien Dumont Mandy Leith Alexandre Soullier Peter Lown
Country: Year: Duration: Premiere:
France 2022 90mins World
Languages: English, French
Sales Agent: Abacus Media Rights
See p.72 for the Spotlight discussion
Memories
Special Focus
Films Fragile Memory Igor Ivanko sheds light on the life of his grandfather, Leonid Burlaka, a cinematographer from the glory days of Odesa Film Studio, who is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.
Original Title: Крихка пам’ять Director: Igor Ivanko Producers: Mariia Ponomarova Alexandra Bratyshchenko Igor Ivanko Peter Kerekes
Country: Year: Duration: Premiere:
Ukraine, Slovakia 2022 85mins UK
Languages: Ukrainian, Russian, Polish English Subtitles Throughout
Sales Agent: Mariia Ponomarova, Igor Ivanko
Goodbye, Captain
Alternate Realities
Screenings Sat 25 June, 15:45, Curzon Screen 1 Sun 26 June, 10:15, The Light Screen 9
Films
Born in 1938, Burlaka came of age during the ‘thaw’ of Nikita Khrushchev’s Soviet premiership. It was during this time that the cinematographer also took hundreds of photographs of life in Odessa. Ivanko explores his grandfather’s life through them. Where Burlaka’s memory is limited because of Alzheimer’s, Ivanko adds context with a rich trove of archive footage, the testimonies of friends and home movies. The result not only creates a fascinating portrait of Burlaka’s early life, it charts the history of the studio he worked for and a heritage that is resolutely distinct.
The story of ‘captain’ Krohokrenhum, leader of the Gavião indigenous people, from Pará state in northern Brazil, who died in 2016.
Original Title: Adeus, Capitão Directors: Vincent Carelli Tatiana Soares de Almeida Producer: Olívia Sasbino Margareth Cordeiro Lima Executive Producer: Nara Aragão Sales Agent: Video nas Aldeias
Country: Year: Duration: Premiere:
Brazil 2022 177mins International
Languages: Portuguese English Subtitles Throughout This film is paired with These Are My People and You Are on Indian Land in Co-Creation, p.111
Marketplace
Screenings Sun 26 June, 15:00, Odeon Screen 1 Mon 27 June, 13:45, Showroom Screen 1
Youth Jury Award Nominee
Talks & Sessions
Director Vincent Carelli, founder of the Video nas Aldeias Project that supports indigenous peoples’ identities through audiovisual resources, presents an evocative portrait of the one-time leader of the Gavião (Hawks), who lived in the Brazilian rainforest. Krohokrenhum, who was 90 when he died, tells stories that evoke a rich past for his young audience. In particular, he details the prejudice and exploitation his people experienced at the hands of foreign and colonial forces, as well as the civil war that unfolded among factions of his people. This richly detailed and rewarding film makes excellent use of verbal history.
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Special Focus
Films
Memories
Love, Deutschmarks and Death This vibrant film details the vast body of music produced by and for the Turkish diaspora in Germany from the 1960s to 1980s, and its influence on subsequent generations.
Films Alternate Realities
When the German Federal Republic drew up a recruitment agreement with Turkey in 1961, it saw the arrival of a rich culture with a thriving music scene. Cem Kaya’s archive-driven film details how countless unknown singers and musicians forged a career amongst a growing ex-pat population keen to embrace Turkey’s rich traditions. Interviews with musicians and audience members from that golden era contrast with subsequent shifts in attitude towards the Turkish population, the rise in racist attacks and the response of modern musicians. Kaya’s compelling film presents an absorbing, rarely heard musical history. Screenings Thu 23 June, 13:00, Showroom Screen 1 Sat 25 June, 20:30, Odeon Screen 3 Tue 28 June, 15:30, The Light Screen 9
Original Title: Ask, Mark ve Ölüm Director: Cem Kaya Producers: Mehmet Akif Büyükatalay Florian Schewe Claus Reichel Sales Agent: Taskovski Films
Country: Year: Duration: Premiere:
Germany 2022 98mins UK
Languages: Turkish, German English Subtitles Throughout
MUTZENBACHER Responding to a casting call ad, one hundred men are confronted with and respond to excerpts from a notorious pornographic text.
Talks & Sessions Marketplace 76
Anonymously published in Vienna in 1906, the erotic novel ‘Josefine Mutzenbacher, or the Life Story of a Viennese Whore, as Told by Herself’ has sold more than three million copies over the course of the last century. Ruth Beckermann records men reading from the text; sometimes alone, occasionally in groups, but most often in pairs. Most of the excerpts detail a sexual act, and Beckermann questions the men about them. What emerges is a barometer of contemporary attitudes to sex, gender and morality, seen through the prism of a work whose perspective on carnal and personal human relations comes from a very different era. Screenings Thu 23 June, 20:45, Showroom Screen 1 Fri 24 June, 10:15, Showroom Bertha DocHouse Screen 3
Content Guidance: Offensive language Director: Ruth Beckermann Producer: Ruth Beckermann Sales Agent: Emilie Dauptain
Country: Year: Duration: Premiere:
Austria 2022 100mins UK
Languages: German English Subtitles Throughout
Memories
Special Focus
Films Nelly & Nadine An extraordinary story of two women who fell in love whilst imprisoned in Ravensbrück concentration camp and whose relationship continued for decades.
Films
Director: Magnus Gertten Producer: Ove Rishoig-Jensen Sales Agent: Rise And Shine World Sales
Country: S weden, Belgium, Norway Year: 2022 Duration: 92mins Premiere: UK Languages: French, Swedish, Spanish, English Partial English Subtitles
Screenings Thu 23 June, 18:15, Showroom Channel 5 Screen 2 Fri 24 June, 10:00, Showroom Associated Press Screen 4 Tue 28 June, 21:00, Showroom Channel 5 Screen 2
A Story of Bones
Annina van Neel was employed as the Chief Environmental Officer overseeing the construction of an airport on Saint Helena, a British colonial outpost a long way from Namibia, where van Neel grew up. But when a burial site is discovered, holding the remains of some 8,000 slaves, her role dramatically shifts. Haunted by the injustice of South Africa’s Apartheid past, and the desecration of these sacred African burial grounds, van Neel seeks justice for the remains in a campaign that exposes Britain’s deeply troubling ties to its colonial legacy.
Directors: Joseph Curran Dominic de Vere Producer: Yvonne Isimeme Ibazebo Sales Agent: Archer’s Mark
Country: Year: Duration: Premiere:
United Kingdom 2022 94mins UK
Languages: English Partial English Subtitles
Marketplace
Screenings Fri 24 June, 15:30, Curzon Screen 1 Tue 28 June, 20:45, Showroom Screen 1
Talks & Sessions
What begins as a simple formality in the construction of an airport transforms into a campaign to pay honour to thousands lost through the transatlantic slave trade.
Alternate Realities
Nelly Mousset-Vos entered Ravensbrück in 1943. She was a talented singer and often performed there. It was at one performance that she met Nadine Hwang. They fell in love on Christmas Eve 1944, were separated for a while, but eventually reunited. Magnus Gertten first encountered Nadine when she appeared in archive footage of his 2015 documentary Every Survivor Has a Name. A screening of that film saw him approached by Sylvie Bianchi, Nelly’s granddaughter, who revealed the couple’s history. That story lies at the heart of this powerful reminder of the necessity of both individual and collective remembrance.
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Special Focus
Films
Memories
TS Eliot – Into the Waste Land Behind one of the most acclaimed poems of the 20th century lies the story of a relationship that was both essential and inspirational to TS Eliot.
Films Alternate Realities Talks & Sessions Marketplace 78
For almost seventeen years, TS Eliot corresponded with Emily Hale, a teacher at a boarding school in Massachusetts, whom he met as a postgraduate at Harvard. She was his confidante, his beloved and his inspiration. The letters he wrote her were donated to Princeton University on the agreement, set by Eliot, that they would not be made publicly available until 50 years, after both their deaths. Now, on the centenary of the first publication of Eliot’s epic poem, these recently released letters show the important role Hale played in his creative process, as Susanna White’s fascinating documentary details. Screenings Sat 25 June, 17:45, Odeon Screen 1 Mon 27 June, 15:30, Curzon Screen 1
Director: Susanna White Producer: Rosie Alison Executive Producer: Nick Kent
Country: Year: Duration: Premiere:
United Kingdom 2022 79mins World
Language: English
Sales Agent: Oxford Films
Jane Brett Morgen employs unseen archive personal footage and an intimate recent interview tells the extraordinary story of renowned British primatologist Jane Goodall. Goodall’s chimpanzee research challenged the male-dominated scientific consensus of her time and revolutionised our understanding of the natural world. Morgen’s riveting film draws from over 100 hours of previously unseen footage from the National Geographic archives. Scored by Philip Glass, Jane is an exemplary portrait of an extraordinary individual.
Director: Brett Morgen
Brett Morgen’s Moonage Daydream opens the festival. See p.27 for more details.
Producers: Bryan Burk James Smith
See Brett Morgen public talk (p.139); and masterclass for delegate passholders (p.140).
Executive Producers: Tim Pastore Jeff Hasler
Screening Sun 26 June, 10:00, Showroom Associated Press Screen 4
Country: USA Year: 2017 Duration: 90mins Language: English
Special Focus
Films Strand
People & Community
Films
Generations, ancestors, family, community, friendship – this collection of documentaries celebrates togetherness. It explores the threads that bind us together, the rituals that sustain community and the individuals who open their hearts, minds and homes to the camera.
Alternate Realities
Spotlight
Talks & Sessions Marketplace 80
Few individuals’ lives have played out before the lens with such explosive intensity as John McEnroe. We are delighted to welcome filmmaker Barney Douglas to the People & Community Spotlight, to discuss how he balanced the personal and public life of this iconic sports star. McEnroe, p.83 Fri 24 June, 18:15, The Light Screen 9 The conversation with Barney Douglas will take place after the screening.
Films in this strand Alis......................................................................... p.81 Beauty of the Beast ������������������������������������������������ p.81 Eat Your Catfish ����������������������������������������������������� p.82 Electric Malady ������������������������������������������������������ p.82 McEnroe................................................................. p.83 Midwives................................................................ p.83 New Pigs on the Block ������������������������������������������� p.84 No Place for You in Our Town ��������������������������������� p.84 North Circular �������������������������������������������������������� p.85 One Day at a Time �������������������������������������������������� p.85
People & Community
Special Focus
Films Alis Teenagers in Colombia conjure up a classmate named Alis, who manifests their concerns and desire to break the cultural cycle of violence and hope for a brighter future.
Directors: Nicolas van Hemelryck Clare Weiskopf Producers: Radu Stancu Alexandra Galvis Executive Producers: Lise Lense-Moller Vlad Radulescu Ramona Grama
Country: C olombia, Romania, Chile Year: 2022 Duration: 84mins Premiere: UK Languages: Spanish English Subtitles Throughout
Alternate Realities
Screenings Sat 25 June, 13:15, The Light Screen 6 Mon 27 June, 17:30, Odeon Screen 1
Youth Jury Award Nominee
Films
Winner of the Crystal Bear at the Berlin Film Festival, Nicolas van Hemelryck and Clare Weiskopf’s documentary is the result of a five-year workshop they ran at Arcadia boarding school in Bogota. Having created a safe space, they ask a group of teenage girls to create Alis, a fellow student, giving her whatever attributes they want. Addressing the camera directly, the girls’ discussion of their friend soon becomes an opportunity for them to contemplate their own feelings about – and experiences of – the world they live in. The result is a moving testament to their hope of a better world.
Sales Agent: LATIDO FILMS
Beauty of the Beast Anna Nemes journeys into the fascinating world of four female bodybuilders.
Screening with Night Shift, p.106
Director: Anna Nemes Producers: Agnes Horvath-Szabo András Pires Muhi ELF Pictures Sales Agent: ELF Pictures
Country: Year: Duration: Premiere:
Hungary 2022 47mins World
Languages: Hungarian English Subtitles Throughout
Marketplace
Screenings Sun 26 June, 12:45, The Light Screen 6 Mon 27 June, 16:00, Showroom Channel 5 Screen 2
Talks & Sessions
Csonka, Yvette, Eszter and Noemi are middle-aged women who transform themselves into a sculpted mass of muscle. Their physique is both a temple and a tool – outer and inner strength manifested as one. An artist and filmmaker, Nemes focuses on these women’s lives out of the spotlight and beyond the gym; exploring why they choose this singular and often punishing lifestyle. What emerges is a determination to face down stereotyping and ridicule as each dedicates themselves to achieving their dream.
81
Special Focus
Films
People & Community
Eat Your Catfish This uncompromising portrait of co-director Noah Amir Arjomand’s mother, who has ALS, shows a woman who has chosen to live a challenging life on her terms.
Films Alternate Realities Talks & Sessions Marketplace 82
The film’s title is a line spoken by Julia Roberts in August: Osage County. For Kathryn Arjomand, Roberts’ overripe performance is both example and inspiration for her decision to behave how she wants. Having lived with the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig’s Disease, for years, she decides to embrace the life she has left in her own way. It’s a decision that proves difficult for Noah and his father, Kathryn’s husband Saeed. The film frequently adopts Kathryn’s perspective – she is mainly present through a speech-generating device – an approach adds immeasurably to the film’s intimacy, and accentuates Kathryn’s wit, frustrations and affection towards her family. Screenings Thu 23 June, 21:15, Showroom Associated Press Screen 4 Fri 24 June, 13:00, Showroom Bertha DocHouse Screen 3
Youth Jury Award Nominee
Directors: Adam Isenberg Noah Amir Arjomand Senem Tüzen
Country: Year: Duration: Premiere:
Producers: Adam Isenberg Noah Amir Arjomand Senem Tüzen
Language: English
USA, Spain, Turkey 2021 74mins UK
Sales Agent: Deckert Distribution
Electric Malady From within a cocoon of layered blankets, William copes with a life consumed by electrosensitivity, in this touching experiential portrait of isolation and survival. Living alone in nature, accompanied by his music collection and candles, William sleeps inside a makeshift contraption that protects him from the effects of electricity. Visual artist Marie Lidéns’ mother suffered the same condition, as do a significant proportion of the world’s population, according to the WHO. William never leaves the house, and although his parents and the local priest come to visit, he lives a painfully lonely existence. Through a tactile language and Marie’s sensitive connection with William, Electric Malady is a poignant reflection on isolation, faith and societies’ relationship to technology, explored through light, sound, memory and nature. Screenings Fri 24 June, 12:45, Showroom Associated Press Screen 4 Mon 27 June, 21:00, Showroom Screen 1
Youth Jury Award Nominee
Director: Marie Liden Producer: Aimara Reques Executive Producers: Mark Thomas Madge Bray Sales Agent: Aconite Productions
Country: Year: Duration: Premiere:
Scotland 2021 84mins UK
Languages: Swedish English Subtitles Throughout
People & Community
McEnroe
Special Focus
Films
An intimate portrait of one of the most explosive and compelling sporting icons of all time.
Director: Barney Douglas Producer: Victoria Barrell Sales Agent: Universal Pictures
Country: United Kingdom, USA Year: 2022 Duration: 104mins Premiere: International Language: English
See p.86 for the Spotlight discussion
Midwives
Hla and Nyo usher in new life amidst one of the world’s longest running conflicts. Hla is the sharptongued but warm Buddhist owner of a makeshift medical clinic in Rakhine State. Nyo is from the Muslim minority Rohingya community and a savvy apprentice midwife for Hla. Both dream of a better life for the women of their community. Filmed over five years, Snow Hnin Ei Hlaing’s feature directorial debut is a subtle and beguiling portrait of two lives dedicated to the wellbeing of others in a society where their greatest risk is to be together.
Director: Snow Hnin Ei Hlaing Producers: Bob Moore Ulla Lehmann Mila Aung-Thwin Snow Hnin Ei Hlaing Executive Producers: Ken Pelletier Shizuka Asakawa Daniel Cross Sales Agent: Dogwoof
Country: M yanmar, Germany, Canada Year: 2022 Duration: 91mins Premiere: UK Languages: Burmese English Subtitles Throughout
Marketplace
Screenings Thu 23 June, 14:30, Showroom Bertha DocHouse Screen 3 Fri 24 June, 18:00, Odeon Screen 3
Talks & Sessions
Against the backdrop of the Myanmar conflict, midwives Hla and Nyo Nyo’s relationship is both caring and playful, bridging the divide between Buddhists and Muslims.
Alternate Realities
Screenings Fri 24 June, 18:15, The Light Screen 9 Mon 27 June, 12:45, Showroom Associated Press Screen 4
Films
A supernova in the world of tennis, as aweinspiring as he could be explosive, John McEnroe’s combined 155 championship titles still ranks as the highest achievement in the Men’s Open era. But as Barney Douglas’s film shows, this is just one facet of the sport legend’s storied life. McEnroe features previously unseen footage, both from his games and his personal archive. It explores the demons that drove him, while colleagues and friends such as Billie Jean King, Bjorn Borg and Keith Richards, along with McEnroe’s wife Patty Smyth and their children, offer an intimate portrait of a singular, incendiary individual.
83
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Films
People & Community
New Pigs on the Block Three pigs live a seemingly care-free life as part of an urban community project, unaware of what lies ahead.
Films
Neighbours bring their leftovers, volunteers feed and clean them, and children come to pet them. When they’re alone, the pigs enjoy a playful, muddy life – scratching, wriggling and eating together. However, the outside world becomes a continual disruption. Director Jimmy Kets brings a tenderness and humour to the pigs’ existence, whilst highlighting their lack of agency in their relationship with humans. Screening with The Unofficial Countryside, p.106
Alternate Realities
Screenings Fri 24 June, 18:30, Curzon Screen 1 Sun 26 June, 13:00, Showroom Screen 1
Director: Jimmy Kets Producer: Jurgen Buedts Sales Agent: Jurgen Buedts
Country: Year: Duration: Premiere:
Belgium 2022 66mins International
Languages: Dutch, English English Subtitles Throughout
No Place for You in Our Town Nikolay Stefanov’s debut feature offers unfiltered access to the football hooligan community in one of Bulgaria’s roughest cities.
Talks & Sessions Marketplace 84
The film follows hardcore skinhead and single father Tsetso and his gang, who are violently devoted to the success of their local third division football team. For these residents of Pernik, a slowly decaying ex-mining centre, the team has become a source of identity and a site of aggressively toxic masculinity. Stefanov’s camera looks on silently, beyond the fascist ideology and racist chants, at the personal lives of these workingclass fanatics. The result is a complex and quietly familiar portrait of a forgotten town living in the uncertain wake of de-industrialisation. Screenings Fri 24 June, 10:15, Curzon Screen 1 Sun 26 June, 15:00, The Light Screen 6 Tue 28 June, 18:00, Showroom Screen 1
Content Guidance: Offensive language, Racism Director: Nikolay Stefanov Producer: Ralitsa Golemanova Sales Agent: Lightdox
Country: Year: Duration: Premiere:
Bulgaria 2022 81mins UK
Languages: Bulgarian English Subtitles Throughout
People & Community
Special Focus
Films North Circular Luke McManus’ documentary musical journeys along Dublin’s North Circular Road, encountering its inhabitants, and hearing their stories and songs.
Films
Director: Luke McManus Producer: Elaine Gallagher Luke McManus Sales Agent: Madhouse Films
Country: Year: Duration: Premiere:
Ireland 2022 85mins International
Languages: English, Irish English Subtitles Throughout
Alternate Realities
It stretches, in a shallow arch, from the east side of Phoenix Park to the junction of Summerhill and Portland Row, near the docks. It’s the workingclass community of the northern part of the Irish capital and its rich culture and traditions are evident in McManus’ rewarding travelogue. The distance he journeys may not be great, but his film passes through generations of musical history, drawing heavily on a wealth of folk and traditional songwriting. Shot in beautifully atmospheric black and white, and revelling in storytelling and musical performances in equal measure, North Circular is a joyous love letter to Dublin. Screenings Fri 24 June, 21:15, Curzon Screen 1 Sat 25 June, 10:00, Showroom Screen 1 Sun 26 June, 12:15, Odeon Screen 1
One Day at a Time
Screenings Sat 25 June, 18:30, Showroom Channel 5 Screen 2 Tue 28 June, 10:00, Showroom Associated Press Screen 4
Director: Paul Chambers Producer: Sam Batley Sales Agent: Paul Chambers Films
Country: Year: Duration: Premiere:
United Kingdom 2022 63mins World
Language: English
Marketplace
Damien John Kelly House, catering to male addicts aged over 50, opened to significant opposition in 2019. Within a short space of time, the abstinencebased recovery living centre had changed the hearts and minds of the local community. Its residents channel their recovery through activity, from team sports to photography, writing, filmmaking and other artistic pursuits. Among them is Sam. A short film about his issues with addiction is the entry point for this portrait of the centre and those who have benefited from it. It highlights how recovery is most effectively achieved through engagement and community interaction.
Talks & Sessions
Paul Chambers’ uncompromising yet uplifting film looks at the work of a Liverpool-based recovery living centre that uses art and sport to combat addiction.
85
Special Focus
Films Strand
Rebellions
Films
Listen to the stories of those striving for social change and protesting for what matters. Whether it is political change, gender equality, human rights or the climate crisis, these films illuminate cinema’s role as a witness and a tool in the fight for change.
Breaking the Brick �������������������������������������������������� p.87 Delikado................................................................. p.87 Lyra........................................................................ p.88 Marwan – Tomorrow’s Freedom ����������������������������� p.88 Nothing Compares ������������������������������������������������� p.89 Our Bodies Are Your Battlefields ���������������������������� p.89 Outside................................................................... p.90 Overcoming the Darkness �������������������������������������� p.90 Pongo Calling..........................................................p.91
Alternate Realities
The Territory............................................................p.91
Spotlight
Talks & Sessions Marketplace 86
Films in this strand
A riveting portrait of Marwan Barghouti is the focus of the Rebellions Spotlight. The team behind the film will be present to discuss the life and work of this extraordinary individual and the challenges that lay behind creating such a complex portrait of him. Marwan – Tomorrow’s Freedom, p.88 Sun 26 June, 18:15, Showroom Associated Press Screen 4 The conversation with directors Sophia Scott and Georgia Scott, along with executive producer Brian Eno, will take place after the screening.
Rebellions
Special Focus
Films Breaking the Brick Two Chileans, on opposing sides of the political spectrum, experience a year of turmoil as protests give way to transformation.
Directors: Carola Fuentes Rafael Valdeavellano Producer: Carola Fuentes Executive Producer: Rafael Valdeavellano
Country: Year: Duration: Premiere:
Chile 2022 86mins World
Languages: Spanish English Subtitles Throughout
Sales Agent: La Ventana Cine
Alternate Realities
Screenings Sun 26 June, 18:00, Curzon Screen 1 Mon 27 June, 20:45, The Light Screen 9
Films
In 2019, millions of Chileans rose up in a popular revolt that resulted in radical change: the call for an assembly that will amend the constitution imposed by the Pinochet dictatorship and its economic neoliberal model, referred to as ‘The Brick’. This change is seen through the eyes of Ramiro, a wealthy businessman, and Mariana, a lower middleclass teacher. Historical conflicts that were long thought resolved come to light as the assembly process draws closer, showing how the wounds of a brutal dictatorship are deep, lasting and must be reconciled at all costs.
Delikado Three environmental campaigners are faced with corruption, murder and betrayal as they battle to save an island paradise in the Philippines.
Director: Karl Malakunas
Sales Agent: MetFilm Sales
Producers: Marty Syjuco Michael Collins Kara Magsanoc-Alikpala
Country: Philippines, Australia, USA, United Kingdom, Hong Kong Year: 2022 Duration: 94mins Premiere: European
Executive Producers: Laura Nix, Daniel Chalfen, Ali Marsh, Erika Dilday, Chris White, Sally Jo Fifer, Jodi Allen, Rebecca Teitel, Beadie Finzi, Shanida Scotland, Suparna Bhasin
Languages: English, Tagalog Partial English Subtitles
Marketplace
Screenings Sat 25 June, 20:45, Curzon Screen 1 Mon 27 June, 14:45, Odeon Screen 1
Tim Hetherington Award Nominee
Talks & Sessions
Agent France-Presse bureau chief Karl Malakunas was preparing a story on eco-tourism in the Filipino archipelago province of Palawan when his main contact, an environmental campaigner, was shot and killed. The story transformed into this film, with Malakunas witnessing the destruction of an island by authorities who are meant to be protecting it and the group of committed individuals intent on fighting back. Chief among them is local environmental lawyer Bobby Chan, who becomes the film’s lynchpin. Delikado exposes how indigenous communities are impacted by corrupt practices and the drive for natural resources.
87
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Films
Rebellions
Lyra An intimate and uncompromising portrait of Lyra McKee, the 29-year-old Northern Irish investigative journalist who was murdered by the New IRA.
Films Alternate Realities Talks & Sessions Marketplace 88
Directed by her close friend, BAFTA-winning Alison Millar, the film seeks to make sense of McKee’s death and the significance it came to hold for the country. Through a rich archive of audio recordings, field notes and interviews with those who knew her, Lyra tells the story of a life fearlessly committed to truth and justice for forgotten crimes. The result is a complex picture of Northern Ireland’s political history, bringing into sharp focus the ways in which the 1998 Good Friday agreement – with its promised end to violence for future generations – has struggled to be fully realised. Screenings Sun 26 June, 18:15, Showroom Channel 5 Screen 2 Mon 27 June, 13:00, The Light Screen 6
Tim Hetherington Award Nominee
Director: Alison Millar Producers: Alison Millar Jackie Doyle Executive Producers: Siobhan Sinnerton Edward Watts Andrew Eaton Greg Darby Louisa Compton
Country: Year: Duration: Premiere:
United Kingdom 2021 91mins UK
Languages: English
Sales Agent: Cinephil
Marwan – Tomorrow’s Freedom Marwan Barghouti, often described as the ‘Palestinian Nelson Mandela’, is serving five life sentences in an Israeli prison. This is his story. If Barghouti is elected the next Palestinian president, Israel will have the leader of a people in one of its prisons. Following what was seen by many as an unlawful arrest and imprisonment, Barghouti has not stopped campaigning for freedom and peace for Palestine. A unifying, charismatic character, it’s clear why he is regarded as a threat. Marwan – Tomorrow’s Freedom is a compelling portrait, seen from the perspective of his family, and the colleagues and activists who stand by this indefatigable campaigner for justice and the will of a people fighting for their freedom. Screenings Sun 26 June, 18:15, Showroom Associated Press Screen 4 Tue 28 June, 20:45, The Light Screen 9
Directors: Sophia Scott Georgia Scott Producers: Sophia Scott Georgia Scott Sawsan Asfari Executive Producers: Brian Eno Tony Tabatznik
Sales Agent: GROUNDTRUTH Productions Country: Year: Duration: Premiere:
United Kingdom 2022 97mins World
Languages: English, Arabic, French Partial English Subtitles
See p.86 for the Spotlight discussion
Rebellions
Special Focus
Films Nothing Compares A riveting portrait of Sinéad O’Connor’s phenomenal rise and subsequent exile from the pop mainstream.
Director: Kathryn Ferguson Producers: Eleanor Emptage Michael Mallie Executive Producers: Charlotte Cook Lesley McKimm Lucy Pullin John Reynolds Lisa Marie Russo
Country: Ireland, United Kingdom Year: 2022 Duration: 97mins Premiere: UK Language: English
Alternate Realities
Screenings Fri 24 June, 15:45, Showroom Bertha DocHouse Screen 3 Sun 26 June, 12:30, Showroom Associated Press Screen 4 Mon 27 June, 20:30, The Light Screen 6
Films
The film focuses on the years 1987 to 1993, when O’Connor achieved extraordinary success and fame yet remained outspoken – both in what she said and the songs she wrote. Kathryn Ferguson assesses O’Connor’s journey through a contemporary feminist lens, documenting O’Connor’s unwillingness to compromise in an industry that often demanded it. Employing an impressive library of archive footage, Nothing Compares also includes contributions from artists and musicians. And O’Connor herself reflects on her journey and politics, which have frequently attracted the ire of the establishment.
Sales Agent: Submarine
Our Bodies Are Your Battlefields
Screenings Fri 24 June, 10:15, The Light Screen 6 Sat 25 June, 20:45, Showroom Channel 5 Screen 2 Mon 27 June, 15:30, Showroom Bertha DocHouse Screen 3
Original Title: Nuestros Cuerpos Son Sus Campos De Batalla Content Guidance: Discussions about sex Director: Isabelle Solas Producer: David Hurst Sales Agent: OUTPLAY FILMS
Country: Year: Duration: Premiere:
France, Argentina 2021 100mins UK
Languages: Spanish English Subtitles Throughout
Marketplace
An entrenched conservatism currently battles with increasing calls for women’s and trans rights in Argentina. Within this schism live Claudia and Violeta, trans women who identify as transvestites. They lead the fight, along with their comrades and supporters, against a patriarchal culture of violence and oppression. Such activism is not without its dangers; the country has recently seen a spike in the number of trans murders. But the outpouring of grief has also galvanised a wider community to close ranks in their support of individual rights – to be able to live free from prejudice and the threat of physical harm.
Talks & Sessions
Isabelle Solas’ film is a powerful, moving and urgent spotlight on the fight for trans rights across Argentina’s polarised political landscape.
89
Special Focus
Films
Rebellions
Outside Ukrainian filmmaker Olha Zhurba’s debut feature tells the story of Roma, who at the age of 13 became the poster child of the 2014 revolution.
Films Alternate Realities Talks & Sessions Marketplace 90
A street kid who ran around the front lines of Kyiv throwing stones and Molotov cocktails, Roma’s face defined an uprising. But behind the camouflage uniform, sunglasses and fearlessness hid a lonely boy from an orphanage. When Roma turns 18, his only option is returning to the streets and the company of his loyal older brother, who has resorted to crime to survive. Through phone conversations with Roma, and piecing together CCTV and archive footage, Zhurba reveals the seven-year struggle of a young man attempting to regain control of his turbulent life. Screenings Sat 25 June, 18:15, Curzon Screen 1 Tue 28 June, 12:15, Showroom Associated Press Screen 4
Original Title: Назовні Director: Olha Zhurba Producers: Darya Bassel Viktoria Khomenko Willem Baptist Anne Köhncke Sales Agent: Deckert Distribution
Country: Ukraine, Netherlands, Denmark Year: 2022 Duration: 79mins Premiere: UK Languages: Ukrainian, Russian English Subtitles Throughout
Overcoming the Darkness This kaleidoscope of stories shines a light on Ukrainians bravely defending their land against the Russian invasion, where millions struggle for their right to exist. A compendium of short films, Overcoming the Darkness highlights the full impact, and the tragedy, of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. It charts the course of the Russian aggression through the lives and communities of those directly affected, alongside individuals fighting for their land. The film details the force of the assault, but its primary focus lies with the strength of the communities that have had to endure unimaginable hardships but who remain resilient in the face of such oppression. It joins an increasing number of ground-level films documenting the reality of this unjustified war. Screenings Fri 24 June, 12:45, Showroom Screen 1 Sat 25 June, 18:15, Showroom Screen 1 Tue 28 June, 10:30, The Light Screen 6
Tim Hetherington Award Nominee
Content Guidance: War Director/Producer: KINODOPOMOHA Sales Agent: Olha Beskhmelnytsina
Country: Year: Duration: Premiere:
Ukraine 2022 70mins World
Languages: Ukrainian English Subtitles Throughout This film is paired with America a.k.a. Amerika (Newsreel#?) in Co-Creation, p.110
Rebellions
Special Focus
Films Pongo Calling A portrait of rising online star Štefan Pongo, whose political rants, streamed from his truck, have made him an essential voice for Romani people across Europe.
Films
Director: Tomáš Kratochvíl Producers: Radim Procházka Barbara Janišová Fóglová David Evans Sales Agent: Radim Procházka
Country: C zech Republic, Slovakia, United Kingdom Year: 2022 Duration: 78mins Premiere: World Languages: Czech, Slovak, English, Romani English Subtitles Throughout
Screenings Fri 24 June, 20:30, Showroom Screen 1 Sat 25 June, 10:30, Showroom Bertha DocHouse Screen 3 Tue 28 June, 16:00, Odeon Screen 1
The Territory
Alex Pritz’s film focuses on the Uru-eu-wau-wau Indigenous Surveillance Team as they set about challenging the way landowners are destroying environmentally rich areas for profit. It draws on intimate access to both the Indigenous community and the opposing farmers network, to track the enormous changes that have taken place in the Amazon region over the last three years. The escalation of activity by the farmers forces Bitate and Neidinha, a young Indigenous leader and his mentor, to find new ways to protect the rainforest from a rapacious industry whose support reaches all the way to Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro.
Director: Alex Pritz
Sales Agent: Dogwoof
Producers: Will N. Miller Sigrid Dyekjaer Lizzie Gillett Darren Aronofsky Gabriel Uchida
Country: Year: Duration: Premiere:
Screenings Sat 25 June, 16:15, Showroom Associated Press Screen 4 Mon 27 June, 21:00, Showroom Bertha DocHouse Screen 3
Executive Producer: Danfung Dennis Felipe Estefan Rafael Georges da Cruz Txai Surui
Tim Hetherington Award Nominee
Talks & Sessions
A young indigenous leader and his environmental team fight against farmers involved in the wholescale destruction of vast swathes of the Amazonian rainforest.
Alternate Realities
When the president of the Czech Republic makes a remark that Romani people are ‘socially unadaptable’ and refuse job opportunities, truck driver Štefan Pongo initiates a social media campaign for the Romani in the country to post selfies from their workplaces. His activism through online posts and live broadcasts brings him huge audiences across Europe and eventually results in the establishment of the Czechoslovak Romani Union. But as the campaign evolves, the crisis affects Pongo’s family life. Tomáš Kratochvíl’s film captures the spirit of one determined campaigner and the challenges faced by grassroots activism.
Brazil, Denmark, USA 2022 85mins UK
Marketplace
Languages: Portuguese, Tupi-Kawahiva English Subtitles Throughout
91
Special Focus
Films Strand
Rhythms
Films
A dazzling collection of documentaries in which movement, bodies and songs take the main stage. Tango, folk music, punk rock meet with rap battles, modern dance and popular music contests. Get inspired and tune in.
Films in this strand Age of Rage – The Australian Punk Revolution ������������������������������ p.93 And Still I Sing ������������������������������������������������������� p.93 Before We Move ����������������������������������������������������� p.94 Cesária Évora......................................................... p.94 Dancing Pina...........................................................p.95 Dust & Metal............................................................p.95 El Arena.................................................................. p.96 A Film About Studio Electrophonique ��������������������� p.96
Alternate Realities
In the Court of the Crimson King �����������������������������p.97 Karaoke Paradise.....................................................p.97
Spotlight
Talks & Sessions Marketplace 92
A legend on our own doorstep, the Rhythms Spotlight could only be about Ken Patten and his extraordinary creative vision. We will welcome the director of the film for an in-depth discussion of the late founder of Studio Electrophonique. A Film About Studio Electrophonique, p.96 Sat 25 June, 21:30, Showroom Associated Press Screen 4 The conversation with James Taylor and protagonists from the film will take place after the screening.
Rhythms
Special Focus
Films AGE OF RAGE – The Australian Punk Revolution A playful journey through the early days of the punk scene in Australia, as told by former band members and fans.
Films
Director/Producer: Jennifer Ross Executive Producers: Paul Cross Jennifer Ross Shaun Miller
Country: Year: Duration: Premiere:
Australia 2022 82mins World
Language: English
Sales Agent: Ten Speed Media
Alternate Realities
Punk arrived in Australia like an atom bomb, challenging the dullness of anodyne pop and sticking two fingers up to the stuffy conservatism of the country’s cultural, political and moral elite. The establishment didn’t know how to react at first. By the time it did, no matter what bullying tactics were used to re-establish order, society was already in the throes of change. Combining a wealth of archive and concert footage with contemporary interviews, Jennifer Ross’ film not only highlights the importance of punk in the 1980s, it’s also a reminder of how important such movements remain today. Screenings Sat 25 June, 21:00, The Light Screen 6 Mon 27 June, 15:15, The Light Screen 9
And Still I Sing
Afghanistan’s global pop icon and occasionally outspoken activist Aryana Sayeed trains contestants for the hit TV series Afghan Star. As a new season begins, two frontrunners are female: Zahra Elham and Sadiqa Madadgar. But just as both stand on the cusp of realising their dream, US and allied forces announce their withdrawal from Afghanistan and the Taliban begin their return to power. Fazila Amiri’s suspenseful film follows the women as they attempt to leave Kabul during the US evacuation, while also questioning the reasoning behind the US withdrawal.
Director: Fazila Amiri Producer: Lesley Johnson Fazila Amiri Sales Agent: Songs She Sings in Shadows Inc.
Country: Year: Duration: Premiere:
Canada 2021 90mins European
Languages: Farsi English Subtitles Throughout
Marketplace
Screenings Sun 26 June, 21:00, Showroom Bertha DocHouse Screen 3 Mon 27 June, 11:00, Showroom Screen 1 Tue 28 June, 15:30, Showroom Channel 5 Screen 2
Talks & Sessions
Two singers competing for the winning spot on talent TV show Afghan Star come to terms with what life will be like with the return of the Taliban.
93
Special Focus
Films
Rhythms
Before We Move The story of Queer Tango dancers in St. Petersburg, dancing in the face of prejudice in the hope of greater acceptance for the LGBTQIA+ community.
Films Alternate Realities Talks & Sessions Marketplace 94
The Queer Tango movement takes the popular dance and reinterprets it as both a provocation and celebration. Otar and Misha are members of this community who challenge the conventions of the traditional tango community. The euphoric feeling of the dance notwithstanding, there is genuine concern regarding the safety of this beautiful expression of intimacy, sensuality and joy, in a country which does not provide anti-discrimination protection and where homophobia is rife. Aleksandr M. Vinogradov’s film highlights what is at stake for Otar, Misha and their friends.
Director/Producer: Aleksandr M. Vinogradov Sales Agent: VamFilms
Country: Year: Duration: Premiere:
Belgium 2022 97mins World
Languages: Russian, French English Subtitles Throughout
Screenings Sun 26 June, 17:45, The Light Screen 6 Tue 28 June, 21:00, Curzon Screen 1
Cesária Évora An intimate portrait of world-renowned Morna singer Cesária Évora, whose talent took her from abject poverty to stardom and the concert halls of the world. Morna is a style of music and dance popular in Cape Verde, the group of islands off the coast of Senegal, which Cesária Évora called home. She was known as the ‘Barefoot Diva’, for her penchant of performing on stage without footwear. But it was her spellbinding voice, which finally attracted international attention some three decades into her career, that would prove her legacy. Ana Sofia Fonseca’s film, which features incredible concert footage, charts Évora’s gradual rise to fame and the success that accompanied each of her album releases in the 1990s and 2002s, culminating in the Grammy for ‘Voz d’Amor’ in 2004. Screenings Fri 24 June, 18:00, The Light Screen 6 Mon 27 June, 10:00, Showroom Channel 5 Screen 2
Director: Ana Sofia Fonseca Producer: Ana Sofia Fonseca, Irina Calado Sales Agent: Cinephil
Country: Year: Duration: Premiere:
Portugal 2022 95mins UK
Languages: English, French, Portuguese, Creole English Subtitles Throughout
Rhythms
Special Focus
Films Dancing Pina Two of Pina Bausch’s most famous works are rehearsed in Germany and Senegal, championing the choreographer’s legacy through a younger generation of dancers.
Films
Director: Florian Heinzen-Ziob Producer: Florian Heinzen-Ziob Georg Heinzen Sales Agent: Fontäne Film
Country: Year: Duration: Premiere:
Germany 2022 111mins International
Languages: English, French, German, Portuguese English Subtitles Throughout
Alternate Realities
Florian Heinzen-Ziob’s film follows ensembles on separate continents as they rehearse and perform two dance pieces by Bausch. The Semperoper Ballet in Dresden work on the 1974 dance opera Iphigenie auf Tauris, while at the École des Sables in Dakar dancers from all over Africa prepare for the choreographer’s sublime 1975 interpretation of Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring. But the film soon moves beyond recording creative processes, engaging the various dancers on the life they’ve chosen and the passion that drives them. It’s a visually striking, emotionally charged journey that shows how Pina lives on. Screenings Fri 24 June, 15:15, The Light Screen 9 Mon 27 June, 18:00, Showroom Screen 1
Dust & Metal Esther Johnson’s film brings together a trove of archive and contemporary footage for a thrilling, unorthodox portrait of Vietnam.
Original Title: Cát Bụi & Kim Loại Director: Esther Johnson Producer: Lisa Brook Esther Johnson Sales Agent: Live Cinema UK
Country: V ietnam United Kingdom Year: 2022 Duration: 79mins Premiere: World Languages: Vietnamese English Subtitles Throughout
Marketplace
Screenings 27 June, 20:00, Sheffield City Hall Memorial Hall This screening features a live performance by Xo Xinh
Talks & Sessions
Between tourist promotions and Hollywood films lies another Vietnam, whose stunning landscape has been evocatively captured from the country’s most accessible form of transport: the motorbike. Like her ground-breaking 2016 work Asunder, Johnson’s new film employs old and new footage in inventive ways to challenge preconceived stereotypes. It also explores the role of the motorbike – often the only suitable mode of transport for navigating Vietnam’s vast arterial system of tiny country roads – within the country’s history and culture. And accompanying Johnson’s evocative montage is Xo Xinh’s electronic score, performed live, and conveying in equal measure the film’s sense of wonder.
95
Special Focus
Films
Rhythms
El Arena Unfolding against the backdrop of a turbulent political climate, the finest rappers in the Arabspeaking world gather in Beirut, hoping to be crowned King of the Battle.
Films Alternate Realities Talks & Sessions Marketplace 96
The political situation in Beirut was already unstable before recent events saw further chaos in the Lebanese capital. Filmed over several years – and against this turbulent backdrop – filmmaker Jay B. Jammal follows Arena organisers Chyno and Maggie, alongside rappers Dizaster, Al Darwish, Illiam, Kallash and The Synaptic, as they playfully vie for a much-coveted prize. Outside the Arena the country’s crumbling economy becomes debilitating and people’s discontent erupts into protest and uprising. Naturally, the battles become more political – and tougher to organise. As disillusionment and PTSD increases, the future seems unknown.
Director/Producer: Jay B. Jammal Sales Agent: Arthood Entertainment
Country: Lebanon, United Arab Emirates Year: 2022 Duration: 77mins Premiere: World Languages: Arabic, English English Subtitles Throughout
Screenings Sat 25 June, 18:30, The Light Screen 6 Mon 27 June, 13:00, Showroom Bertha DocHouse Screen 3
A Film About Studio Electrophonique A euphoric record of Sheffield-based Studio Electrophonique, which nurtured a generation of superstars such as ABC, The Human League, Heaven 17, Clock DVA and Pulp. Ken Patten was a panel beater who sported a rakish moustache and had a passion for music. He built his own creative universe in the downstairs extension of his Handsworth council house. It was here that he set about recording the sounds of Sheffield, nurturing a generation of nascent superstars who would go on to form some of the most iconic British bands of the 1980s and 1990s. James Taylor’s film, the little-known story of Studio Electrophonique, celebrates a vision unconstrained by means and a name that almost died unheralded, but now survives on the outer ring road of art. Screenings Sat 25 June, 21:30, Showroom Associated Press Screen 4 Sun 26 June, 10:00, Odeon Screen 1 Tue 28 June, 15:45, The Light Screen 6
Director: James Taylor Producer: James Leesley Graham Wrench Sales Agent: Jamie Taylor
Country: Year: Duration: Premiere: Language: English
See p.92 for the Spotlight discussion
United Kingdom 2022 59mins World
Rhythms
Special Focus
Films In the Court of the Crimson King Robert Fripp and the members of prog-rock giants King Crimson look back on 50 years of art, discipline and transcendence in this fascinating, funny and moving film.
Director: Toby Amies Producer: Nicholas Jones Toby Amies David Singleton Nick Freand Jones
Country: Year: Duration: Premiere:
United Kingdom 2021 86mins European
Language: English
Executive Producers: Kat Mansoor/Halcyon Pictures David Singleton
Alternate Realities
Screenings Fri 24 June, 21:00, The Light Screen 6 Sat 25 June, 13:00, Curzon Screen 1
Films
Often found behind his guitar practising scales, Fripp is a perfectionist and quite the taskmaster – even in his relationship with filmmaker Toby Amies. On the band’s 50th anniversary tour, we’re privy to conversations with old and new band members – all of whom walk on eggshells around Fripp – alongside roadies, fans and even a nun. Amies captures a loving but sometimes tough musical visionary – although his behaviour frequently seems tongue-in-cheek – whose demands and sacrifices are all in the name of art. It’s an enthralling watch, whether you’re a King Crimson fan or simply curious.
Sales Agent: Submarine
Karaoke Paradise From the land that introduced us to a screaming male voice choir comes Einari Paakkanen’s feelgood film about Finland’s passion for karaoke.
Original Title: Karaoke Paratíísi Director: Einari Paakkanen Producer: Marianne Mäkelä Sales Agent: Rise And Shine World Sales
Country: Year: Duration: Premiere:
Finland 2022 75mins UK
Languages: Finnish English Subtitles Throughout
Marketplace
Screenings Sun 26 June, 18:30, Showroom Bertha DocHouse Screen 3 Tue 28 June, 20:30, The Light Screen 6
Talks & Sessions
It’s a country of extremes. In summer, it’s light all day. In deep winter, darkness descends. After braving the cold, people revel in the heat of a sauna. And for a country regarded as introverted, the Finns can’t wait to belt out a favourite hit. Karaoke has become a national pastime and Paakkanen takes pleasure in traveling the length of the country in search of people who find solace in sharing their voice. As with the 2003 hit Screaming Men, Karaoke Paradise is as much a celebration of a culture and landscape as it is a wonderful portrait of a people.
97
Special Focus
Short Film Compilations
Between One World and the Next
At the start of 2020, author Arundhati Roy described the Covid-19 pandemic as a portal, a rupture between the past and the future, and a gateway between one normality and whatever comes next. These three films walk us through that portal.
Runtime: 77mins Screenings Sun 26 June, 10:15, Showroom Screen 1 Mon 27 June, 18:00, Odeon Screen 3
Films Alternate Realities
Best Short Nominee
Mirrors
The Great Abandonment
Paul Daly / UK / 2022 / 29mins / World Premiere Sales Agent: Primitive Film
Shirley Abraham, Amit Madheshiya / India / 2021 28mins / UK Premiere / Sales Agent: Cave Pictures, The Guardian
A cathartic celluloid journey through six unprecedented years in England – from Brexit and the Grenfell fire to Black Lives Matter protests and Covid-19.
Trapped without work, wages or food and facing the world’s strictest lockdown, 140 million migrant labourers begin to leave Mumbai, the city they toiled to build.
Talks & Sessions
Letter From Eusapia Carta desde Eusapia
Marketplace 98
Andrés Cornejo Pinto / Belgium / 2021 / 20mins / UK Premiere Sales Agent: DocNomads
An Ecuadorian filmmaker investigates Brussels’ subterranean world. Meanwhile, phone conversations with his surgeon father reveal that a deadly pandemic is sweeping both countries.
Choosing To Be Seen
In a world which denies your existence, it is a radical act to choose to be seen. In very different ways these emotional films affirm the rights of women and trans people to be seen, heard, and respected.
Runtime: 73mins
The Dreamlife of Georgie Stone
The Score
Special Focus
Short Film Compilations
Screenings Sat 25 June, 12:30, Odeon Screen 1 Sun 26 June, 18:30, Showroom Screen 1
Films
Spanning 19 years in the life of transgender teen Georgie Stone. We follow her as she affirms her gender, finds her voice and fights to change Australia’s unjust laws.
For 30 years Maja’s piano has sat silent. Now she is returning to the dream she lost when, fleeing the conflict that consumed Sarajevo, she stopped composing.
Alternate Realities
Maya Newell / Australia / 2022 / 29mins / European Premiere Sales Agent: Netflix
Aleksandra Bilic / UK, Bosnia and Herzegovina 2022 / 24mins / World Premiere / Sales Agent: Alice Popplewell
Talks & Sessions
Prairie Flowers Flores de la llanura
After one of their community is killed by her husband, the cotton weavers of the Prairie Flowers co-operative come together to mourn, heal, dream and resist.
Marketplace
Content Guidance: Domestic abuse / Mariana X. Rivera / Mexico 2021 / 19mins / UK Premiere / Sales Agent: Urdimbre Audiovisual
99
Special Focus
Short Film Compilations
Electric Animal
Mysterious creatures stalk the night; polar bears wander through the centre of town; and a power station is silenced by birdsong. As wild animals increasingly disappear from our world, the spectre of the animal returns to haunt us in these four stunning short films.
Runtime: 72mins Screenings Sun 26 June, 12:45, Curzon Screen 1 Mon 27 June, 10:15, Odeon Screen 1
Films Alternate Realities
Best Short Nominee
The Stone Bridge
How to See the Night
Artur-Pol Camprubí / Spain / 2022 / 18mins / UK Premiere Sales Agent: Catalan Films
Maria Casas Castillo / Portugal, Hungary, Belgium / 2022 / 12mins World Premiere / Sales Agent: DocNomads
A woman witnesses the birth of a horse in the stable where she works – an image so strong that it continues to haunt her.
When a mysterious creature stalks the night, a group of rangers employ camera traps and radio frequencies to enter this animal’s secret world.
Podul de piatrâ / Pont de pedr
Como ver a noite
Talks & Sessions Best Short Nominee
Marketplace 100
Nuisance Bear
Fawley
Jack Weisman, Gabriela Osio Vanden / Canada / 2021 / 14mins UK Premiere / Sales Agent: The New Yorker
Chu-Li Shewring, Adam Gutch / UK / 2022 / 26mins World Premiere / Sales Agent: Adam Gutch
Each year, hundreds of polar bears migrate through the town of Churchill, Manitoba. Thousands of tourists flock to see them. Who is the real nuisance?
With a multitude of voices, both human and nonhuman, this sensorial gem explores the environs of the soon-to-be demolished Fawley Power Station.
I Am Your Sister
These films made by and about women speak of connection, solidarity and tenderness. Whether it is one woman tirelessly supporting her community, teens fighting for the rights of their elders, strangers caring for sisters in need or an aunt transporting her niece to school.
Runtime: 75mins
Special Focus
Short Film Compilations
Screenings Fri 24 June, 16:00, Odeon Screen 1 Sun 26 June, 10:00, Showroom Channel 5 Screen 2
Films
Lend Me Your Voice
1 Kilo – 3 Euros
Ntiza Ijwi
Content Guidance: Physical Violence, Torture Claudine (Shenge) Ndimbira / South Africa, Rwanda / 2022 20mins / UK Premiere / Sales Agent: Don Edkins
Akili, a young refugee in Rwanda who has endured a long and painful journey, sits with strangers and invites them to read her story.
Ani Mrelashvili / Germany / 2022 / 16mins / International Premiere Sales Agent: Film University Babelsberg, Konrad Wolf
A tiny parcel shop in Berlin, which sends packages to faraway loved ones, offers the city’s Georgian community a slice of home.
Alternate Realities
Best Short Nominee
Talks & Sessions
Best Short Nominee
Best Short Nominee
Leaves of K.
Aunt, a Tricycle
Content Guidance: Violence, Sexual abuse Gloria Carrión Nicaragua, Costa Rica / 2022 / 18mins World Premiere / Sales Agent: Leonor Zúniga
Siru Wen / China, USA / 2022 / 23mins / World Premiere Sales Agent: Siru Wen
Hojas de K.
Through an intimate journey involving the filmmaker and her aunt, we see what remains and what is transformed with the passing of time.
Marketplace
K., a 17-year-old student who was arrested during anti-government protests in Nicaragua, recounts the horrors of her time in jail.
二姨, 三轮车/
101
Special Focus
Short Film Compilations
Myths of Objectivity
Who makes the news? Who holds the power to craft the narrative? And whose voices get heard? Four films, sometimes shocking, often funny, all touch on these questions.
Runtime: 71mins Screenings Thu 23 June, 13:00, Showroom Associated Press Screen 4 Fri 24 June, 18:45, Odeon Screen 1
Films Alternate Realities
Best Short Nominee
The Good News Day
The Family Statement
O dia da boa notícia
Lucas Zacarias, João Paulo Vicente / Brazil / 2021 / 14mins International Premiere / Sales Agent: Risco
A Brazilian news website plans a day where they will only post good news and feel-good articles. The day they choose is 11 September 2001.
Grace Harper, Kate Stonehill / USA, UK / 2022 / 15mins European Premiere / Sales Agent: Field of Vision
Using messages drawn from a family WhatsApp group, this film constructs a conversation between the billionaire Sackler family and those afflicted by America’s opioid crisis.
Talks & Sessions Best Short Nominee
Happiness is £4Million Marketplace 102
Weixi Chen, Kai Wei / China, USA / 2022 / 27mins / World Premiere Sales Agent: Tripod Media LLC
An idealistic, young journalist is tasked with profiling China’s biggest real estate speculator. But how can she write a profile about a man whose money-obsessed worldview she despises?
British Boys Garotos ingleses
Marcus Curvelo / Brazil / 2022 / 15mins / World Premiere Sales Agent: Filmes Amarelos
Two men in Bahia, Brazil, try to prove their UK ancestry to qualify for a small plot of land in the city’s finest location: the British Cemetery.
Learning from the Living, Learning from the Dead
In Kurdistan, Guinea-Bissau, and a high school in Paris, lessons from the past reverberate in the present. Born from specific contexts, cultures, and struggles – ideas are transformed when reencountered in the present day.
Runtime: 68mins
Special Focus
Short Film Compilations
Screenings Sun 26 June, 20:30, Curzon Screen 1 Tue 28 June, 13:30, Odeon Screen 1
Films
Calling Cabral
Hearts
Welket Bungué / Guinea-Bissau, Portugal, Brazil / 2022 / 18mins World Premiere / Sales Agent: KUSSA Productions
François Barbier / France / 2022 / 34mins / World Premiere Sales Agent: Marine Lepaulmier
Shaped by mysticism, resistance, and the voice of revolutionary leader Amílcar Cabral, we take a personal and poetic journey through the anticolonial past and present of Guinea-Bissau.
While studying Rossini’s 1816 opera The Barber of Seville, a group of teenagers in Paris reflect on what love means to them.
Memória
Cœurs
Alternate Realities
Best Short Nominee
Talks & Sessions
Laboratory No.2 2 تاقیگەی ژمارە
Having worked in the autopsy training department for 14 years and now nearing retirement, Hama reflects on his own mortality.
Marketplace
Edris Abdi, Awara Omar / Kurdistan / 2021 / 16mins / UK Premiere Sales Agent: Rêtaw Film Distribution
103
Special Focus
Short Film Compilations
This Land is Our Land
Across Spain, Brazil and Yorkshire the same struggle continues. Common land is appropriated from the people to serve the wealthy few. These three films tell the stories of those affected, past and present, and those fighting back.
Runtime: 80mins Screenings Sun 26 June, 10:15, Showroom Bertha DocHouse Screen 3 Tue 28 June, 18:30, Odeon Screen 1
Films Alternate Realities
Best Short Nominee
When the Mountain Rumbles
The Rightful
Alba Bresolí Aliberch / Spain / 2022 / 28mins / UK Premiere Sales Agent: Polar Star Films
Ana Galizia / Brazil / 2022 / 21mins / European Premiere Sales Agent: Sobrenada
The quiet lives of three ageing brothers, the last inhabitants of a once vibrant Spanish village, are about to change thanks to the construction of a new motorway.
For decades the landless workers of Guapiaçu, Brazil have been fighting for their right to farm the land. Now they must fight a dam project that threatens to flood their entire community.
El día que volaron la montaña
Talks & Sessions
Right to Roam Ramble Sun 26 Jun, 12:10, Starting at Showroom Cinema Following the screening of the shorts programme This Land is Our Land, join us for a walk, starting at Showroom Cinema, with ramblers Terry Howard and Maxwell Ayamba. You’ll learn more about the right to roam and the UK’s radical history of trespass.
Ramble On Marketplace 104
Quem de direito
Charlie Thorne / UK / 2022 / 31mins / World Premiere Sales Agent: CPTHORNE Ltd
Right to Roam campaigner Terry Howard journeys across the Sheffield moorlands in this gentle cinematic ramble, which tells the story of the fight to reclaim England’s stolen ground.
Unknown Natures
These four striking films deal with the mysteries of the natural world and our intertwined relationships within it. Remarkable in their form, each film is carefully crafted to help us see the invisible, hear the inaudible, and speculate on the unknown.
Runtime: 72mins
Geamăna
Five Scenes from the War in Afghanistan as They Appear in East Sussex
Special Focus
Short Film Compilations
Screenings Sat 25 June, 12:45, Showroom Screen 1 Sun 26 June, 15:45, Showroom Screen 1
Films
Geamăna village, once home to 1000 people, lies buried beneath a copper mine’s toxic waste. Only the church spire rises from the poisoned lake.
Content Guidance: PTSD / Frank Martin / UK / 2021 / 11mins UK Premiere / Sales Agent: Frank Martin
In five powerful scenes, Afghanistan veteran Clement Boland recalls how the cruelty and strangeness of war has followed him back to his idyllic English home.
Alternate Realities
Matthäus Wörle / Germany / 2021 / 30mins / UK Premiere Sales Agent: University of Television and Film Munich
Talks & Sessions
The Visible Spectrum Le spectre visible
On a film reel electrified by static charges, we meet five people who survived the impact of lightning.
Content Guidance: Flashing images / Rita Ferrando, Lily Jue Sheng Canada, USA / 2021 / 13mins / UK Premiere / Sales Agent: Lucent
This tranquil and inventive cinematic essay, focussing on the Japanese art of flower arranging, regards plants as a language of expression, channelling the past, present and future.
Marketplace
Content Guidance: Contains flashing images Sarah Seené, Maxime Corbeil-Perron / Canada / 2022 / 18mins World Premiere / Sales Agent: Vidéographe
Ikebana
105
Special Focus
Additional Short Film Programmes The Joys and Sorrows of Young Yuguo Ilinca Calugareanu / USA, United Kingdom / 2022 / 28mins World Premiere / Sales Agent: Vernon Films
16-year-old Yuguo, who has a passion for Eastern European romantic poetry, makes a pilgrimage from his home in China to the foothills of Romania’s Carpathian Mountains.
Films
Good Intentions
Best Short Nominee
Buenas Intenciones
Content Guidance: Unsafe sex, Drugs use Andres Villasenor / Spain, United Kingdom / 2021 / 39mins UK Premiere / Sales Agent: Andres Villasenor
Alternate Realities
Shot mostly by its protagonist over the course of ten years, this is an intimate and devastating portrait of one man’s struggle with methamphetamine addiction. Screening together Sun 26 June, 21:15, Showroom Screen 1 Tue 28 June, 18:00, Odeon Screen 3
Screening with Other Features
Talks & Sessions
Night Shift Nattpass
Marketplace 106
Lia Hietala, Hannah Reinikainen / Sweden / 2022 / 15mins International Premiere / Sales Agent: Story
The Unofficial Countryside Nick Jordan, Jacob Cartwright / United Kingdom / 2022 / 17mins World Premiere / Sales Agent: Nick Jordan
From sunset to sunrise. A bold ‘day in the life’ portrait of two women at their workplace: a strip club in Gothenburg.
On the outskirts of Manchester, between the urban and the rural we find liminal spaces: forgotten, ignored and passed-by, but teaming with abundant life.
Screening with Beauty of the Beast, p.81
Screening with New Pigs on the Block, p.84
Co-Creation: Changing Our World “To those who are awake, there is one world in common, but of those who are asleep, each is withdrawn to a private world of his own.” – Heraclitus, fragment 95 , translated by G.W.T. Patrick.
Co-Creation
While selecting films and immersive works for this year’s Sheffield DocFest, we witnessed an increase in collective filmmaking and more works emerging that demonstrate the practices and philosophies of Co-Creation. We approached our colleague Kat Cizek at MIT Open Documentary Lab’s Co-Creation Studio with an invitation to co-curate a programme that would explore the methodologies, illuminate the principles, and shine a light on emblematic works from the past. The intention is not only to give context to the contemporary work, and to show co-creation as a continuing practice, but also to revisit vanguard works and appreciate them anew.
Co-creation in the documentary world is so ubiquitous, and yet it’s often hard to see. In our definition, co-creation offers alternatives to a single authored vision. It’s a constellation of media methods and frameworks. Projects emerge out of process, and evolve from within communities and with people, rather than being made for or about them.” – Co-Creation Studio’s Collective Wisdom Field Study 108
This collaborative programme also emerges from our own curatorial interest in creating stronger connections between our Film and Alternate Realities programmes.
Co-Creation also spans across disciplines, organizations and can also involve non-human systems. Co-Creation ethically reframes who creates, how, and why. Co-Creation interprets the world, seeks to change it, and is tied inextricably to equity, and justice.” Embedded in the tenets of Co-Creation – succinctly captured in the Co-Creation Studio’s manifesto – is a shared commitment to changing our world, for the better.
Co-Curated by Raul Niño Zambrano Head of Film Programmes, Sheffield DocFest Francesca Pancetta Alternate Realities Curator, Sheffield DocFest and Katerina Cizek Artistic Director, Research Scientist and Co-Founder Co-Creation Studio
Co-Creation: Changing Our World Manifesto 1 Projects don’t originate from the singular, auteur vision of one person. Rather, ideas originate from relationships and deep listening and dialogue. 2 Projects emerge from the process, rather than the other way around, with many outcomes including quality and compelling media that resonate beyond the margins. 3 Make media from within communities and with people rather than for or about them. 4 Reframe who gets to tell which story, who owns it and why. Grounded in principles of racial equality, narrative sovereignty and digital justice.
6 All partners respect each others’ expertise including first-lived experience. Challenge power dynamics, and prioritize inclusion and diversity. 7 Use non-exploitative methods, frameworks and networks with new and/or appropriate technology, workflows, tools, protocols, leadership, teams and roles, and multiple languages of storytelling. 8 Impact, sustainability, healing and reciprocity are paramount. How do communities benefit? 9 Not only interpret the world, but change it, tackling complex problems, by acknowledging multiplicity of points-of-view, and that solutions often come from within communities. 10 Share and learn. Be open. Contribute to transparent, open and public knowledge frameworks.
The Co-Creation Studio’s book Collective Wisdom: Co-Creating Media for Equity and Justice is published with MIT Press, launching in Autumn 2022. It is written by Katerina Cizek and William Uricchio, with co-authors Juanita Anderson, Maria Agui Carter, Detroit Narrative Agency, Thomas Allen Harris, Maori Karmael Holmes, Richard Lachman, Louis Massiah, Cara Mertes, Sara Rafsky, Michèle Stephenson, Amelia Winger-Bearskin and Sarah Wolozin.
Co-Creation: Collective Dreams, Co-Created Realities Sat 25 June, 16:00, Channing Hall This year we have partnered with the Co-Creation Studio at the MIT Open Documentary Lab for one of the festival’s key themes: Co-Creation. We are delighted to be joined by Katerina Cizek, Artistic Director, Research Scientist and Co-Founder CoCreation Studio, who will give a keynote presentation. She will outline the practices and philosophies of co-creation, according to the studio’s manifesto, and discuss with some of the artists whose works feature in the Co-Creation strand. Chair: Francesca Panetta (DocFest) Speakers: Katerina Cizek (Open Documentary Lab), Renata Ferraz (Dir. Rising Sun Blues), Gregory Herbert & Professor Katie Field (Dirs. Making With), Mandy Roberts (Feminist Exchange Network)
Co-Creation
5 Media-makers work with citizens, communities, scholars, across institutions, multi-disciplinary teams, and/or with machines / algorithms in a shared, parallel discovery process.
Talks
Co-Creation: Finding Your Voice Part of the Alternate Realities Summit, p.134 Sun 26 June, 14:25, Channing Hall Composer Hannah Conway’s The Sound Voice Project examines voice loss through opera. She worked with biomedical researchers, healthcare professionals, academics and technology entrepreneurs, as well as those who have experienced voice loss. Filmmaker Brian Hill’s Songbirds collaborated with women in Downview Prison in Sutton to create this musical documentary. The women sing their stories in musical styles ranging from hip hop to lullaby. The two artists talk about the practicalities of co-creating musical works. Chair......................... Francesca Panetta Speakers................... Hannah Conway (Composer) Brian Hill (Filmmaker)
109
Co-Creation: Changing Our World Co-Creation as Collective Newsreels Co-Creation in documentary reaches back to the genesis of radical newsreels, including the remarkable (Workers) Photo and Film League who, from 1930– 37, documented a different moving picture from the studios’ glossy representations: hunger marches, evictions, strikes and fighting scabs. They sought to show quotidian footage of workers to other workers.
Almost none of the footage exists today. This mission continued in projects like the US-based Third World Newsreel, NFB of Canada’s Challenge for Change programme and the UK’s Black Audio Film collective. And today we see this co-creative lineage with powerful collectives like Ukraine’s #Babylon13 and the rise of TikTok citizen journalists.
The Link: Grassroots reporting, 60 years apart using very different technologies.
From the Archive
Suggested Pairings
A TikTok War p.125
Co-Creation
From sheltering in bunkers to traveling across Europe as refugees, TikTok has been appropriated to chronicle and explain the horror of the Ukraine war. Content Guidance: War
Part of Alternate Realities Site Gallery
One Day in Ukraine p.51 America a.k.a. Amerika (Newsreel#?) Content Guidance: War / Newsreel / USA / 1969 / 30mins
This ‘guerrilla’ newsreel documentary portrays reactions to the Vietnam by anti-war teenagers and African American militants, who talk tough and battle the police. Community-based methods are the most identified forms of media co-creation. Third World Newsreel grew out of the New York City Newsreel in an attempt to strengthen its commitment to developing filmmakers and audiences of historically marginalized communities. America a.k.a Amerika is set against the background of the escalation of the war in Vietnam, documenting the development of the antiwar movement on the home front. Conversations with Vietnam veterans, young teenagers and African American militants contextualizes footage graphically depicting the increasing incidents of mass protest and police repression. Part of Alternate Realities Site Gallery 110
Den Dobrovoltsya
Media activist and filmmaking collective Babylon’13, formed during the Maidan uprisings, focus on the events of March 14, 2022 – the 2,944th day of the Russian-Ukrainian War. Screenings Fri 24 June, 20:30, Showroom Associated Press Screen 4 Mon 27 June, 18:00, Curzon Screen 1 Tue 28 June, 15:00, Showroom Associated Press Screen 4
Overcoming the Darkness p.90 This kaleidoscope of stories shines a light on Ukrainians bravely defending their land against the Russian invasion, where millions struggle for their right to exist. Screenings Fri 24 June, 12.45, Showroom Screen 1 Sat 25 June, 18:15, Showroom Screen 1 Tue 28 June, 10.30, The Light Screen 6
Co-Creation: Changing Our World People Formerly Known as Subjects Co-creation in documentary questions the filmmaker’s relationship to the people formerly known as subjects, often with complicated outcomes, especially when dealing with images of sex work: who is pointing the camera at whom?
It also allows for unlikely partnerships across disciplines: feminists footballers with economists; film participants singing out their own stories by working with opera-makers, song-writers and vocal therapists.
The Link: Indigenous activism in Canada and Brazil
stressing the value of documenting their struggles.
Suggested Pairing
These Are My People
Goodbye, Captain p.75
Co-Creation
From the Archive
Michael Kanentakeron Mitchell, Willie Dunn, Barbara Wilson, Roy Daniels / Canada / 1969 / 13mins
One of the first Canadian documentaries to foreground an Indigenous perspective on the history of Indigenous-settler relations.
You Are on Indian Land
Adeus, Capitão
The story of ‘captain’ Krohokrenhum, leader of the Gavião indigenous people, from Pará state in northern Brazil, who died in 2016. Screenings Sun 26 June, 15:00, Odeon Screen 1 Mon 27 June, 13:45, Showroom Screen 1
Michael Kanentakeron Mitchell, Mort Ransen Canada / 1969 / 36mins
A group of Native Americans near the Canadian border attempt to blockade a road that runs through their land, resulting in a clash with Canadian police. Screening Together Thu 23 June, 16:00, Showroom Screen 1
111
Co-Creation: Changing Our World People Formerly Known as Subjects
The Link: One a musical, the other opera, both works collaborated with their communities to find a collective voice. Suggested Pairing
Songbirds
The Sound Voice Project p.132
Brian Hill / United Kingdom / 2006 / 63mins
A unique performance installation exploring powerful stories of voice-loss and identity that features immersive, surround-sound and audiovisual settings.
Co-Creation
From the Archive
This documentary musical, filmed in a female prison, was created and produced in collaboration with inmates, and based on their life experiences. Filmed at HMP Downview, in Surrey, the film eschews conventional documentary techniques in favour of music and specially composed songs to explore the realities of life in the prison. The musical styles reflect the interests and passions of the different subjects, ranging from rap and ballad to spoken word. By offering participants an opportunity to express themselves in a creative way, the film invites audiences to rethink preconceptions they might have about women in prison. Screening Sat 25 June, 16:00, Showroom Screen 1
112
Part of Alternate Realities Every Day, Sheffield Hallam University Performance Lab
Co-Creation: Changing Our World People Formerly Known as Subjects
The Link: The camera enabling a levelled encounter with director and characters while offering insights into the sex industry. Suggested Pairing
Not a Love Story: A Film About Pornography
Rising Sun Blues p.65
Co-Creation
From the Archive
Content Guidance: Explicit sex scenes Bonnie Sherr Klein / Canada / 1981 / 68mins
In the early 1980s, director Bonnie Sherr Klein and professional stripper Lindalee Tracey set off to examine the pornography industry and its effects on society. Klein and Tracey were driven by the desire to know more about pornography – why it exists, the forms it takes and how it affects relations between men and women. Not a Love Story offered insights and perspectives from men and women who earn their living in the sex industry, alongside some of pornography’s most outspoken critics who reflected the wave of feminist anti-pornography sentiment at that time. Strident anti-porn statements are accompanied by live sex shows, carefully chosen for maximum impact.
Rua dos Anjos
An actress asks a prostitute to help her create a film in which they share secrets of their professions, and they become both filmmakers and characters. Screenings Sat 25 June, 20.30, Showroom Screen 1 Tue 28 June, 12:45, The Light Screen 9
Screening Thu 23 June, 21.15, Showroom Channel 5 Screen 2 113
Co-Creation: Changing Our World People Formerly Known as Subjects
The Link: Two feminist co-created works, one AI the other physical. Suggested Pairing
Conversations with Bina 48
Feminist Economics Football: A Cooperative Game for Sheffield p.120
Co-Creation
From the Archive
Fragments 7, 6, 5, 2
Stephanie Dinkins / USA / 2014, ongoing
A quest for friendship with a humanoid turned into a rabbit-hole of questions regarding the future, at the intersection of technology, race, gender and social equity. In 2014, artist Stephanie Dinkins started interviewing Bina48, one of the world’s most advanced social robots. Videotaped interactions aimed at getting the robot to answer the question ‘Who are your people?’ The aim was to see if an artist and a social robot could build a relationship over time. After a few encounters, it became apparent that though Bina48 presents as a black woman, her retorts are often the constructions of the white men who programmed her. Possessing the memories (data) of a black American, she ultimately does not address the concerns or trauma of people of colour. Part of Alternate Realities Site Gallery 114
Commissioned by Sheffield DocFest and Site Gallery, this cooperative three-sided feminist football match playing on a hexagonal pitch illustrates intersecting themes in Feminist Economics. The game will be filmed and edited during the festival to be installed in Site Gallery in July. Live Game Thu 23 June, 13:45, South Street Ampitheatre
Co-Creation: Changing Our World Gods, Plants and AI Co-creation even accounts for artists who engage deeply with larger non-human systems like rainforests, mushrooms as well as technologies like robots powered by Artificial Intelligence. These artists are not merely documenting these systems or making work ‘about them’, they are entangled within them, evoking a whole much larger than merely the sum of its parts.
The Link: Scientists and artists collaborative take on nature and storytelling. Sheffield DocFest 2021 Commission
Beyond Our Own Eyes
Suggested Pairing
Co-Creation
Commissioned as part of the DocFest Exchange, these 3 films combine scientific knowledge with artistic speculation to bring us closer to our morethan-human neighbours. Curated by Jamie Allan and crafted collaboratively by artists, filmmakers, land workers, and scientists.
Making-with Gregory Herbert with Professor Katie J. Field / UK / 2021 / 9mins
Amidst the rubble of broken symbionts, traces of a resurgence appear, flora pushing through. Multi-species assemblages signalling, exchanging, building. The fungus that facilitated life on earth, again inspiring new worlds. As we spiral further into climate catastrophe, how do we break away from these capitalist cycles? How do we channel this energy into cycles of reciprocity?
Earth Swimmers Hermione Spriggs with Nigel Stock / UK / 2021 / 23mins
This film attends to the tricks and techniques that mole catchers use to access the underground world of the mole. Using tools as portals into the mole’s vibratory world, probes, feet, noses and rain-making instruments lead the viewer into alternative ways of sensing and knowing the earth.
Gondwana p.121 This VR project allows you to roam through Australia’s ancient Daintree rainforest as it simulates 100 year of climate change impact. Part of Alternate Realitiesn Site Gallery
Still from Making-with
TR333 April Lin 林森 with Dr. Nalini Nadkarni / UK / 2021 / 10mins
Artist-filmmaker April Lin 林森 presents TR333, a speculative construction of a new species of tree developed in conversation with ecologist Dr. Nalini Nadkarni. Using 3D animation, found footage, and a musical score based on data sonification, TR333 recasts the ecological crisis from a multispecies and affective gaze. Screening Together Fri 24 June, 17:45, Showroom Screen 1 115
Special Focus
Alternate Realities Locations Booking not required:
Booking is advised for the following events: 1 VR Library (Free)
6 Alternate Realities Exhibition (Free)
2 The Sound Voice Project (Free)
7 E scaping Gravity (Free)
3 Kubo Walks the City (Free)
8 Feminist Economics Football:
Workstation Mezzanine, S1 2BX
Site Gallery & Site Studio, S1 2BS
Sheffield Hallam University Performance Lab, S1 2LQ
Access Space at Event Central, S1 2HE A Cooperative Game for Sheffield (Free) South Street Amphitheatre, S2 5PN
The Kurious at Kommune, S3 8LS
Films
4 Common Good #3 (Free)
Site Gallery Square, S1 2BS
5 The Acquisitions Panel (£5)
Town Hall, S1 2HH
3
Alternate Realities
7
Talks & Sessions
5
Marketplace
2 8
1 4
118
6
Special Focus
Alternate Realities
Films
Alternate Realities is back in person this year and it’s time to ReConnect: with each other and with our exhibitions.
Our commission, Feminist Economics Football: A Cooperative Game for Sheffield is a three-sided match taking collaboration to a new level. Open to the public, it will be filmed and edited for exhibition.
Site Studio offers a space for rest. There’s Dries Depoorter’s Recharge which powers your mobile phone when you close your eyes using AI and is accompanied by Jad Abumbrad’s Nocturnes, with fragments of Chopin stretched and processed into oblivion.
Come join us – play, rest and reconnect with us in this year’s Alternate Realities Exhibition.
Marketplace
Alternate Realities is supported by funding from Arts Council England.
Several large-scale installations sit across the city, including the co-created The Sound Voice Project about voice loss, Escaping Gravity – an immersive take on Britain’s Imperial Airship programme, and The Acquisitions Panel, where audience members decide whether a controversial colonial object will be allowed into the local museum.
Talks & Sessions
Our main exhibition space this year is Site Gallery. Our theme of ReConnection comes in digital and physical forms, from the multiplayer virtual reality work Gondwana, where audiences can explore the world’s oldest tropical rainforest to KidzWorks, a telephone customer service line of a deeply dysfunctional toy company.
Alternate Realities
Francesca Panetta Alternate Realities Curator
This year showcases innovative non-fiction and immersive documentary in all forms. From virtual reality (VR) to artificial intelligence (AI), sound art to performance. These works break the boundaries of traditional documentary practice and explore how both the digital and the physical can connect us.
119
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Alternate Realities
Site Gallery
after HOURS A full-motion video game that allows players a glimpse into the life of someone with borderline personality disorder.
Films
after HOURS immerses participants into the world of Lilith Gray, a young woman who was molested as a child and suffers from borderline personality disorder as a result. Spending a night alone with Lilith in her bedroom, players learn her story by adopting a double gaze: of witnessing Lilith – piecing together the reasons she behaves and responds as she does – and the perspective of Lilith herself.
Alternate Realities Nominee
Content Guidance: Suicide and Self Harm, Abuse (domestic/sexual/child) Artists: Claire Meekel, Bahiyya Khan
Alternate Realities Talks & Sessions Marketplace 120
Game Designer: Bahiyya Khan
Animation: Claire Meekel Sound: Abi Meekel Country: Year: Premiere:
S outh Africa 2019 European
Country: Year: Premiere:
nited Kingdom U 2022 International
Writer: Bahiyya Khan Cinematography: Claire Meekel
Feminist Economics Football: A Cooperative Game for Sheffield Thu 23 Jun, 13:45, South Street Amphitheatre A public football match, with three sides playing on a hexagonal pitch, illustrates intersecting themes in Feminist Economics. Three-sided football was conceived as a situationist concept in the 1960s, with the aim of the teams collaborating rather than being controlled by an outside force. 60 years on, Sheffield DocFest and Site Gallery have commissioned artists Feminist Economics Football to the festival. Three teams – Decolonisation, The Caring Economy and Eco Feminism – will play together, presenting the possibility of a world founded on cooperation, where we work together to create a socially and environmentally just society founded on the core principles of feminist economics: a process centred on the love of people, not profit.
Artists: Feminist Exchange Network (FEN): Sapna Agarwal Mandy Roberts Ailie Rutherford Filmmaker: Juliet Ellis
This co-creational project is paired with Conversations with Bina48, p.114
Project Manager: Anna Kime The game will be filmed and edited during the festival to be installed in Site Gallery in July.
Site Gallery
Special Focus
Alternate Realities Gondwana This VR project allows you to roam through Australia’s ancient Daintree rainforest as it simulates 100 year of climate change impact.
Alternate Realities Nominee
Artists: Ben Joseph Andrews Emma Roberts
Country: Year: Premiere:
Technical Artist: Michelle Brown
This work is paired with Not a Love Story: Beyond Our Own Eyes in Co-Creation, p.115
Australia 2022 UK
Alternate Realities
Developer: Lachlan Sleight
Films
Gondwana VR is home to a vibrant ecosystem – an awe-inspiring land of ancient trees, rare animals and precious flora. But the forest is degrading. During the course of Sheffield DocFest, this virtual world is programmed to decline in line with real-world climate data projections. The only solution is people – the more time an audience spends in Gondwana, the more resilient the forest becomes. Both resplendent and unsettling, this is a quiet meditation on time, change and climate action in an irreplaceable environment.
Generative Sound Design: The Convoy (Matt Faisandier & Erin K Taylor)
KidzWorks An interactive audio story told through the customer service line of a deeply dysfunctional toy company.
Alternate Realities Nominee
Creator: Ian Chillag Editor: Claire Boyle
SA U 2021 World
Marketplace
Distributor: McSweeney’s Quarterly
Country: Year: Premiere:
Talks & Sessions
KidzWorks is the story of a toy company where something has gone terribly wrong. The experience begins with the KidzWorks catalogue. Whoever chooses to call the company phone number is launched into an interactive adventure that burrows down into a dystopian scenario which proves even more Kafka-esque than the usual automated customer service line.
121
Special Focus
Alternate Realities
Site Gallery
OnlyBans A digital game that critically examines the online policing of sex workers and marginalised bodies.
Films Alternate Realities Talks & Sessions Marketplace 122
Created by a team of sex workers and allies, OnlyBans is a game about social media censorship and digital discrimination. As players attempt to establish an online fanbase and earn money through posting erotic images, they encounter content moderation algorithms, shadow-banning and privacy threats, while also experiencing solidarity from sex worker peers who offer tips for avoiding harassment and mitigating platform data extraction. The game incorporates censored images and stories from real sex workers to illuminate the gendered, racial and financial discrimination enacted by technology platforms.
Alternate Realities Nominee
Content Guidance: Discussions about sex and LGBTQIA+ discrimination Artist: Lena Chen
Sound Designer: Adrienne Cassel Country: Year: Premiere:
SA U 2021 International
Writer: Lena Chen Developer: Maggie Oates Cinematographer: Goofy Toof
On the Morning You Wake Through the voices of people who experienced the 2018 ballistic missile alert in Hawai’i, this VR experience explores the real and imminent threat of nuclear weapons. On January 13, 2018, citizens in Hawaii got an emergency message: ‘Ballistic Missile Threat Inbound to Hawai’i. Seek immediate shelter. This is not a drill’. The message was false but it sent 1.4 million people into existential panic. This ambitious, three-chapter Virtual Reality work uses first-hand testimonies of the event to make clear the real and imminent threat, as well as the fundamental injustice of a world held hostage by nuclear weapons.
Alternate Realities Nominee
Content Guidance: Nuclear threat
Country:
Creators: Mike Brett Steve Jamison Arnaud Colinart Pierre Zandrowicz
Year: Premiere:
Writer: Jamaica Heolimeleikalani Osorio
France, United Kingdom, USA 2022 European
Site Gallery
Special Focus
Alternate Realities Ravi and Emma A world-first webdoc experience that celebrates diversity and inclusiveness through humour and a unique take on love.
Alternate Realities Nominee
Artists: Kylie Boltin, Ella Rubeli Collaborators: Ravi Vasavan Emma Anderson
Country: Year: Premiere:
Films
When art student Emma Anderson falls in love with designer Ravi Vasavan, she is quickly put to the test. Ravi, who was born Deaf, takes Emma to a party where she is the only hearing guest. A fish-out-of-water for the first time, Emma must decide whether she is willing to fully commit to Deaf culture and her new relationship. Told in three acts (each a 2-minute live-action video), the user can switch perspective at any time, and interact with the story by signing 14 Southern Dialect Auslan signs. These interactions are made possible using artificial intelligence and gesture recognition technology.
Australia 2021 UK
Alternate Realities
Production: SBS Australia AI and Site Build: Silverpond
ROZSYPNE A VR piece set in east Ukraine in 2014, where war raged – elderly Nina tries to preserve her everyday life in her small village, Rozspyne.
Content Guidance: Nuclear threat Artists / Directors: Nienke Huitenga, Lisa Weeda Production: Studio ZZZAP Designer: Frank Bosma Developers: Corin Donders Hans van Arken
Country: Year: Premiere:
Netherlands 2019 International
Marketplace
Moving through the distinctive Ukrainian sunflower fields, this poetic, room-scale VR experience offers a fragmented window into the life of Nina, one of the village’s oldest residents.
Alternate Realities Nominee
Talks & Sessions
In the summer of 2014, the village of Rozsypne, deep in the Ukrainian countryside, found itself in the midst of war and the lives of its inhabitants were unsettled by the destruction and chaos at their doorstep. But the suffering of Rozsypne only made international news after Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 was shot down, killing all 298 passengers and raining debris over the fields and homes of the village – whose name translates as ‘scattered’.
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Site Gallery
Safe Space A film illustrating the digital and physical resistance of ballroom cultures over the last thirty years showing their plight and resilience.
Films
Ballroom was created by trans and queer people of colour in response to a society that marginalises their existence. Safe Space edits together footage of ballroom performers from the early nineties, when the AIDS epidemic surged in New York City, and overlays it with contemporary statements from LGBTQIA+ refugees sourced from the internet and voiced by an AI.
Alternate Realities Nominee
Content Guidance: LGBTQIA+ discrimination Artist: Mirelle Borra
Alternate Realities Talks & Sessions Marketplace 124
Country: Year: Premiere:
Germany 2021 International
Santa Barbara Inspired by the artist’s mother, who travelled to the US in search of the American Dream, this single-screen work is an exploration of sacrifice and aspiration. Armenian artist Diana Markosian dramatically reconstructs her own story, questioning the profound sacrifice made by her mother who abandoned her country and husband by becoming a ‘mail-order bride’. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, Markosian arrived with her mother in Santa Barbara, a city known in the former USSR because it was the name of a soap opera and the first US TV show to air in the country in the 1980s. It was also home to Eli, the man who would marry Markosian’s mother and take the place of her father.
Alternate Realities Nominee
Director: Diana Markosian
Producer: Jacob Halajian
Executive Producer: Zoe Potkin
Country: Year: Premiere:
Cinematographer: David Feeney-Mosier Editor: Kate Emerson Writer: Lynda Myles
rmenia, USA A 2020 European
Site Gallery
Special Focus
Alternate Realities A TikTok War From sheltering in bunkers to travelling across Europe as refugees, TikTok has been appropriated to chronicle and explain the horror of the Ukraine war.
Films
Since the invasion of Ukraine began, TikTok has offered audiences intimate and startlingly direct glimpses of war. The conflict isn’t the first to play out on social media – the Arab Spring uprisings and the Syrian civil war used Facebook and Twitter to organise protests and broadcast D.I.Y. footage. But TikTok users have appropriated the platform to tell the story of war in their own cultural language, finding a new style of reportage, analysis and caricature.
Content Guidance: War Production: Sheffield DocFest Ella Musaieva Creators: Various
Country: Ukraine, United Kingdom Year: 2022 This co-creational project is paired with America a.k.a. Amerika (Newsreel #?), p.110
Alternate Realities Talks & Sessions Marketplace 125
Special Focus
Alternate Realities
Site Studio
Black Power Naps Black Power Naps reclaims laziness and idleness as power as the artists explain in a video talking about their work.
Films
Recent studies have shown that the distribution of rest is determined by race, with people of colour regularly getting less sleep than white people. Also, less deep sleep. This isn’t new. Sleep deprivation was used as a means of control over enslaved people. Black Power Naps reclaims laziness and idleness as power. Through physical installations, operas, zines and curatorial initiatives, the group create playful works using a practice of deliberate energetic repair.
Content Guidance: Discussion about racism
Alternate Realities
Country: Year:
SA U 2019
Country: Year:
nited Kingdom U 2022
Artists: Navild Acosta Fannie Sosa
Goodnight, Sleep Tight (Pilot) Performances: Sat 25, Sun 26 and Mon 27 June
Talks & Sessions Marketplace 126
ZU-UK explores the intimate and the epic, the interface between live and digital experiences with this work that exists between physical and virtual worlds Goodnight, Sleep Tight (Pilot) is a one-on-one mixed reality experience. You are put to bed in the physical world with pyjamas. As you lay down you see your ‘mother’ in the virtual world but also feel her, simultaneously, in the physical world. When you look down on the bed (via VR Headset), you are in the same pyjamas, but you now have a sixyear-old’s body. Please note: This work requires touching and close physical contact. No booking required.
Artist: Persis Jadé Maravala Producer: Marnie Nash Developer: Emily Donovan Collaborator: Maria José Marulanda
Site Studio
Special Focus
Alternate Realities Nocturnes Every night we fall asleep. The ‘story of us’ dissolves away. These new musical works explore the idea of self-disintegration.
Alternate Realities Nominee
Artist: Jad Abumrad Additional credits: Arthur Rubinstein Frederic Chopin Eric Whitacre
Country: Year: Premiere:
Films
SA U 2022 World
Alternate Realities
Jad Abumrad created these Nocturnes after a big life change. He had left behind his career hosting and producing WNYC’s hit radio show and podcast RadioLab, which had earned him a MacArthur Genius award. What happened to him next was not unlike what happens to each of us, every night, as we fall asleep. The ‘story of us’ dissolves away. Taking classical music’s most famous night-time work, Chopin’s Nocturnes, Jad used microscopic clips and stretched and processed them into oblivion creating new musical compositions that evoke subterranean memories and visions. Emerge from the depths before resolving again into the new you the next morning.
Recharge An interactive installation where your phone will only charge when your eyes are closed. Charge your phone while charging yourself.
Alternate Realities Nominee
Artist: Dries Depoorter
Country: Year: Premiere:
Talks & Sessions
Like the phones that have become an essential part of our lives, we all need a recharge at some point. This work asks you to do both at once. Plug your phone into the charging station and make yourself comfortable. Using machine learning technologies Recharge will detect if your eyes are open or not. Open – no charge. Closed – charge. In an age when our devices demand so much of our attention, here’s an opportunity to zone out while your phone powers up.
Belgium 2022 World
Marketplace 127
Special Focus
Alternate Realities
Site Studio
A Rest Guide for a Tired Nigerian Artist This selection of printed guides and podcasts asks what happens when we shift attention from the artwork to the people for whom art is their work?
Films
Travel, cook and eat. Dance – preferably naked. Drink the rain. Talk to other artists. Or avoid other artists. These are some examples of the advice from five Nigerian artists on how to find peace in a troubled world. They each deliver ten tips in their illustrated, printed guidebooks, and discuss their lives and art practices in the podcasts.
Alternate Realities Nominee
Artists Rahima: Gambo Innocent Ekejiuba Editor: Kechi Nomu
Alternate Realities Talks & Sessions Marketplace 128
Illustrator and Book Design: Ademola Aderibigbe Illustrator and Character Design: Liz Agboola
Country: Year: Premiere:
Nigeria 2021 UK
VR Library at Workstation Mezzanine
Special Focus
Alternate Realities Child of Empire This animated VR docu-drama immerses viewers in one of the largest forced migrations in human history: the 1947 Partition of India and Pakistan.
Alternate Realities Nominee
Artists: Sparsh Ahuja Erfan Saadati
Country: Year:
Films
Inspired by real life accounts of three witnesses from both sides of the India-Pakistan border, Child of Empire offers a fresh perspective on the individual impact of forced migration. Over a boardgame, Ishar Das Arora, an Indian Hindu who migrated from Pakistan to India, and Iqbal-uddin Ahmed, a Pakistani Muslim, share childhood memories of the seismic and sometimes catastrophic movement of people. As the two men unpack their memories, audiences are an avatar of a seven-year-old child at key points in the migration.
nited Kingdom, U India, Pakistan 2022
Art Director: Stephen Stephenson
Alternate Realities
Writer: Omi Zola Gupta Producers: Sam Dalrymple Saadia Gardezi
Disarmed A playful virtual reality piece whose protagonists are your own arms: first in control, then not, illustrate the commodification of movement.
Alternate Realities Nominee
Artists: Alexandra Barancová Jae Perris Roel Wouters Luna Maurer
Country: Year: Premiere:
Talks & Sessions
Netherlands 2021 International
Marketplace
Your arms at first don’t complain. Many have had it tougher, they feel, condemned to a life of heavy lifting. ‘Life is so repetitive,’ they sigh. ‘If only we could make copies, that could act on our own behalf’. Your arms multiply, start fooling around ‘in flawless synchrony’, until the day comes that they realise they miss touch. Then comes the unexpected... This playful work highlights the importance of movement: its intimacy as well as its capacity to carry our selfexpression and identity. And demonstrates how the digitalising of movement brings about the possibility of exploitation.
129
Special Focus
Alternate Realities
VR Library at Workstation Mezzanine
Monoliths An exploration of landscapes as radical spaces for expression and reflection, presenting the English landscape in VR through the eyes of three northern women.
Films
Three women. Three voices. A striking landscape. This virtual reality experience by Pilot Theatre, in collaboration with One to One Development, combines the soundscapes of real locations in the north of England with three women’s singular stories. What does it mean to come from this place? To live in it? To belong to it? Each of these women’s voices provide different perspectives. They are monoliths. Standing stones. Powerful, elemental and influential forces.
Alternate Realities Nominee
Artist: Lucy Hammond Production: Pilot Theatre
Alternate Realities
Country: Year: Premiere:
nited Kingdom U 2022 World
Country:
UK
Year:
2022
Performers: Hannah Davies Asma Elbadaw Carmen Marcus Sound Design: Mariana Lopez
The Tell Tale Rooms Enter The Tell Tale Rooms, a 360 VR experience and installation that leads you on a journey into the fantastical world of artist Eden Kötting.
Talks & Sessions Marketplace 130
An evolving work in progress, The Tell Tale Rooms combines animation, archive and live action in virtual reality to celebrate neurodiverse artist Eden Kötting and the wonders of the human condition. An installation of Eden’s art introduces and invites audiences into a virtual world where Floating Tell Tale Heads guide you through a run-down French farmhouse full of interwoven realties creatively stitched together. Explore the Room of Memories, the Room of Nostalgia and the Room of Seeing. Throw open the fusty doors of perception and enter our world of virtual reality. This work is an XR Stories Showcase.
Artist: Andrew Kötting Eden Kötting Production: Tyke Films
Installations
Special Focus
Alternate Realities Escaping Gravity Every day, Access Space at Events Central Britain’s Imperial Airship programme is the topic of this full room immersive installation, revealing the human desire for progress, adventure and the unknown.
Alternate Realities Nominee
Lead Artist: Mike Stubbs
Commissioners: Bedford Creative Arts The Higgins Art Gallery & Museum Bedford in collaboration with Lead Artist Mike Stubbs Country: Year: Premiere:
nited Kingdom U 2021 World
Kubo Walks the City
Alternate Realities
Artists: Roland Denning Roger Illingworth Dave Lynch Rob Strachan Mike Stubbs Sam Weihl.
Films
Created in Unreal Engine, Escaping Gravity interrogates the tension between the pioneering optimism of airship construction in the 1920s and the consequences of hubris, as a reflection on our contemporary political and cultural landscape in a post-pandemic world. This is embodied in the wild ambition that went into the making of the R.101 airship and the tragedy that followed. Incorporating archive footage that merges real and imagined worlds of flight and fantasy against a complex symphonic score, this is a multilayered work that explores birth, death and rebirth.
Every Day, The Kurious at Kommune
Nearly 100 years ago, the Korean modernist writer Taewon invented the character Kubo – a troubled writer trying to escape the worries from his mother and gain inspiration through his wanderings, drowning his loneliness in the crowds. In this virtual reality piece, you are invited to act the flaneur, strolling the streets, cafes and streetcars of Seoul to witness the shortcomings of a still anachronistic Korean society emerging from poverty, whilst facing Japanese occupation and forthcoming modernity.
Alternate Realities Nominee
Artist: Hayoun Kwon Graphic Design: Adrien Cachinho
Producer: Richard Turco Developer: Julien Le Corre
France 2021 National
Marketplace
Animation: Samuel Arbouille Lena Loth
Country: Year: Premiere:
Talks & Sessions
Follow the footsteps of Kubo, a Korean urban flaneur, through an exquisitely illustrated three dimensional 1930s Seoul.
131
Special Focus
Alternate Realities
Installations
The Sound Voice Project Every Day, Sheffield Hallam University Performance Lab A unique performance installation exploring powerful stories of voice loss and identity that features immersive, surround-sound and audio-visual settings.
Films
Composer Hannah Conway and writer Hazel Gould collaborated with video designer Luke Halls and sound designer David Sheppard to bring three operatic movements from The Sound Voice Project, celebrating the beauty and intrinsic value of the human voice, as well as featuring the digital and synthetic. It questions ‘what is a voice’ and ‘what happens when it is gone?’
Alternate Realities Nominee
Artist: Hannah Conway
Country: Year:
Producer: Tom Lovatt
This co-creational project is paired with Songbirds, p.112
Writer: Hazel Gould
Alternate Realities Talks & Sessions Marketplace 132
Design: Luke Halls Sound Design: David Sheppard
nited Kingdom U 2021
Performances
Special Focus
Alternate Realities The Acquisitions Panel Sun 26 & Mon 27 June, Town Hall An interactive participatory performance about the legacies of European colonialism and who gets to choose the stories we tell.
Content Guidance: Discussion about racism Researcher & Writer: Rachel Briscoe
Country: Year: Premiere:
nited Kingdom U 2022 UK
Country: Year:
Netherlands 2022
Director: Dan Barnard
Alternate Realities
Please note: this piece is two hours long and needs 12 participants. Please only sign up if you can commit to participating.
Alternate Realities Nominee
Films
This work blends a fictional setting, documentary interviews and audience decision-making in an artwork about legacies of European colonialism. The local museum has been offered an object. You and the rest of the citizen acquisition panel must decide whether to accept it, and how you’ll present it if you choose to keep it. You’ll hear from cultural activists and museum professionals in Europe and Africa, discuss the issue with your fellow participants and decide what should happen.
Computational Artist: Joe McAlister Additional Interview Films: Sheila Marshall
Common Good #3: Senses of Belonging (Pilot) Sat 25 June, Site Gallery Square
Over the course of one day, artist Nadja van der Weide will run a series of interventions in Site Square. Using location-based audio, audience members will join an intimate interactive audio journey to listen, move, dance, watch and follow a series of instructions, exploring in unison the tension of the group versus the individual.
Director: Nadja van der Weide Producer: Nienke Huitenga Composers: Machine Fabriek Rutger Zuydervelt
Marketplace
Please note: this is a pilot and the first part of a longer work in development. Audience members will be encouraged to give feedback to the artist after taking part in it.
Talks & Sessions
Enter a temporary society called ‘Senses of Belonging’, in this location-based audio walk.
133
Special Focus
Alternate Realities Summit Sun 26 June, 9:30 – 17:00 Channing Hall and Memorial Hall It’s time to gather together and ReConvene – to listen, talk and learn about where the world of immersive and interactive documentaries has ventured over the last few years.
Films
Set in the glorious Channing Hall, and open to both industry and public, the day will present some of the most cutting-edge projects from around the world – ranging from virtual reality to artificial intelligence, from audio walks to acquisition panels. Come and join, have fun and connect with the real and the virtual.
Alternate Realities Summit Welcome Sun 26 June, 09:30, Channing Hall Francesca Panetta, Curator of Alternate Realities, and John Rose Adams, Creative Producer at XR Stories, welcome you for a day of talks, discussions and interaction with the international digital storytelling community. Speakers................... Francesca Panetta John Rose Adams (XR Stories) Producer................... Nikki Stearman (XR Stories)
Tickets for the David Olusoga event can be purchased separately.
Alternate Realities
The Alternate Realities Summit is co-produced by Sheffield DocFest and XR Stories.
Immersive Trends
Talks & Sessions Marketplace 134
The Art of Connection
Sun 26 June, 09:50 , Channing Hall
Sun 26 June, 10:50, Channing Hall
What has a pandemic done to change the form of immersive and interactive documentaries? Are they the same as they were before the pandemic, or has a locked down world of creators and audiences shifted the content? Leaders from the industry tell us the trends they are seeing in the immersive and interactive industry, and what they are personally most excited about.
Do interactive works have the potential to connect people more strongly? If so, what are the techniques? Alternate Realities has brought three artists to the festival this year who use very different techniques. Nadja van der Weide uses location-based audio in her work Common Good 3. Persis Jade Maravala’s VR focuses on touch in Goodnight, Sleep Tight (pilot). And Rachel Briscoe asks her audiences to participate thought discussion in The Acquisitions Panel. The artists discuss these different approaches.
Chair......................... John Rose Adams (XR Stories)
Chair......................... Emma Cooper (Innovate UK KTN)
Speakers................... Sam King (HTC Vive Arts) Mark Atkin (XO Labs) Tom Buton (BBC) Emma Cooper (Innovate UK KTN) Zillah Watson (Lecturer and Consutant)
Speakers................... Nadja Van Der Weide (Artist) Persis Jade Maravala (Artist) Rachel Briscoe (Artist)
Using VR to Warn Against Nuclear Disaster
The Non-Fiction Metaverse
Directors Mike Brett and Steve Jamison pull back the curtain on the process behind their award-winning work on the 2018 ballistic missile alert in Hawai’i. The work uses first-person audio testimonies and performances recorded using cutting-edge volumetric video capture technology, to provide a visual metaphor for the chaos and panic in the immediate aftermath of the event, illustrating to audiences the very real and imminent threat of nuclear weapons.
The ‘Metaverse’ is usually described as a kind of social virtual reality, where people can come together and interact in real time. Do documentaries have a place in the metaverse? Can social VR work as a medium for non-fiction narrative? In an environment where everything is computer generated, and where social presence is entirely mediated, how do you address reality? Looking at examples of immersive narrative experiences in real and virtual spaces, we will explore possible futures for non-fiction narratives within it.
Chair......................... Zillah Watson (Lecturer and Consultant)
Chair......................... Verity McIntosh (University of the West of England)
Speakers................... Mike Brett (Director) Steve Jamison (Director)
Co-Creation: Finding Your Voice
Speakers................... Ben Joseph Andrews (Artist), Emma Roberts (Artist), David Gochfeld (XR Stories), Ben Carlin (Megaverse), Sam King (HTC Vive Arts)
David Olusoga: StoryTrails – A Journey Through Time and Space
Composer Hannah Conway’s The Sound Voice Project examines voice loss through opera. She worked with biomedical researchers, healthcare professionals, academics and technology entrepreneurs, as well as those who have experienced voice loss. Filmmaker Brian Hill’s Songbirds collaborated with women in Downview Prison in Sutton to create this musical documentary. The women sing their stories in musical styles ranging from hip hop to lullaby. The two artists talk about the practicalities of co-creating musical works.
StoryTrails is a unique immersive storytelling experience, using the latest multimedia technologies to bring untold stories to life where they happened. StoryTrails Executive Producer David Olusoga will launch the project at Sheffield DocFest, before it begins a UK wide tour this Summer. David will also be joined by some of the project’s emerging talent and cutting-edge creative companies, to preview the UK’s largest immersive storytelling project to date.
Chair......................... Francesca Panetta
Summit ticket holders will be automatically assigned a ticket to this talk at Memorial Hall.
Marketplace
Sun 26 June, 15:30, City Hall – Memorial Hall
Talks & Sessions
Sun 26 June, 14:25, Channing Hall
Speakers................... Hannah Conway (Composer) Brian Hill (Filmmaker)
Alternate Realities
Sun 26 June, 13:25, Channing Hall
Films
Sun 26 June, 11:50, Channing Hall
Special Focus
Alternate Realities Summit
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Special Focus
Talks & Sessions
Films
Each year, our Talks and Session programme explores the full spectrum of the documentary world – including conversations with exciting emerging filmmakers on the rise, masterclasses with world renowned filmmakers, interviews with popular on-screen talent and panel sessions exploring a wide range of industry topics. This year, we’ll be celebrating the Trans-led documentaries that feature in the programme, as well as exploring the ways in which crews can reduce the environmental impact of their productions. We’re opening a dialogue about the problem of bullying and harassment in the industry and will highlight some of the initiatives that have been launched in response. We’ll be showcasing a range of new funding opportunities for filmmakers and exploring whether we have reached the peak in celebrity issue documentaries.
We’re honoured to welcome some of the world’s leading voices in film, immersive media and activism to Sheffield this June, to discuss their expansive careers and creative work. Our guest speakers are pushing the boundaries of storytelling, with their unique approaches to form and style. Each of our talks will take audiences on a journey of discovery, exploration and reflection.
Prepare to be inspired.
Marketplace
We can’t wait to welcome you to reconnect back here, in the Steel City.
Talks & Sessions
We focus on filmmaking talent in the Craft Summit, exploring the skills and techniques behind many of this year’s films, with a focus on editing, cinematography, composition, directing and producing.
Alternate Realities
Beccy Ashdown Talks & Sessions Senior Producer
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Special Focus
Talks Cutting the ‘Fame’ Trilogy: Asif Kapadia and Chris King
Co-Creation: Collective Dreams, Co-Created Realities
Films Alternate Realities
Fri 24 June, 15:30, Showroom Associated Press Screen 4
Sat 25 June, 16:00, Channing Hall
Asif Kapadia will participate in a conversation with frequent collaborator, editor Chris King. This will be the first occasion in which Kapadia and King come together to discuss their decisionmaking regarding the scenes and sequences they chose to leave out of Senna, Amy and Diego Maradona. During the exclusive session, they will open up the archives and revisit unused material, in a frank and insightful discussion.
This year we have partnered with the Co-Creation Studio at the MIT Open Documentary Lab for one of the festival’s key themes: Co-Creation. We are delighted to be joined by Katerina Cizek, Artistic Director, Research Scientist and Co-Founder CoCreation Studio, who will give a keynote presentation. She will outline the practices and philosophies of co-creation, according to the studio’s manifesto, and discuss with some of the artists whose works feature in the Co-Creation strand.
Chair: Jason Wood (Executive Director of Public Programmes and Audiences, BFI)
Chair: Francesca Panetta (DocFest)
Speakers: Asif Kapadia, Chris King
David Olusoga: StoryTrails – A Journey Through Time and Space
Speakers: Katerina Cizek (Open Documentary Lab), Renata Ferraz (Dir. Rising Sun Blues), Gregory Herbert & Professor Katie Field (Dirs. Making With), Mandy Roberts (Feminist Exchange Network)
BBC Interview: Clive Myrie
Talks & Sessions
Sun 26 June, 15:30, City Hall – Memorial Hall
Sun 26 June, 18:00, City Hall – Memorial Hall
StoryTrails is a unique, immersive storytelling experience, using the latest multimedia technologies to bring untold stories to life where they happened, allowing audiences to see their hometown differently. Go to p.135 for more details.
We are delighted to be joined by BBC journalist, newsreader and presenter Clive Myrie, for an in depth interview into his career. Most recently, he travelled to Ukraine where he was the anchor for BBC coverage of Russia’s military escalation. He also reported extensively on the frontline of the Covid-19 pandemic. Clive will discuss his extensive and varied career, inspirations and journalistic practices.
Speakers: David Olusoga (Executive Producer, StoryTrails), Sile Sibanda (Producer, StoryTrails), Gemma Thorpe (Producer, StoryTrails), Ben Luxford (Head of Audiences, BFI), Angela Chan (Head of Inclusion, StoryTrails) Session Producer: Will Saunders (Chief Creative Officer, StoryFutures & StoryFutures Academy)
Marketplace 138
Open to public and delegate passholders
Chair: Krupa Padhy Speaker: Clive Myrie Session Producer: Sreya Biswas
Brett Morgen in Conversation
Open to public and delegate passholders Pratibha Parmar in Conversation
Acclaimed documentary film director, producer, writer and editor Brett Morgen joins us for a deep dive discussion into his expansive career. His latest film and festival opener, Moonage Daydream (p.27), presents never-before-seen footage of David Bowie in a stunning and immersive portrait of the icon. With a portfolio of prolific documentaries, including Jane (p.78), Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck, The Kid Stays in the Picture and Crossfire Hurricane, Brett will discuss his career, his motivations and what inspires him.
Globally recognised filmmaker and human rights activist director Pratibha Parmar joins us for an in-depth conversation about her prolific career. Pratibha’s documentaries such as A Place of Rage have showcased the work of iconic women throughout history, as well as contributing to the visibility of marginalized LGBTQIA+ communities. Pratibha will discuss the making of International Competition title My Name is Andrea (p.50), her creative approach to filmmaking and her inspirations.
Speaker: Brett Morgen
Speaker: Pratibha Parmar
ITV Interview: Ellie Simmonds
Alternate Realities
Sun 26 June, 14:00, Pennine Theatre
Films
Sun 26 June, 20:15, City Hall – Memorial Hall
Special Focus
Talks
Channel 4 Interview: Will Young Mon 27 June, 17:00, City Hall – Memorial Hall
We are delighted to welcome Ellie Simmonds to Sheffield DocFest to speak about her upcoming ITV documentary exploring the link between disability and adoption. The number of disabled children in the care system with a disability is highly disproportionate to the rest of the population and Ellie has been investigating why.
In recent Channel 4 broadcast Will Young: Losing My Twin Rupert, singer Will Young discusses his twin brother’s alcohol addiction, which lasted over twenty years until his death in 2020. Will joins us at Sheffield DocFest to discuss making the documentary, and his hopes for the impact it can have in reducing the stigma surrounding addiction.
Speaker: Ellie Simmonds
Speaker: Will Young
Talks & Sessions
Sun 26 June, 16:15, Pennine Theatre
Session Producer: Jonny Ashton
Marketplace 139
Special Focus Films Alternate Realities Talks & Sessions Marketplace 140
Craft Summit
Open to delegate passholders
A curated day of panel sessions dedicated to the techniques that go into non-fiction filmmaking, from shorts to features. Featuring the creative minds behind many of the films in this year’s programme, explore how they have developed their craft, the creative choices they make and the tools that they use to achieve their vision. Sat 25 June, 10:00 – 17:15 Town Hall A + B
Composing Masterclass: Nainita Desai
Open to delegate passholders Cinematography Masterclass Sat 25 June, 12:00, Town Hall A+B
Award-winning composer and sound designer Nainita Desai will join us to discuss her career and experiences scoring for documentaries such as The Reason I Jump, and Sheffield DocFest and BAFTA winner For Sama, as well as the immersive film-game Telling Lies.
Documentary cinematographers shape the tone and style of a film. They know how to respond quickly to capture what we see in the frame and can incorporate the latest technologies into their production. During this craft summit session, we will showcase cinematographers on the rise, including those whose work features in this year’s festival programme.
Speaker: Nainita Desai
Check website for speakers
Films
Sat 25 June, 10:00, Town Hall A+B
Special Focus
Craft Summit
Alternate Realities
Craft Masterclass: Brett Morgen
Breaking Into Craft Editing – A Call to Action Sat 25 June, 16:00, Town Hall A+B
We are honoured to welcome Brett Morgen to this years’ craft summit, following the UK Premiere and Opening Night screening of Moonage Daydream. Having produced, directed, written and edited the film, he will discuss the art of navigating between roles to achieve his unique creative vision.
The Grierson Trust, in partnership with Netflix, has developed Grierson DocLab In Focus: Editing – a training scheme to address one of many skills shortages in the screen industries. This session will discuss some of the issues the editing sector currently faces and how to ensure we have a resilient future workforce equipped to deal with the difficult topics that documentaries often present.
Speaker: Brett Morgen
Chair: Andy Worboys (Editor)
Talks & Sessions
Sat 25 June, 14:00, Town Hall A+B
Speakers: Kate Townsend (Netflix), Sema Basharan (Editor), Nse Asuquo (Editor)
THE GRIERSON TRUST
Marketplace
Session Producer: Yen Yau (The Grierson Trust)
141
Special Focus
Sessions New Talent on the Rise
Sustainable Film Production for a Sustainable Future
Films
Sat 25 June, 10:00, Channing Hall
Sat 25 June, 12:30, Channing Hall
A panel of Film and TV professionals on the rise, featuring BAFTA Breakthrough Brits as well as international filmmakers’ whose work features in this years’ programme. During this session, they will discuss their professions, addressing the successes and challenges that they have experienced at their differing levels of career, and how they helped to pave their way into the industry.
A discussion about the environmental impact of film production. As an industry, we must now champion cost-effectiveness, minimal travel, archive content, local talent deployment and focus on unearthing untold stories. WaterBear strives to make all WaterBear Originals Albertcertified. Albert supports the global Film and TV industry in reducing the environmental impact of production and to create content that supports a vision for a sustainable future.
Chair: Anna Hall (Candour Productions)
Speakers: Andrea Walji (Head of WaterBear Studios), Katy Tallon (Albert), Jack Wylson
Alternate Realities
Speaker: Ashley Francis-Roy, Lyttanya Shannon, Marissa Neff (Dir. National Wake) Additional speakers to be confirmed
Celebrating Trans-led Stories and representation Talks & Sessions Marketplace 142
Open to delegate passholders
Journalism & Creative Documentary
Sun 26 June, 10:00, Town Hall B
Sun 26 June, 11:00, Town Hall A
This session will celebrate the trans-led films and filmmakers featured in this year’s festival programme. Visibility isn’t always easy, safe or even possible for many trans people. However, visibility is not just about being seen, but seeing authentic and expansive representations of trans lives. Join us for a discussion around authorship, accountability, ethics and representation.
Presented by The Guardian, this session assembles filmmakers and funders to discuss the ways in which journalism and creative documentary can fruitfully intersect. What are the broad bounds of journalism and how does the field approach storytelling in contrast to the pursuit of a cinematic language within creative documentary? What are the values within each field? And what are the outcomes of combining these practices?
Check website for speakers
Check website for speakers
The Whickers Pitch Sun 26 June, 15:15, Town Hall B
Screening + Discussion: When it comes to Ukraine, what should one know? Sun 26 June, 15:30, Showroom Bertha Dochouse Screen 3 It’s the ninth year that Ukraine has been living in a state of war with the Russian Federation. How have the current generation of filmmakers and artists experienced and comprehended reality in this time? This talk follows the screenings of Peace and Tranquillity and Boney Piles (p.38). More Talk info (p. 34). Chair: Volodymyr Sheiko (General Director, Ukrainian Institute)
Speakers: Jo Lapping (BBC), Kate Townsend (Netflix), Oli Harbottle (Dogwoof), Mak CK (Award-winning Filmmaker), Jane Mote (The Whickers)
Speakers: Taras Tomenko (Dir. Boney Piles), Myro Klochko (Dir. Peace and Tranquility) Session Producer: Victoria Leshchenko (Program Director, Docudays UA International Human Rights Documentary Film Festival)
Alternate Realities
Hosts: Jane Ray (The Whickers), Krishnan Arora (SBS)
How ScreenSkills is Boosting Skills in an Unscripted TV Boom
Films
Who will be awarded the coveted £100,000 Film & TV Funding Award to make their first feature length documentary? The Whickers Pitch brings together five emerging directors to pitch their non-fiction projects to a panel of industry judges. Come and support the finalists, be your own armchair judge, and bear witness as the legacy of pioneering broadcaster Alan Whicker brings another exceptional documentary idea to life.
Open to delegate passholders
Special Focus
Sessions
Channel 4 First Cut Pitch Mon 27 June, 10:30, City Hall – Memorial Hall
There’s plenty of good news in unscripted, with commissions on the rise across the UK. However, this has led to a shortage of talent in a range of off-screen roles, at all career stages. ScreenSkills executive Sarah Joyce, Head of Unscripted and Children’s Television, will be joined by industry colleagues to discuss the ScreenSkills Unscripted TV Skills Fund, and what is available to help production companies and freelancers meet the skills demands of the sector.
Once again, Channel 4 will be offering five new directors the chance to pitch in front of some of its documentary commissioning team, and a live audience. Our winner will walk away with a commission from Channel 4 for their first 60-minute film, and one month of fully-paid development and mentorship with an indie to support the development of their idea. You won’t want to miss this fun and playful session.
Check website for speakers
Chair: Will Rowson (Channel 4) Session Producers: Simon Lee (Channel 4), Stef Dore (Channel 4)
Marketplace
Speaker: Rita Daniels (Channel 4), Kira Phillips, Arthur Cary
Talks & Sessions
Mon 27 June, 10:00, Town Hall B
143
Special Focus
Sessions Bullying & Harassment in the Industry
Working with National Geographic
Films Alternate Realities
Mon 27 June, 11:00, Town Hall A
Mon 27 June, 12:00, Channing Hall
Research reveals that bullying and harassment is widespread across the film and TV industry. Join us for a conversation about the problem. It’s an opportunity to hear from some of the mental health experts working in the industry, who are spearheading support initiatives in response. This session will begin with a screening of Brian Hill’s short film Toxic, featuring real testimonies from individuals who have been bullied in the industry.
Ever wondered how to develop and pitch to Nat Geo International? In this session, the UK-based commissioning team share insights into the development and production of exceptional content that supports the National Geographic Society’s core mission of science, exploration, conservation and education. In this session, we will take a deep dive into two series currently in production, to reveal the secrets of just how to make a hit Nat Geo show.
Chair: Mia Bays (BFI)
Chair: Dinah Lord (Caravan Films)
Speakers: Brian Hill, Rebecca Day (Film in Mind) , Anthony Andrews (We Are Parable), Lucy Tallon (Film & TV Charity)
Speakers: Carolyn Payne (Nat Geo), Simon Raikes (Nat Geo), Ben Noot (Nat Geo), Tim Beudel (Nat Geo), Carlo Massarella (Windfall Films)
ITV Presents Fresh Cuts
Talks & Sessions Marketplace 144
Open to delegate passholders
Star Power – How to Position Unknown Talent
Mon 27 June, 12:45, Town Hall B
Mon 27 June, 13:45, Town Hall A
Join us as ITV reveals the five filmmakers who have been commissioned to make five films as part of their newest initiative, ITV Presents Fresh Cuts. Each filmmaker represents the very best of new, Black talent and all five films will be shown on ITV as part of its Black History Month programming in October 2022.
Can you ever expect to create a hit show without household name talent? Award-winning broadcaster UKTV’s Head of Factual and Factual Entertainment Hilary Rosen and Senior Commissioning Editor Helen Nightingale are returning to Sheffield DocFest to discuss whether it’s talent or bust. Hilary and Helen are ready to share their insights on how a show can position unknown talent, with ratings success for popular factual channels W, Yesterday and Gold.
Check website for speakers
Chair: Dan Neal (Harbar 8) Speakers: Hilary Rosen (UKTV), Helen Nightingale Session Producer: Rebecca Ferris (UKTV)
Beyond Centres of Power
Open to delegate passholders The Rise of the Celebrity Documentary
Join BFI Doc Society, and organisations supported by its Ripple Effect Fund, to discuss the importance of deliberately moving toward models of funding that support sustainable local initiatives and peer learning, which have the potential to ignite and deliver long lasting impact for the field. Inspired by community-led networks and initiatives, the fund amplifies the work of grassroots non-fiction champions and distributes power to those working at the heart of their communities.
Some of the highest-rating and most impactful single docs in recent times have been authored by celebrities. But now, with seemingly all the channels commissioning these films, have we reached the peak in celebrity issue documentaries? And are these films here to stay? We hear from a panel of filmmakers, commissioners and celebrities themselves, who talk about their experience of working on these films and what the future might hold for the authored single doc.
Chair: Shanida Scotland (Doc Society)
Chair: Mobeen Azhar
Session Producer: K ate Moore (Doc Society)
Speakers: Roman Kemp, Anton Ferdinand, Christine McGuinness, Tash Gaunt, Max Gogarty (BBC) Session Producer: Angela Byrne
Does Length Matter? Making Short Docs That Count
BBC Three Northern Docs Pitch
Sky Documentaries, the home of world-class, real-life stories from award-winning and emerging filmmakers, has launched its first rolling documentary shorts fund, in partnership with APEX, aimed at filmmakers from underrepresented backgrounds. In this session, panellists will share insights on the key markers of a compelling short documentary, explore how form and length can elevate innovative storytelling, and how shorts can propel filmmakers into a breadth of opportunities in the industry.
Emerging filmmakers from the North have been invited to pitch their idea to a panel of BBC commissioners and a BBC Three Channel Executive, for the prize of a documentary commission for BBC Three. The live pitch will be preceded by a Q&A with previous pitch winners Rebecca Southworth and Dan Harrison (Can Sex Offenders Change), on idea development, the making of the film and how it helped their careers.
Speakers: Poppy Dixon (Sky), Elena Andreicheva, Cherish Otkea
Judges: Yasemin Rashit (Channel Executive, BBC Three), Carl Callam (Commissioner, BBC Documentaries, Emma Loach (Commissioner, BBC Documentaries) Producer / Mentor: Beejal-Maya Patel, Hamish Fergusson
Marketplace
Tue 28 June, 10:00, Town Hall B
Talks & Sessions
Mon 27 June, 16:00, Town Hall A
Session Producer: Emma Bullimore
Alternate Realities
Mon 27 June, 16:00, Channing Hall
Films
Mon 27 June, 15:00, Town Hall B
Special Focus
Sessions
145
Special Focus
Sessions Paramount+ Factual: UK Commissioning For a New Global Streamer
Open to delegate passholders Channel 4: Pride at 50
Films
Tue 28 June, 10:30, Town Hall A
Tue 28 June, 12:30, Town Hall B
New global streamer Paramount+ begins airing in the UK on 22 June. As it goes live, this session offers a chance to explore how it works, who commissions what in factual there, and what are their wants and must-haves when it comes to commissioning. With a focus on high-end content, commissions for Paramount+ Factual will include box sets and feature length documentaries.
As we celebrate 50 years of pride, we will look back on how LGBTQIA+ in television has progressed on and off screen. From the first ever on screen lesbian kiss and Out on a Tuesday, Channel 4 has been a forerunner for LGBTQIA+ representation on and off screen for the past 40 years. It’s a chance to see how far we’ve come and how far we have to go. Check website for speakers
Alternate Realities
Speakers: Guy Davies (VP, Commissioning Editor, Factual, Channel 5 / Paramount+), Lucy Willis (VP, Commissioning Editor Non Scripted UK Originals, Channel 5 / Paramount+), Daniel Pearl (VP, Unscripted Originals, Paramount +), Fatima Salaria (MD, Naked), Camilla Lewis (founder, Curve Media), Bridget Bosely (Creative Director, Wag Entertainment), Adam Hopkins (Story Films)
Meet the Commissioners Tue 28 June, 14:00, City Hall – Memorial Hall
Talks & Sessions
Leading comissioners talk about forthcoming commissiong opportunities as they take part in our own version of Question Time. Commenting on recent successes, they discuss the changing landscape and how producers can keep innovating for their channels. This is a chance to really get to know some of the UK’s most prolific commisioners from BBC, Channel 4, Channel 5, Sky Documentaries and ITV. Check website for speakers
Marketplace 146
Session Producer: Naomi Rose
A Tribute
Roger Graef A Tribute – Roger Graef 148
Well-made documentaries are islands of evidence and tools for change in a sea of noise.” – Roger Graef The Sheffield DocFest Trustees and Team mourn the loss, earlier this year, of a true documentary legend and dear friend, Roger Graef. A stand-out producer and director, he contributed to Sheffield DocFest as a former Trustee and Advisory Board member. He could always be found enthusiastically pitching new ideas, animatedly debating films at screenings, and was often one of the last people to leave the party. He is sorely missed. Roger was brilliant – open hearted, tenacious, accessible and an innovator. Amongst his many achievements was the astounding A Complaint of Rape (1982), a fly-on-the-wall documentary that brought about tangible change.
We honour Roger’s legacy with a screening of one of his most impactful works as producer, followed by a commemorative reading – from Sheffield DocFest Chair, Alex Cooke and Deputy Chair, Brian Woods – of his personal manifesto, originally delivered at a BAFTA celebration to mark his 50th year as a filmmaker. Brian Woods recalls that walking through the streets of Sheffield with him was slower than with anyone else, not because of his pace, but because so many people wanted to stop and talk to him, and he was always so keen to engage and make introductions. The screening will be followed by tea and cake for Roger’s friends and colleagues, Roof Terrace, Curzon Sheffield. Please bring short tributes and fond memories of Roger to share.
A Complaint of Rape
A Tribute – Roger Graef
Throughout his working life, Roger was committed to supporting and encouraging new talent and would always have time in Sheffield to stop and advise, encourage and make connections.
Roger received the Sheffield DocFest Lifetime Achievement Award in 2014 and we again pay tribute to his impact as creative force, documentary ambassador and champion of emerging voices.
Sun 26 June, 10:15, Curzon Screen 1 In this landmark episode, from the 1982 BBC fly-on-the-wall series Police, officers were filmed aggressively questioning a woman about her allegation of rape. A Complaint of Rape made news around the world and inspired then British Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, to question the procedure as well as the attitude of those involved. The woman was asked deeply inappropriate personal questions about her sex life, menstruation and her mental health. The officers dismissed her claims and told her directly that they didn’t believe her. The film instigated a public outcry and as Graef noted on BBC Radio 4’s Front Row in 2014, the ‘film came after three very controversial rape cases the week before and the police quietly changed the way they handled rape.’
Content Guidance: Sexual abuse Director: Charles Stewart Producer: Roger Graef
Country: United Kingdom Year: 1982 Duration: 47mins Language: English
Sales Agent: BBC
Free event. Ticket required. Visit sheffdocfest.com to book your free ticket.
149
Special Focus
Marketplace & Talent
Films We’re delighted to be back in person, welcoming filmmakers from all over the world to talk face to-face with broadcasters, streamers, funders, distributors, sales agents, executives and a wide range of helpful professionals and pathfinders who can help get the next set of beautiful, boundary breaking documentaries made and seen. Charlie Phillips Executive Producer – Industry Participation
MeetMarket, our flagship pitching opportunity, is back, featuring 40 projects from 26 countries. Included amongst them are five projects from Ukraine, selected in partnership with our friends at Docudays UA and the Ukrainian Institute. We hope that this opportunity will allow some of the top documentary talent in Ukraine to continue telling stories despite the devastating impact of the war. We welcome all the Ukrainian project representatives, and we wish them all the best with their projects in these difficult times.
We hope all those pitching and meeting in our market have a successful and enjoyable time.
Talks & Sessions
Welcome also to all those in public pitches, pitching informally, or just having a great chat to establish new working relationships. The marketplace at Sheffield is an open and democratic one, dedicated to exploring new ideas, and this is reflected in this year’s industry discussions around the theme of co-creation.
Alternate Realities
Charlotte Reekers Senior Industry Producer
Marketplace 151
Special Focus
Marketplace Welcome to the 2022 edition of Sheffield DocFest Marketplace.
Films Alternate Realities
Switchboard & Consultancies
Talks & Sessions
Mon 27 – Tue 28 June, 9:00 – 18:00, Cutlers’ Hall, Reception Room
Sun 25 June, 12:00 – 17:00 Mon 26 – Tue 28 June, 9:00 – 18:00, Cutlers’ Hall, Old Banqueting Hall
Do you have questions about who is funding and distributing what, who is the right partner for your projects, and how to meet them? Come to the Switchboard to take advantage of expert advice on the people you should be meeting at this year’s market, talk with a range of specialist consultants about where to go next with your project and find out more about our international delegations.
The café is open for all as your location for setting up meetings with industry delegates and festival guests. Grab a coffee, a bite to eat, and meet your latest collaborators in a relaxed and productive atmosphere.
Open to all delegate passholders.
Marketplace 152
Marketplace Café
Open to all delegate passholders.
Doc Society Drop In Day
Snap Chats: 10 Minute Meets Sun 26 June, 14:00 – 15:30, Cutlers’ Hall, Hadfield Hall
Join Doc Society at our Drop In Day – a full day of Doc Soc news, views and networking.
The number one reason delegates come to DocFest is to meet. So let’s do this! Whether you’re looking to find new collaborators for your next film, contribute to someone else’s project, or simply expand your network of doc enthusiasts, get yourself to this mixer. The format is simple: take a seat, chat with the delegate opposite, every 10 minutes we’ll ring the bell, you move one seat to the left, and meet someone new. Who will you end up chatting with?
Sign up for 1-2-1 surgeries with the Doc Soc team and industry guests, and get the lowdown on our funds and resources, including advice on BFI Doc Society Fund feature funding, how to keep your project Safe & Secure and ways to cut down on your carbon footprint. Open to all filmmakers & the doc curious – walk ups welcome. Check @TheDocSociety for updates. #DocumentaryLivesHere
Open to all delegate passholders.
Alternate Realities
Open to all delegate passholders.
Who’s Who
Films
Fri 24 June, 10:00 – 17:00, Sidney & Matilda (Happy Hour starts at 17:00)
Special Focus
Marketplace
Marketplace Kick-off Drinks Sun 26 June, 17:00 – 19:00, Cutlers’ Hall, Main Hall
Returning this year to DocFest is our Who’s Who session, where you can hear from a selection of decision makers introducing who they are and what they’re looking for in this fast-paced session. It’s been 3 years since many of us saw each other in person, so let’s hear what’s changed for our decision makers, and see who some of the new faces in commissioning and sales are.
The official open launch of the industry activities, our Marketplace Kick-off Drinks offer an opportunity to get to know industry delegates, decision makers, artists, producers and filmmakers. Meet the industry team as well as fellow delegates, tell us about your documentary projects, and ask for our advice on navigating the coming days – we’re here to help you get films made.
Open to all delegate passholders.
Open to all delegate passholders.
Talks & Sessions
Sun 26 June, 16:00 – 17:00, Cutlers’ Hall, Hadfield Hall
Marketplace 153
Special Focus
Marketplace Pitch Your Short
Films
Mon 27 Jue, 10:00 – 12:00, Cutlers’ Hall, Drawing Room
Mon 27 June, 13:30 – 14:30, Cutlers’ Hall, Drawing Room
Making a short documentary? This session is for you. Hear the commissioning priorities from some of the world’s major shorts platforms and funders, and then listen to immediate constructive feedback from them on ideas for short docs pitched by 4 pre-selected filmmakers. Platforms presents: The Guardian, New York Times, New Yorker/Conde Nast, Doc Society, Channel 4, and Sky Documentaries.
Whether you’re a non-UK producer wanting to find out how to co-produce with UK producers and funders, or a UK producer wanting to understand global opportunities, this discussion and case study session will provide some of the answers. Hear from the UK Global Screen Fund and a case study by UK producer Bungalow Town and their commissioning editor on their experience of working internationally, and get the best advice on how to collaborate.
There are advance sign ups for this session, please check our website for details.
Alternate Realities
Open to all delegate passholders.
Meet the Festivals & Markets
Talks & Sessions Marketplace 154
How to Co-produce with the UK
There are advance sign ups for this session, please check our website for details. Open to all delegate passholders.
Producers Meet Producers
Tue 28 June, 10:00 – 12:00, Cutlers’ Hall, Hadfield Hall
Mon 27 June, 15:00 – 18:00, Cutlers’ Hall, Hadfield Hall
Join this session to connect with representatives from international festivals and documentary markets in a casual round table format. Take the chance to ask about programming priorities, submissions, pitching opportunities, premiere policy, who goes to them, and get help devising your festival strategy.
If you’re a producer looking to broaden your network with fellow producers, and meet your next international co-producer, this session is for you. Producers from a variety of countries will be able to mix, share knowledge, and explore possibilities for collaborations and coproductions.
This session has limited capacity.
This session has limited capacity.
There are advance sign ups for this session, please check our website for details.
There are advance sign ups for this session, please check our website for details.
Open to all delegate passholders.
Open to all delegate passholders.
Work-in-progress Screening: Ukraine Tue 28 June, 13:00 – 15:00, Curzon 2
Expedition 49 Ukraine, France, Poland | Director: Alisa Kovalenko Producers: Stephane Siohan, Valery Kalmykov, Tomek Morawski Fragments of Ice Ukraine | Director: Maria Stoianova Producers: Alina Gorlova, Maksym Nakonechnyi
Open to all delegate passholders.
Developing a realistic budget is a vital part of filmmaking but it can be a difficult task. Join producer Rachel Wexler as she provides a detailed overview of an independent documentary budget, clarifying the process line by line. It’s a great opportunity to receive comprehensive guidance which will be helpful when preparing your own budgets. Attendees in this session will also receive a downloadable budget template.
There are advance sign ups for this session, please check our website for details. Open to all delegate passholders.
Alternate Realities
Iron Butterflies Ukraine, Germany, France | Director: Roman Liubiy Producers: Andrii Kotliar, Volodymyr Tykhyy
Tue 28 June, 13:30 – 15:00, Cutler’s Hall, Drawing Room
Films
The Work-in-Progress Screening is an opportunity for three film teams from Ukraine to screen part of their rough cut for a room of industry delegates and decision-makers. Followed by a discussion.
The Fundamentals of Budgeting
Special Focus
Marketplace
BFI Doc Society Fund Works in Progress Talks & Sessions
The BFI Doc Society Fund showcases some works in progress from their current slate in short presentations to invited delegates. 15–20 minute extended cuts will be screened, followed by a moderated conversation with the filmmakers and an opportunity to ask questions. Get to know the filmmakers and the Fund in a relaxed setting and learn more about these exciting projects looking for finance, sales and distribution partners now.
By invite only.
Marketplace 155
Special Focus
MeetMarket Mon 27 – Tue 28 June 9:00 – 18:00, Cutlers’ Hall, Main Hall
Films
Documentary film projects in the making can apply to the MeetMarket early in the year to be selected for this prestigious international pitching forum. Once selected, project teams will have the opportunity to meet with representatives from international funders, broadcasters, distributors, festival programmers and exhibitors with the purpose of finding partners to finish their films. This year’s selection consists of five projects from Ukraine in partnership with Docudays UA and 35 projects selected by our open call.
Alternate Realities
MeetMarket is generously supported by our partners BFI, Department for International Trade and Getty Images.
Ukraine Selection Intercepted
Talks & Sessions
Ukraine, Canada Director: Oksana Karpovych Producers: Giacomo Nudi, Rocío Barba Fuentes
Ivan & Marta. A Day Before the War
Ukraine Director: Sergey Bukovsky Producer: Oksana Ivanyuk
Nice Ladies
Netherlands, Ukraine Director: Mariia Ponomarova Producers: Rogier Kramer, Maksym Nakonechnyi, Anna Zobnina, Alina Gorlova
Shut the Fuck Up!
Marketplace 156
Ukraine, France Director: Taisiia Kutuzova Producers: Stephane Siohan, Olga Beskhmelnytsina
UP IN THE AIR
Ukraine, Czech Republic Director: Oksana Syhareva Producers: Oksana Syhareva, Nataliia Pogudina, Karla Stojakova
40 Years of Silence
United Kingdom, Iraq, Sweden Director: Maythem Ridha Producers: Maythem Ridha, Andreas Rocksén, Mostafa Nagy
#NunsToo Documentary United States, Italy Director: Lorena Luciano Producer: Filippo Piscopo
A Fox Under a Pink Moon Iran Director: Mehrdad Oskouei Producers: Mehrdad Oskouei, Siavash Jamali
A Sudden Glimpse to Deeper Things
United Kingdom Director: Mark Cousins Producers: Adam Dawtrey, Mary Bell
Between the Rains
Kenya, United States Directors: Andrew H Brown, Moses Thuranira Producers: Moses Thuranira, Samuel Ekomol, Andrew H Brown, Ngaihike Napuu
Brigidy Bram: The Life and Mind of Kendal Hanna
Bahamas, United States, South Africa Directors: Kareem Mortimer, Laura Gamse Producers: Kareem Mortimer, Laura Gamse
Collateral Echoes
United Kingdom Director: Baff Akoto Producers: L-A Appiah, Luke Moody
Concrete Land
Jordan Director: Asmahan Bkerat Producer: Sahar Yousefi
Copa ‘71
United Kingdom Directors: Rachel Ramsay, James Erskine Producer: Victoria Gregory
DALTON’S DREAM
United Kingdom Directors: Kim Longinotto, Franky Murray Brown Producer: Lorine Plagnol
Eat Bitter
Central African Republic Directors: Ningyi Sun, Pascale Appora-Gnekindy Producer: Mathieu Faure
Emma & Eddie, a working couple
Everest Dark
Canada Director: Jereme Watt Producers: Merit Jensen Carr, Ina Fichman, Michael Bodnarchuk, Jereme Watt
Faces of Agata
Poland, United Kingdom Director: Małgorzata Kozera Producer: Maria Krauss, Peter Fudakowski Ireland Director: Ciaran Cassidy Producer: Maria Horgan
Hummingbirds
Matryoshka
The Portuguese Experiment
My Extinction
The Queendom
Our Hoolocks
Time Hunter
Redlight to Limelight
To Use a Mountain
Re-Evaluation (working title)
Untitled Fan Ruozhou Project
United Kingdom Directors: David Proud, Paul Viragh Producer: Lindsey Dryden India, South Korea, United States Directors: Ragini Nath, Chinmoy Sonowal Producers: Gary Byung-seok Kam, Kweighbaye Kotee India, Estonia Director: Bipuljit Basu Producers: Max Tuula, Maria Gavrilova United Kingdom Director: Toby Bull Producer: Kat Mansoor
Searching for Mariam
I AM IRVINE WELSH
The Buddhists of Beara
United States Director: Contessa Gayles Producers: Contessa Gayles, Richie Reseda, David Felix Sutcliffe
France, United States Director: Jehan Selim Harney Producers: Marc Berdugo Barbara Conforti, Jehan Selim Harney Ireland Director: Maurice O’Brien Producer: Clare Stronge
The Gender Project (working title)
United States Director: Kimberly Reed Producers: Louise Rosen, Kimberly Reed, Robin Honan
United Kingdom Director: Nick Willing Producer: Michele Camarda
Mexico Director: Otilia Portillo Padua Producer: Paula Arroio Sandoval Namibia, Germany, United States Directors: Daniel Chein, Mark Mushiva Producers: Daniel Chein, Mark Mushiva, David Felix Sutcliffe United States Director: Casey Carter Producer: Colleen Cassingham China, United Kingdom Director: Fan Ruozhou Producer: Chen Daishan Co-Producer: Lasse Johansson
THE WIFE OF
Estonia Director: Volia Chajkouskaya Producers: Ivo Felt, Christian Popp, Marius Markevicius
Information about the 35th selected project is only available to selected decision makers & experts.
Talks & Sessions
Life + Life
Germany Director: Adithya Sambamurthy Producer: Alexandre Tondowski
Costa Rica, Mexico Director: Maricarmen Merino Producers: Paulina Villegas, Karla Bukantz, Maricarmen Merino
United States Directors: Silvia Castaños, Estefanía Contreras Producers: Jillian Schlesinger, Leslie Benavides, Miguel Drake-McLaughlin United Kingdom Director: Paul Sng Producer: Natasha Dack Ojumu
THE JOURNALIST AND THE JAILER
Alternate Realities
Housewife of the Year
Finland, Spain Director: Chico Pereira Producer: Kaarle Aho
Films
Hungary, France Director: Gábor Hörcher Producers: Marcell Iványi, Christine Le Goff
Lock-In
Special Focus
MeetMarket
Marketplace 157
Special Focus
Alternate Realities Talent Artists Alternate Realities Summit Sun 26 Jun, 10:00 – 18:00, Channing Hall The Summit will bring together artists and industry experts to talk about the state of the immersive industry.
Films
See Alternate Realities Summit, p.134
Alternate Realities Surgeries & Meetings Mon 27 Jun, 9:00 – 18:00, Cutlers’ Hall – Main Hall Through an open call, we selected 9 project teams to meet with industry experts to get valuable feedback on their new media projects and find new partners. Alternate Realities talent artists will also participate in the Think Tank, Alternate Realities Summit, and meet artists in the exhibition.
See Alternate Realities section, p.119
Alternate Realities Dr Sandra Gaudenzi
Emma Morgan-Bennett
Faye Belsey
Emilka Bojańczyk
Valeria Salina Toros
Jameisha Prescod
Anghelo Taylor
Baff Akoto
Claire Levy
Beatriz Martinelli
Ronald Baez
Timo Wright
Anya Gleizer
Augmented Haikus
Wandering in Other Worlds
Moon Mama Wants You To Rave
Talks & Sessions
Augmented Haikus
ViVo4ALL
ViVo4ALL
Marketplace 158
Mono No Aware
Moon Mama Wants You To Rave
Collateral Echoes
Liberty City VR
Wandering in Other Worlds
Womb Room
Youth, Place and Play
Special Focus
Amplify: Production Talent Amplify: Production Talent Meetings Mon 27 Jun, 15:00 – 18:00, Cutlers’ Hall – Hadfield Hall
Christie Allanson
Arsalan Motavali
Fatima Ali Omar
Emma Norton
Natasha Hawthornthwaite
Bryn Thomas
Talks & Sessions
Zain Mohsin
Alternate Realities
Lily Ahree Siegel
Films
Amplify: Production Talent is an initiative for pre-selected entry-level production professionals to elevate their careers. This initiative offers the opportunity to connect with UK production company executives in the factual/documentary TV sector, experience our Marketplace to enhance and widen networks, and learn more about the documentary industry. We’re delighted to be welcoming eight emerging production talents.
Marketplace 159
Special Focus
Delegations
Films
Chilean Delegation
Irish Delegation
Coordinated by Chiledoc
Coordinated by Screen Ireland
With the support of the Ministry of Culture, the Arts, and Heritage, the Chilean delegation of producers and filmmakers are excited to attend Sheffield DocFest to meet and reconnect with industry players, agents, and filmmakers from around the globe. At the same time, we are proud to present Breaking the Brick and Alis. Chiledoc is a public-private alliance between the Chilean Documentary Corporation CCDoc and ProChile, subject to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
With the support of Screen Ireland, an Irish delegation of producers and directors have the opportunity to attend DocFest and reconnect with international industry representatives and experts. Recent Irish documentary successes include Kathryn Ferguson’s Nothing Compares, Gavin Fitzgerald’s Million Dollar Pigeons, Neasan Ni Chianáin & Declan McGrath’s Young Plato and Luke McManus’ North Circular.
Cornwall Delegation Coordinated by Screen Cornwall
Alternate Realities
Our inaugural delegation from the far south west includes both experienced and emerging talent. Together we represent a range of projects that reflect the distinctive culture of our minority Celtic nation as well as a slate of projects developed with local funding for the broadcast & streaming market.
European Delegation
Northern Ireland Delegation Coordinated by Northern Ireland Screen With support from Northern Ireland Screen the Northern Ireland delegation will attend Sheffield to connect with international audiences, co-producers and financiers. Steeped in the challenging journalism and storytelling of Northern Ireland’s history, this cluster of companies and associated producers and directors are making a considerable impact in the international feature documentary arena with recent successes such as Kathryn Ferguson’s Nothing Compares, Declan McGrath and Neasa Ni Chianain’s Young Plato, and Alison Milllar’s Lyra.
Coordinated by British Council
Talks & Sessions Marketplace 160
British Council is supporting this delegation of European festival professionals from Italy, Spain, France and Romania to attend Sheffield DocFest under our remit to bring together influential cultural leaders (artists, programmers, producers, commissioners) with the time, space, immersion in art and networking opportunities for new work to be shared and new ideas, collaborations and partnerships to emerge.
Northern Norway Delegation Coordinated by Northern Norway Film Centre A delegation of directors and producers from Northern Norway will attend Sheffield DocFest to meet and network with international industry representatives and experts, ready for new partnerships and collaborations.
Scottish Delegation
Ukraine Delegation
Coordinated by Screen Scotland & Scottish Documentary Institute
Coordinated by Docudays UA With the support of British Council and Ukrainian Institute’s UK/Ukraine Season of Culture a delegation of Ukrainian filmmakers and artists are presenting their films, VR and artwork. Alongside films in both DocFest’s Official Selection and Docuday’s Official Competition, artists’ work is showing in the Alternate Realities exhibition, teams are pitching their projects in the MeetMarket and filmmakers are presenting new material in a Work-In-Progress event facilitated by Docuday’s DOCU/PRO experts.
Films
The Scottish Delegation of film producers, filmmakers, and financiers come to Sheffield to connect with audiences and the industry, and to promote their films and Scotland as a first-class place for documentary filmmaking and co-production.Screen Scotland is the national body that drives development of all aspects of Scotland’s film and TV industry, through funding and strategic support. Scottish Documentary Institute (SDI) is an internationally recognised documentary centre, specialising in documentary training, production, and distribution.
Special Focus
Delegations
Scottish Documentary Institute
Coordinated by British Council Sudan British Council is supporting a delegation of five emerging Sudanese filmmakers selected from participants in a year-long sector development programme. Building on this Creative Economy initiative the delegation will explore connections across cultural sectors for Sudanese creative entrepreneurs and enhance and develop key skills through access to the festival’s unique industry programme.
Coordinated by Image Nation Abu Dhabi
Ffilm Cymru Wales is the development agency for Welsh film, dedicated to advancing and sustaining a strong film industry for Wales. We provide funding and training to emerging and established Welsh filmmakers, offer exciting cinematic experiences to audiences across Wales, engage people of all ages and abilities in creative learning, and develop new skills and career paths for people through a range of training programmes.
Marketplace
Image Nation Abu Dhabi, an award-winning film and entertainment company, are leading the UAE delegation of film professionals at Sheffield DocFest. Image Nation creates films, TV series, documentaries, and entertainment for consumers throughout the world and is the first UAE company to have multiple productions stream globally on Netflix. Its success spans the globe – screening content at over 500 international film festivals and receiving the industry’s highest honours, including two Academy Awards, a BAFTA and an Emmy.
Coordinated by Ffilm Cymru Wales
Talks & Sessions
UAE Delegation
Wales Delegation Alternate Realities
Sudanese Delegation
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Drinks and Parties Thu 23 June
Fri 24 June
Alternate Realities Preview Drinks
Alternate Realities Happy Hour
17:00 – 19:00, Kollective Kitchen Site Gallery
Join as we open the Alternate Realities exhibition at Site Gallery. Get your eyes, ears and hands on our showcase of innovative non-fiction and immersive documentaries, including games, virtual reality experiences, artificial intelligence and podcasts. Meet the team, ReConnect and enjoy the works! Supported by Arts Council England
Drinks and Parties
Opening Night Drinks 22:00 – 01:00, Kommune
Welcome to Sheffield! We’re glad you’ve joined us. Come along for a drink and catch up with old friends and new, following the screening of our opening night film: Moonage Daydream.
18:00 – 19:00, Kollective Kitchen Site Gallery
Join artists, creatives and industry audiences for the Alternate Realities Happy Hour at Kollective Kitchen at Site Gallery. Supported by Arts Council England
British Council Reception: UK/Ukraine Season of Culture
19:30 – 21:00, Tamper Sellers Wheel
Meet filmmakers and film institutions from Northern Norway. The region has a lot to offer in terms of skilled film workers and good opportunities for co-production and cofinancing. Come by for a chat and a drink, and let’s see what we could do together! Supported by North Norway Film Centre
18:30 – 20:00, Winter Garden
We’re delighted to welcome everyone to the launch of the British Council and Ukrainian Institute’s UK/Ukraine Season of Culture. Twinned with Donetsk in Ukraine, Sheffield is the perfect place and DocFest the perfect platform for the Season launch. And we’re sure you will welcome the artists and filmmakers whose work features in the Ukraine focus across the Film programme, Alternate Realities exhibition, Industry programme and Talks & Sessions. Supported by British Council
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Meet the North Norwegian Delegation
WAKE UP! Friday Night Party 21:30 – 01:00, Network
Celebrating the World Premiere of Mirissa Neff’s This is National Wake, WAKE UP! will channel the irreverent spirit of National Wake, the multiracial South African punk band that defied apartheid. Featuring retro African grooves and vintage Super 8 visuals by Nadine Kadey. Come shake off your second day of cinemahopping in style. Supported by XTR
Drinks and Parties Sat 25 June Meet the Filmmakers Drinks
The Kurious Drinks
17:00 – 19:00, Birdhouse
18:30 – 20:00, The Kurious at Kommune
The Sheffield DocFest Film Programme team welcomes you to raise a glass or two to the talented directors and producers behind this year’s Film Programme. Supported by ESPN
Molinare Craft Summit Drinks
Sheffield’s new creative hub welcomes filmmakers and film lovers from around the world as they introduce their team, their new state-of-the-art post facilities and announce some exciting new projects with BAFTA-winning and Oscarnominated talent. Supported by The Kurious at Kommune
17:15 – 18:30, Town Hall Silver Room
Supported by Molinare
National Film and Television School’s Networking Drinks Reception 18:00 – 19:30, Curzon Rooftop
The NFTS Directing Documentary Masters is regarded as one of the leading courses of its kind in the world. Peter Dale, NFTS Head of Documentary, invites you to celebrate the work of the latest Documentary Graduates as they prepare to join the industry. Join them – and current Students – to learn more about the work of the school and its diverse range of courses.
Meet the Scottish Delegation Drinks 19:00 – 20:30, Tamper Sellers Wheel
Meet the Scottish Delegation of Producers, Filmmakers, and Executives presenting in Sheffield. Learn more about their films and about Scotland as a first-class place for documentary filmmaking and co-production. Hosted by Screen Scotland, the national body that drives development of all aspects of Scotland’s film and TV industry through funding and strategic support, and Scottish Documentary Institute (SDI), an internationally recognised documentary centre specialising in documentary training, production, and distribution. Supported by Screen Scotland
19:30 – 21:00, Furnace
Join the Academy for an informal drinks reception to mingle with their members and your peers. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences is the world’s preeminent movie-related organisation, comprising 9000 members across more than 70 countries, recognising and upholding excellence in the motion picture arts and sciences by inspiring and connecting the world through the medium of motion pictures. Supported by Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
Acme Saturday Night Party 21:30 – 01:00, Network
Drinks and Parties
From camera operation, to editing, to sound design; many people are integral in bringing a compelling story to the screen. So, join Molinare in celebrating the craft of documentaries, where we raise a glass to the beauty of storytelling and the talented people that bring these visions to life.
Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences Drinks
Acme is known for docs immersed in music culture, and the acme party guarantees an uplifting mix of back-to-back party tunes from old school Hip Hop, R’n’B, soul, funk and disco anthems all the way to the latest club bangers. This year we come with a ’90s vibe, as we celebrate the incredible legacy of Black British music heritage with a Jungle and UKG vibe from our special guest DJs. Be prepared to dance. Supported by acme
Supported by NFTS
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Drinks and Parties Sun 26 June Roger Graef Memorial Tea and Cake
StoryTrails Drinks Reception
BBC Arts Drinks
11:30 – 12:30, Curzon Rooftop
17:30 – 19:00, Millennium Gallery
19:00 – 20:30, Birdhouse
We welcome friends and colleagues as we pay tribute to Roger Graef – as creative force, documentary ambassador and champion of emerging voices. This event will follow a screening of Roger’s fly-on-the-wall documentary A Complaint of Rape. Please bring short tributes and fond memories of Roger to share.
StoryTrails is a unique, immersive storytelling experience, using the latest multimedia technologies to bring untold stories to life where they happened, allowing audiences to see their hometown differently. Please join Professor James Bennett, Director of StoryTrails, along with some of our key creatives and partners to preview this magical project before it embarks on a UK wide summer tour.
Join the BBC’s Head of Arts and Classical Music TV Suzy Klein and her commissioning team as they look to the future of arts programming at the BBC. Hear more about the team’s vision for the future and what they are excited about commissioning, as well as celebrating what worked well over the past year, as the arts world opened to a postpandemic world.
Marketplace Kick Off Drinks
Supported by StoryFutures
Drinks and Parties
17:00 – 18:30, Cutlers Hall Main Hall
The official open launch of the industry activities, our Marketplace Drinks offers an opportunity to get to know industry delegates, decision makers, artists, producers and filmmakers. Meet the industry team as well as fellow delegates, tell us about your documentary projects, and ask for our advice on navigating the coming days – we’re here to help you get films made! Supported by WarnerBros Discovery
Alternate Realities Happy Hour 18:00 – 19:00, Kollective Kitchen, Site Gallery
Meet other Alternate Realities audience members and artists for an end of the Day drink. Supported by Arts Council England [LOGO]
Grierson Trust New Talent Drinks 18:30 – 20:00, Tamper Sellers Wheel
Join The Grierson Trust and their latest cohort of Grierson DocLab trainees to raise a glass to fresh talent joining the industry. Come along to meet this wonderfully diverse group launching their careers in a variety of factual and documentary roles. Plus, find out more about the Grierson DocLab in Focus: Editing and Production Management schemes, which are currently open for applications. Supported by Grierson Trust THE GRIERSON TRUST
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Supported by BBC Arts
Women in Film and TV Drinks Reception 19:00 – 20:30, Winter Garden
Women in Film and TV (WFTV) are delighted to invite all festival delegates to join them at a drinks reception to celebrate the women of Sheffield Doc/Fest 2022. Come and meet the WFTV team and network with industry friends and colleagues. Our event is supported by specialist media legal practice Reviewed and Cleared. Supported by Reviewed and Cleared
Drinks and Parties
Chiledoc Drinks
19:30 – 21:00, Curzon Rooftop
Join Chiledoc and the filmmakers of Chilean Delegation to celebrate our films and the joy of meeting in person again. The Chilean delegation is present at Sheffield DocFest thanks to the coordinated work of the Ministry of Arts, Culture, and Heritage, and Chiledoc, the brand that promotes the Chilean documentary in the world, under the principles of diversity and associated work. Find more about us at Chiledoc.cl Supported by Chiledoc
Together Films Drinks 20:00 – 21:30, Ambulo Millenium Gallery
Supported by Together Films
21:30 – 01:00, Leadmill
In an ode to the UK premiere of Karaoke Paradise – the heartwarming Finnish film about karaoke culture, we welcome you to MASSaoke. Get ready to belt out great tunes for a mass karaoke session with the DocFest industry delegates.
Drinks and Parties
Join Together Films for a stylish celebration following the UK Premiere of Fashion Reimagined. Our resident Marketing & Audiences team, Together works with a range of film festivals and impact titles to reach new audiences globally. Founder & CEO Sarah Mosses will be sharing details of their new sales agency, Together Films Sales, led by Vicki Brown (previously Director of International Sales at Altitude).
Massaoke Paradise Sunday Night Party
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Drinks and Parties Mon 27 June UKTV Drinks
Alternate Realities Happy Hour
ScreenSkills Drinks
17:00 – 18:30, Cutlers Hall Cafe
18:00 – 19:00, Kollective Kitchen Site Gallery
19:30 – 21:00, Birdhouse
Drinks and Parties
The UKTV commissioning team would like to welcome festival attendees to the UKTV Drinks event at 5pm on Monday at Cutlers Hall Café. Following UKTV’s Commissioning Session, “Star Power – is talent vital for Factual success?”, the UKTV Drinks provide an exclusive opportunity to meet the team responsible for the award-winning broadcaster’s growing slate of factual and factual entertainment UKTV Originals and network with festival delegates. Supported by UKTV
Banijay UK’s Emerging Talent Drinks 17:30 – 19:00, Millenium Gallery
Banijay UK is proud to support emerging creatives at this year’s DocFest and would be delighted for you to join Executive Chair Patrick Holland, and teams from Banijay UK companies including Dragonfly, DSP and Workerbee, as we introduce a group of brilliant new creatives from a diverse range of backgrounds as they launch their careers in factual television. Supported by Banijay UK[LOGO]
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Meet other Alternate Realities audience members and artists for an end of the day drink. Supported by Arts Council England
Sky Documentaries Introduction Drinks 18:00 – 19:30, Tamper Seller’s Wheel
To mark a successful two years since the launch of the Sky factual channels, please join the newly bolstered commissioning team to celebrate Sky Documentaries’ first in-person event. Poppy Dixon, Director of Documentaries and Factual, will share more about the recently announced Shorts Documentary fund, which is open for entries, as well as news on exciting upcoming content on the channel. Supported by Sky Documentaries
Join ScreenSkills to raise a glass in celebration of the first year of the Unscripted TV Skills Fund and its vital work in supporting the unscripted television workforce across the UK. It will also be an opportunity for our partners and friends to meet some of the talent we have supported as we mark 12 months of investing industry contributions in helping address the country’s skills needs. Supported by Screen Skills
Irish Delegation Reception 20:00 – 21:30, Winter Garden Screen Ireland is delighted to invite you to the Irish Reception at Sheffield DocFest. The event celebrates the Irish work screening at the festival and provides the opportunity to meet and reconnect with the Irish delegation of filmmakers in attendance. Supported by Screen Ireland
Channel 4 Monday Night Party 21:30 – 01:00, Crystal Bar Come and let your hair down with the Channel 4 team. Drinks, music and dancing at Crystal Bar. Supported by Channel 4
Drinks and Parties Tue 28 June Alternate Realities Happy Hour
Closing Night Drinks
18:00 – 19:00, Kollective Kitchen Site Gallery
19:30 – 00:00, Showroom Bar
Meet other Alternate Realities audience members and artists for an end of the day drink. Supported by Arts Council England
Nobody likes saying goodbye, but alas it’s that time. It’s your last chance to make those connections you hadn’t had the courage to make before, and dance the night away, as we celebrate another year of DocFest.
Tue 28 June, 18:30 – 19:30 City Hall, Memorial Hall
Drinks and Parties
DocFest Awards Ceremony Join us at Sheffield’s Memorial Hall as we unveil the winning films across festival live pitches, our official competitions as well as the esteemed Doc Audience Award, voted for by you. Supported by Sue Terry Voices
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Team and Contributors
Staff and Contributors
Aglaia Gelpe Hospitality Coordinator
James Lowe Publications Designer
Allce Gale Events Coordinator
Jessica Cohen Events Manager
Anna Kime Alternate Realities Commission Producer
John-Paul Pierrot Digital Marketing & Partnerships, Together Films
Anna Stopford Box Office Manager
John Rose-Adams Summit Producer, XR Stories
Anna Titov Alternate Realities Programme Assistant
Juliet Ellis Alternate Realities Commission Filmmaker
Anthea Okereke Community Programme Coordinator
Juliet Moore Amplify Talent Coordinator
Ash Taylor Volunteer Assistant
Laura Hegarty Community Programme Producer
Asif Kapadia Guest Curator
Lee Bentham Operations And Admin Coordinator
Asma Kabadeh Film Programme Coordinator
Lex Greer Assistant Publicist, Premier
Beccy Ashdown Talks And Sessions Senior Producer
Mae Roberts Film Programme Assistant
Camila Arrigia Torres International Delegations Assistant
Maria Stoneman Head Of HR and Participation
Cassie Fletcher Assistant Accountant
Mat Steel Head Of Productions and Operations
Charlie Phillips Executive Producer, Industry Participation
Maya Sfakianaki Hospitality Assistant
Charlotte Reekers Senior Industry Producer
Melodie Ash Summit Producer, XR Stories
Clare Stewart Interim CEO
Mita Suri Film Programme Producer
Corrigan Lowe Partnerships & Executive Assistant
Monique Reid Publicist, Premier
David Chang Photographer
Nikki Stearman Summit Producer, XR Stories
David McLeavy Alternate Realities Exhibition Designer
Oliver Kibblewhite Alternate Realities Technical Architect
Eleni Stavrou Communications Coordinator
Oliver Roberts Volunteer Coordinator
Elizabeth Dexter Alternate Realities Programme Assistant
Raul Niño Zambrano Head of Film Programmes
Ellie Irwin Operations Support
Rita Pais Registration Assistant
Fiona Outram Finance Manager
Rose-Marie Jhuboo Industry Programme Assistant
Francesca Panetta Alternate Realities Curator
Rupert Goodwin Publicist, Premier
Gaia Campanelli Events Assistant
Paul Hayes Showroom Production Manager
Greg Walker Production Manager
Paul Stapleton Designer
Harry Løvstrøm Alternate Realities Talent Market Producer
Philippa Walusimbi Talks & Sessions Programme Coordinator
Hannah Campbell Alternate Realities Programme Producer
Sarah Dunn Box Office Assistant
Hannah Gauntlett Digital Producer, Together Films
Sarah Mosses Head Of Marketing & Audiences, Together Films
Ian Haydn Smith Publications Editor
Saziso Phisi Production Assistant
Jack Rutherford Alternate Realities Production Coordinator
Scott Marshall Box Office Coordinator
Jamie Allan Special Projects And Short Film Programmer
Sophie Duncan Industry Programme Coordinator
James Mullighan Partnerships Executive
Sylvia Bednarz Partnerships And Operations Director Tash Rajan Digital Engagement, Together Films
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Team and Contributors Programme Consultants
Trustees
Carmen Thompson
Alex Cooke Chair
Alfredo Mora Manzano
Beejal-Maya Patel
Thierno Ibrahima Dia
Brian Woods Deputy Chair
Naziha Karima Arebi
Daniel Gordon
Varadila Nurdin
Derren Lawford Diana Buckley Sheffield City Council Observer Fozia Khan
Charlie Phillips
Gali Gold
Clodagh Chapman
Helen Scott
Hannah Mchaffie
Jennifer Kimber
Harry Kalfayan
Jo Clinton-Davis
Martijn Te Pas
Peter Armstrong
Mariana Hristova
Sacha Mirzoeff
Roisin Tapponi
Shirani Sabaratnam
Elise Hassan
Sue Cook Arts Council England Observer
Laza Lesedi Oluko Moche Maria Paula Lorgia Edwin Mingard Deepthi Pendurty John Badalu Teodosia Dobriyanova
We would like to thank Madonna Benjamin who served on the board of trustees until recently, as well as all the volunteers and venue coordinators that help us during the festival.
Staff and Contributors
Programme Advisors
Nosa Eke Festival Assistants Archie Balciunas Grace Kilroy Harry Goodison Lauren Eady Sidi Ruan Vaibhav Ghag Will Edwards William Holt
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Index Title
Films & Alternate Realities
Page No.
Page No.
1 Kilo – 3 Euros.................................................................... 101
Electric Malady......................................................................82
1341 Frames of Love and War ...............................................73
Escaping Gravity.................................................................. 131
8 Bar – The Evolution of Grime..............................................53
Exposing Muybridge.............................................................. 74
Acquisitions Panel, The.......................................................133
Family Statement, The.........................................................102
Adam Ondra: Pushing the Limits...........................................67
Fashion Reimagined..............................................................62
after HOURS........................................................................ 120
Fawley..................................................................................100
After the End of the World......................................................48
Feminist Economics Football: A Cooperative Game for Sheffield........................................ 120
AGE OF RAGE – The Australian Punk Revolution...................93 Alis.........................................................................................81 ALL MAN: The International Male Story.................................73 America AKA Amerika......................................................... 110 And Still I Sing........................................................................93 As Prescribed........................................................................ 61 Aunt, a Tricyle...................................................................... 101 Beauty of the Beast................................................................81 Beba......................................................................................67 Before We Move.....................................................................94
Index
Beneath the Surface.............................................................. 61 Bike Life Extreme...................................................................68 Black Power Naps................................................................ 126 Boney Piles............................................................................38 Breaking the Brick..................................................................87 British Boys..........................................................................102 Bunch of Amateurs, A ...........................................................49 Business of Birth Control, The...............................................62 Calling Cabral......................................................................103 Cesária Évora.........................................................................94 Child of Empire.................................................................... 129 Children of Las Brisas............................................................54 Common Good#3: Senses of Belonging (Pilot)...................133 Complaint of Rape, A .......................................................... 149 Conversations with Bina48: Fragments 7, 6, 5, 2.................. 114 Dancing Pina..........................................................................95 Dark Days...............................................................................42 Dear Jackie............................................................................54 Delikado.................................................................................87 Disarmed............................................................................. 129 Dreamlife of Georgie Stone, The............................................99 Dust & Metal..........................................................................95 Earth Swimmers (Short – Beyond Our Own Eyes)................ 115 Eat Your Catfish.....................................................................82 El Arena.................................................................................96
172
Title
Film About Studio Electrophonique, A ..................................96 Fire Within: Requiem for Katia and Maurice Krafft, The �������� 74 Five Scenes From the War in Afghanistan as They Appear in East Sussex............................................105 Four Journeys........................................................................68 Fourteen Days in May.............................................................42 Fragile Memory......................................................................75 Garçonnières.........................................................................63 Geamăna............................................................................. 105 Gondwana............................................................................ 121 Good Intentions...................................................................106 Good News Day, The............................................................102 Goodbye, Captain..................................................................75 Goodnight, Sleep Tight (Pilot).............................................. 126 Great Abandonment, The.......................................................98 Great Day in Harlem, A...........................................................43 Hafreiat..................................................................................55 Happiness is £4Million........................................................102 Happy Worker – or How Work was Sabotaged, The ��������������63 Hearts..................................................................................103 How to See the Night...........................................................100 I Didn’t See You There............................................................69 Ikebana................................................................................ 105 In the Court of the Crimson King............................................97 Infinity According to Florian...................................................36 Italianamerican......................................................................43 Ithaka.....................................................................................64 Jane.......................................................................................78 Joys and Sorrows of Young Yuguo, The ..............................106 Julie on Line..........................................................................55 Karaoke Paradise...................................................................97 KidzWorks............................................................................ 121 Kubo Walks the City............................................................. 131 La Jetée.................................................................................44
Index Title
Films & Alternate Realities
Page No.
Laboratory No.2...................................................................103
Title
Page No.
Our Bodies Are Your Battlefields............................................89
Ladies Only............................................................................69
Out of Body Experience.........................................................39
Leaves of K.......................................................................... 101
Outside..................................................................................90
Lend Me Your Voice............................................................. 101
Overcoming the Darkness......................................................90
Letter from Eusapia...............................................................98
Peace and Tranquility............................................................38
London...................................................................................44
Plai. A Mountain Path............................................................37
Love, Deutschmarks and Death.............................................76
Pongo Calling........................................................................91
Lyra........................................................................................88
Prairie Flowers.......................................................................99
Making-With (Short – Beyond Our Own Eyes)...................... 115
Pryvoz....................................................................................37
Man on Earth .........................................................................49
Ramble On...........................................................................104
Marwan – Tomorrow’s Freedom ...........................................88
Ravi and Emma....................................................................123
Master of Light......................................................................56
Recharge............................................................................. 127
McEnroe................................................................................83
Rendezvous...........................................................................45
Melt Goes On Forever: The Art & Times of David Hammons, The .............................50
Rest Guide for a Tired Nigerian Artist, A..............................128
Midwives...............................................................................83
Rising Sun Blues....................................................................65
Mirrors...................................................................................98 Moonage Daydream...............................................................27 Mountains and Heaven in Between........................................36 MUTZENBACHER..................................................................76 My Name is Andrea................................................................50 My Paper Life.........................................................................70 Nelly & Nadine.......................................................................77 New Greatness Case, The .....................................................64 New Pigs on the Block...........................................................84 Night Shift............................................................................106 No Place For You In Our Town................................................84 No Simple Way Home............................................................70 No U-Turn...............................................................................71 Nocturnes............................................................................ 127 North Circular........................................................................85 Not a Love Story: A Film About Pornography....................... 113 Nothing Compares.................................................................89 Nuisance Bear.....................................................................100 Off the Rails...........................................................................71 Oil Machine, The ...................................................................65 On the Morning You Wake....................................................122 One Day at a Time..................................................................85 One Day in Ukraine.................................................................51 One in A Million......................................................................56
ROZSPYNE...........................................................................123 Safe Space........................................................................... 124 Sansón and Me......................................................................51
Index
Monoliths............................................................................. 130
Rightful, The .......................................................................104
Santa Barbara...................................................................... 124 Score, The..............................................................................99 Singing on the Rooftops........................................................52 Some Women........................................................................57 Songbirds............................................................................ 112 Sound Voice Project, The..................................................... 132 Stone Bridge, The................................................................100 Story of Bones, A...................................................................77 Swing and Sway.....................................................................52 Tell Tale Rooms, The............................................................ 130 Territory, The .........................................................................91 These Are my People........................................................... 111 This is National Wake............................................................57 TikTok War, A....................................................................... 125 TR333 (Short – Beyond Our Own Eyes)................................ 115 TS Eliot – Into The Waste Land..............................................78 Unofficial Countryside, The .................................................106 Visible Spectrum, The ......................................................... 105 When The Mountain Rumbles..............................................104 When We Were Kings.............................................................45 You Are On Indian Land........................................................ 111
OnlyBans.............................................................................122 173
Index Event
Industry & Events
Page No.
Page No.
Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences Drinks �����������165
Cinematography Masterclass ............................................. 141
Acme Saturday Night Party.................................................. 165
Closing Night Drinks............................................................ 169
Alternate Realities Happy Hour..................... 164, 166, 168, 169
Co-Creation: Collective Dreams, Co-Created Realities.....................................................109, 138
Alternate Realities Preview Drinks.......................................164 Alternate Realities Summit..................................................134 Alternate Realities Summit Welcome..................................134 Alternate Realities Surgeries & Meetings.............................158 Art of Connection, The.........................................................134 Banijay UK’s Emerging Talent Drinks...................................168 BBC Arts Drinks................................................................... 166 BBC Interview: Clive Myrie................................................... 138 BBC Three Northern Docs Pitch...........................................145 Beyond Centres of Power....................................................145 BFI Doc Society Fund Works in Progress............................. 155 Breaking Into Craft Editing – A Call to Action...................... 141
Co-Creation: Finding Your Voice...................................109, 135 Composing Masterclass: Nainita Desai............................... 141 Craft Masterclass: Brett Morgen......................................... 141 Craft Summit.......................................................................140 Cutting the ‘Fame’ Trilogy: Asif Kapadia and Chris King............................................41, 138 David Olusoga: StoryTrails – A Journey Through Time and Space.............................135, 138 Doc Society Drop In Day.......................................................153 DocFest Awards Ceremony.................................................. 169 Does Length Matter? Making Short Docs That Count ���������145
Index
Brett Morgen in Conversation.............................................. 139
Feminist Economics Football: A Cooperative Game for Sheffield........................................ 120
British Council Reception: UK/Ukraine Season of Culture.............................................164
Focus: Filmmaker Talent........................................................41
Bullying & Harassment in the Industry.................................144 Celebrating Trans-led Stories and Representation ������������� 142
174
Event
Fundamentals of Budgeting, The......................................... 155 Grierson Trust New Talent Drinks........................................166
Channel 4 First Cut Pitch.....................................................143
How ScreenSkills is Boosting Skills in an Unscripted TV Boom...................................................143
Channel 4 Interview: Will Young........................................... 139
How to Co-Produce with the UK...........................................154
Channel 4 Monday Night Party............................................168
Immersive Trends................................................................134
Channel 4: Pride at 50..........................................................146
Irish Delegation Reception...................................................168
Chiledoc Drinks.................................................................... 167
ITV Interview: Ellie Simmonds............................................. 139
Index Event
Industry & Events
Page No.
ITV Presents Fresh Cuts......................................................144
Rise of the Celebrity Documentary, The...............................145
Journalism & Creative Documentary................................... 142
Roger Graef Memorial Tea and Cake....................................166
Kurious Drinks, The.............................................................. 165
ScreenSkills Drinks..............................................................168
Marketplace Café................................................................ 152
Sky Documentaries Introduction Drinks..............................168
Marketplace Kick-off Drinks.........................................153, 166
Snap Chats: 10 Minute Meets..............................................153
Massaoke Paradise Sunday Night Party.............................. 167
Spotlight: A Film About Studio Electrophonique....................92
Meet the Commissioners.....................................................146
Spotlight: Bike Life Extreme...................................................66
Meet the Festivals & Markets...............................................154
Spotlight: Marwan – Tomorrow’s Freedom............................86
Meet the Filmmaker Drinks.................................................. 165
Spotlight: McEnroe................................................................80
Meet the North Norwegian Delegation................................164
Spotlight: The Fire Within: Requiem for Katia and Maurice Krafft...................................72
Meet the Scottish Delegation Drinks...................................165 Molinare Craft Summit Drinks.............................................. 165
Spotlight: The Oil Machine.....................................................60
National Film and Television School’s Networking Drinks Reception.............................................. 165
Star Power – Is Talent Vital for Factual Success?................144
New Talent on the Rise........................................................ 142
Sustainable Film Production for a Sustainable Future ��������142
Non-Fiction Metaverse, The................................................. 135
Switchboard & Consultancies.............................................. 152
Opening Night Drinks...........................................................164
Together Films Drinks.......................................................... 167
Paramount+ Factual: UK Commissioning For a New Global Streamer...................146
UKTV Drinks........................................................................168
Peace and Tranquility & Boney Piles + Discussion: When it comes to Ukraine, what should one know...............143
WAKE UP! Friday Night Party...............................................164
Pratibha Parmar in Conversation ........................................ 139 Producers Meet Producers..................................................154 Right to Roam Ramble.........................................................104
Using VR to Warn Against Nuclear Disaster......................... 135
Index
Pitch Your Short...................................................................154
StoryTrails Drinks Reception................................................166
Whickers Pitch, The.............................................................143 Who’s Who........................................................................... 153 Women in Film and TV Drinks Reception.............................166 Work-in-Progress Screening: Ukraine.................................. 155 Working with National Geographic......................................144
Front Cover Picture Credits All pictures are from films screening in Sheffield DocFest 2022 unless otherwise noted. Top to bottom, left to right: Beba
Nothing Compares
David Bowie (courtesy of the Ronald Grant Archive)
The Dream Life of Georgie Stone
Off The Rails
Breaking the Brick
Memoria
The Territory
Mirror with a Memory
1988 Maurice et Katia
The Dream Life of Georgie Stone
My Paper Life
Bar Am 78 Alis
ALL MAN The International Male Story
Dancing Pina
Terykony
Exposing Muybridge
175
Notes
Notes 176
Notes
Notes 177
Showroom Cinema 15 Paternoster Row, S1 2BX Screen 1 Channel 5 Screen 2 Bertha DocHouse Screen 3 Associated Press Screen 4
Festival Locations 1
2
The Light Cinema The Moor, S1 4PF Screens 6 & 9
5
4
The Workstation 15 Paternoster Row, S1 2BX Delegate Centre Workstation Mezzanine
ODEON Luxe Sheffield Arundel Gate, S1 1DL Screens 1 & 3
3
6
Sheffield City Hall Barker’s Pool, S1 2JA Oval Hall Memorial Hall
Curzon Cinema 16 George Street, S1 2PF Screens 1 & 2
7
Town Hall Pinstone Street, S1 2HH Committee Room 1 Reception Rooms 1 & 2
8
C hanning Hall 45 Surrey Street, S1 2LG 17
16
Birdhouse Tea Bar & Kitchen Sidney Street, S1 4RG
Ambulo 48 Arundel Gate, S1 2PP
24
23
Millennium Gallery 48 Arundel Gate, S1 2PP
The Leadmill 6 Leadmill Road, S1 4SE
Drinks Venues
9
Network 14–16 Matilda Street, S1 4QD
26
25
19
The Furnace Bar & Restaurant Unit 7&8, Block D Heart of the City II, S1 4HS
Sidney & Matilda Rivelin Works, Sidney Street, S1 4RH 20
Kollective Coffee & Kitchen 1 Brown Street, S1 2BS
Crystal Bar 23–32 Carver Street, S1 4FS
21
Tamper Sellers Wheel 149 Arundel Street, S1 2NU
22
27
The Botanist Bar & Restaurant Leopold Square, S1 2JG
P erformance Lab Sheffield Hallam University Arundel Gate, S1 2LQ
Festival Locations
Box Office
Cafés / Bars
Key
Kommune Castle House Angel Street, S3 8LS
Winter Gardens 90 Surrey Street, S1 2LH
18
S ite Gallery & Site Studio 1 Brown Street, S1 2BS
12
A ccess Space at Events Central Unit 20–24, Fargate, S1 2HE
28
C utlers’ Hall Church St, S1 1HG Drawing Room Hadfield Hall Main Hall Old Banqueting Hall Reception Room
10
13
S ite Gallery Square 6 Paternoster Row, S1 2QQ
14
S outh Street Amphitheatre 21 South Street, S2 5PN
11
15
T he Kurious at Kommune L1, Castle House Castle Street, S3 8LU
Drinks and Parties
Blue Badge Parking
178
Map 19
2
20
6
18
25
7
9 13
8
12
26
17
28
3
16
27
24
11
10 21
4
15 22
5
1
23
Bus Station
Train Station
14