Sheffield DocFest announced April 25 its slate for the 2024 MeetMarket taking place Thursday 13 June and Friday 14 June, as part of “a broader marketplace programme of talent development, pitches, roundtables and conferences designed to connect new projects with industry partners that runs across the festival,” write organisers.
The selection includes 50 documentary projects, in development, production and rough-cut stages, to be pitched in one-to-one meetings to international and UK industry representatives and experts.
Drawn from 533 submissions, the 50 projects in the 2024 selection encompass 44 countries of production and co-production. New works will be presented from experienced producers such as Ina Fichman, Estelle Robin You, Monica Lazurean-Gorgan and Michèle Stevenson, working alongside first time and second time filmmakers.
Five rough-cut titles will be screened to industry representatives and will receive tailored feedback: The Age of Water, B-Side, Our Land, Queer as Punk, and Will They Ever Come Back?
Recently released projects that were previously pitched at the Sheffield Meetmarket include Mother Vera (Visions du Réel 2024), Motherboard (CPH:DOX 2024), Nocturnes (Sundance 2024), Life is Beautiful(IDFA2023), Tish (Sheffield DocFest 2023 opening night film) and Between the Rains (Tribeca 2023).
Industry festival passes are on sale now here for members of the film, digital art and related communities.
Comments Patrizia Mancini, Head of Industry, Sheffield DocFest: “Sheffield DocFest continues to strive for an open and inclusive Marketplace whose goal is to welcome and support original and impactful non-fiction storytelling, for professionals from across the world and across genres. This year our selection welcomes several exciting and engaged new voices in addition to an international slate from experienced producers, embodying our commitment to making space for fresh perspectives and truthful stories.”
Adds Lisa Marie Russo, Executive Producer and Sheffield DocFest Marketplace Consultant: “It’s a pleasure to once again work alongside the MeetMarket team as we prepare for Sheffield DocFest 2024. The rigorous and collegiate selection process assures that a broad range of voices and visions from around the globe will have a platform to advance their filmmaking partnerships. The selection reflects eclectic, energetic and thoughtful approaches, which embrace a modern day urgency to the stories we tell.”
The 31st edition of Sheffield DocFest will “celebrate the art of documentary and bring creatives from across the world together” in Sheffield between 12-17 June 2024. The full public programme will be announced on Wednesday 8 May 2024, followed by the full industry programme of industry sessions, pitches and events on 15 May 2024.
MEETMARKET ROUGH CUT PROJECTS:
- The Age of Water Production country: Mexico. Directors: Isabel Alcántara, Alfredo Alcántara. Producers: Lindsay Perna, Joe Brewster (Rada Studios), Michèle Stephenson (Rada Studios)
- B-Side Production country: Italy. Director: Agostino Ferrente. Producers: Gianfilippo Pedote (Casa delle Visioni), Agostino Ferrente
- Our Land Production country: United Kingdom. Director: Orban Wallace. Producers: Charlie Phillips (I am Charlie Ltd), Rebecca Wolff
- Queer as Punk Production country: Malaysia. Director: Yih Wen Chen. Producers: Yih Wen Chen, Mandy Marahimin (Talamedia)
- Will They Ever Come Back? Production country: Colombia. Director: Angela Carabal. Producers: Sandra Tabares-Duque (Sandelion Productions), Angela Carabal
MEETMARKET PROJECTS:
- 24 Strong Production country: Belgium. Co-production country: Netherlands. Directors: Kristian Van der Heyden, Rieneke Van Santen. Producer: Kristian Van der Heyden (Harald House). Co-producers: Rieneke Van Santen (Dendezo Media Support & Productions), Monique Busman (Tomtit Film)
- Another Day Shall Come Production countries: Palestine, Israel. Director: Aida Kaddan. Producer: Aida Kaddan
- Avoidance Production country: France. Co-production country: Georgia. Director: Nika Nikulshina. Producers: Valerie Montmartin (Little Big Story), Vlad Ketkovich (Little Big Story). Co-producer: Seraphina Zinkovsky
- Big in Gazi Baba Production country: North Macedonia. Co-production country: United Kingdom. Director: Pauline Blanchet. Producer: Avdi Thachi (Lumiere Films). Co-producers: James Collie (Violet Pictures), Jan Dunn (Violet Pictures)
- The Blue Sweater with a Yellow Hole Production country: Ukraine. Co-production countries: France, Czech Republic. Director: Tetiana Khodakiviska. Producer: Elena Saulich (Pronto Film). Co-producers: Johann Chapelan (Girelle Production), Martin Vandas (Maur Film)
- Breaking the Wall Production country: China. Co-production country: Canada. Director: Weichao Xu. Producer: Yiqian Zhang (Touchstone Productions)
- Carmela and the Walkers Production country: Ecuador. Directors: Esteban Coloma, Luis Herrera. Producer: Esteban Coloma (Cooperativa Audiovisual CoopDocs)
- Confessions of a Female Gamer Production country: Bulgaria. Co-production country: United Kingdom. Director: Dolya Gavanski. Producers: Martichka Bozhilova (Agitprop), Dolya Gavanski (Thea Films)
- The Cord Production country: France. Co-production country: Brazil. Director: Myriam Guillot. Producer: Estelle Robin You (Grande Ourse Films)
- Derek’s Ark Production country: United Kingdom. Director: James Dawson. Producer: Serena Kennedy (The Slate Works), David Broder (Loupe Films)
- Desperately Seeking Rainbows Production countries: Taiwan, Singapore. Directors: Kenny Png, Frances Lu. Producer: Stefano Centini (Volos Films)
- Fatna, a Woman Named Rachid Production countries: France, Morocco, Belgium. Director: Hélène Harder. Producers: Nadège Labé (Wendigo Films), Ilham Raouf (Abel Aflam), Jean-David Lefebvre, Delphine Duez (White Boat Pictures), Valentin Leblanc
- The Gods Must Be Mistaken Production countries: Slovenia, Germany. Co-production country: Croatia. Director: Jakob Krese. Producers: Ivana Naceva (Nosorogi), Annika Mayer (Majmun Films). Co-producers: Vanja Jambrović, Marina Gumzi
- Good Morning Afghanistan Production country: United Kingdom. Co-production country: Denmark. Directors: Shogofa Sahar, Bruce Goodison. Producers: Kate Cook (Indefinite Films), Camilla Nielsson, Waseem Mahmood
- Green is the Fire’s Tint Production countries: India, Romania, Italy. Directors: Arya Rothe, Cristina Hanes, Isabella Rinaldi. Producers: Arya Rothe (NoCut Film Collective), Cristina Hanes (NoCut Film Collective), Isabella Rinaldi (NoCut Film Collective)
- Los Guaduales Production countries Colombia, Canada. Co-production country: Venezuela. Director: Bryan Angarita. Producer: Sahar Yousefi (Nava Projects). Co-producer: Marcela Hernandez Guerra
- Horse/Woman (working title) Production country: United Kingdom. Director: Lizzie Mackenzie. Producer: Emily Copley (Of the Wild Productions)
- Imago Production country: France. Co-production country: Belgium. Director: Déni Oumar Pitsaev. Producer: Alexandra Mélot (Triptyque Films). Co-producers: Anne-laure Guégan, Géraldine Sprimont
- In Cod We Trust. Production country: Norway. Co-production country: Finland. Director: Guro Saniola BjerkProducer: Benedikte Bredesen (f(x) produksjoner AS). Co-producer: Pasi Hakkio (Wacky Ties)
- In the Winds of the Icefields (working title) Production country: Estonia. Co-production country: Sweden. Director: Mihkel Oksmann. Producers: Hõbe Ilus (Sui), Sergio C. Ayala (Monserrate Films).Co-producer: Sergio C. Ayala (Monserrate Films)
- Jaripeo Production country: Mexico. Co-production country: USA. Directors: Efraín Mojica, Rebecca Zweig. Producer: Sarah Strunin
- Jinwar – Land of Women Production countries: Syria, United Kingdom. Director: Beyan Yaher. Producer: Fleur Nieddu (Freelance)
- Kikuyu Land Production country: Kenya. Co-production country: USA. Directors: Bea Wangondu, Andrew H. Brown. Producers: Bea Wangondu (The Bea Company), Andrew H. Brown (Ragtag Collective). Co-producer: Joseph Njenga
- Letters from Home (working title) Production countries: China, USA. Directors: Xin Fang, Chenyu Kou. Producers: Xin Fang (Koi Fish Film), Nicole Tsien (Independent)
- Life of Tipu Production countries: Ireland, Bangladesh, USA. Director: Bob Gallagher. Producers: David Clarke (EZ Films), Bob Gallagher (Homebird Productions), Jeanie Igoe (Homebird Productions)
- Matriarchy Production country: Sweden. Director: Zara ArrehedProducer: Zara Arrehed
- The Mother of All Fights Production country: Brazil. Co-production country: United Kingdom. Directors: Ivi Roberg, Juliano Salgado. Producers: Joi Lee, Alice Aedy (Earthrise Studio). Co-producer: Grain Media
- The Noble Half (working title) Production country: Pakistan. Co-production country: USA. Director: Khaula Malik. Producers: Brit Fryer, Afnahn Khan
- not-yet-here Production country: Italy. Director: Giorgio Bosisio. Producers: Giorgio Viscardini (x01 Srl), Beatrice Ratto
- One of Us Production country: Romania. Co-production country: United Kingdom. Director: Rachel Close. Producers: Monica Lazurean-Gorgan, Elena Martin. Co-producer: Aleksandra Bilic
- Pinball Production country: USA. Director: Naveen Chaubal. Producer: Bryn Silverman
- A Place Like Home Production country: Estonia. Director: Kadriann Kibus. Producer: Kadriann Kibus (Rebel Frame)
- Racing Hearts Production countries: Sweden, Denmark, France. Director: Milla Bergh. Producer: Martin Bergh. Co-producers: Christine Le Goff, Mette Heide
- Reckoning Production country: United Kingdom. Co-production country: Brazil. Director: Mauricio Monteiro Filho. Producers: Mauricio Monteiro Filho, Charlie Rosser. Co-Producers: Hugh Davies, Clive Patterson (Insight Films)
- Scarlet Girls Production country: Dominican Republic. Co-production countries: Germany, Mexic. Director: Paula Cury Melo. Producers: Paula Cury Melo (Cristal Cine), Samuel Didonato (Cristal Cine). Co-producers: Natalia Imaz (parabellum film), Omar Lara (Disruptiva Films)
- The Shape of Blue Production country: Canada. Co-production country: Japan. Director: Sybilla Patrizia. Producer: Ina Fichman (Intuitive Pictures)
- Son of a Fisherman Production countries: India, New Zealand. Director: Arjun Menon. Producers: Chippy Babu (Traintripper Films), Siddharth Vasani, Arjun Menon, Abhishek Sharma (Traintripper Films)
- Still Pushing Pineapples Production country: United Kingdom. Co-production country: Scotland. Director: Kim Hopkins. Producer: Margareta Szabo (Labor of Love Films)
- A Troop of Bears Production country: Chile. Co-production country: Canada. Directors: Christian Martínez, Pachi Bustos, Paola Castillo Villagrán. Producers: Christian Martínez, Pachi Bustos, Paola Castillo Villagrán. Co-Producers: Daniela Mujica (Productions Ocho)
- Untitled Eitaro Project Production country: JapanCo-production country: USA. Directors: Koodae Kim, Teruisha Yoshida. Producers: Koodae Kim (tenFrames), Teruisha Yoshida
- Vena Acuática Production countries: El Salvador, USA. Director: Amada Torruella. Producers: Seth Gadsden (Amuletos Projects), Brenda Avila-Hanna. Co-Producers: María Luisa Santos
- War on Women Production country: Estonia. Co-production country: Slovakia. Director: Maris Salumets. Producer: Elina Litvinova (Three Brothers). Co-Producer: Tereza Nvotova (Talking Stone Production)
- The Way We Were Production countries: United Kingdom, Hong Kong. Co-production country: Taiwan. Directors: Ka-Ki Wong, Yuk-Fai Ho. Producer: Bambby Cheuk (Pōtocol). Co-Producer: Chen Ping-chia
- Widow Champion Production country: Kenya. Co-production country: USA. Director: Zippy Kimundu. Producers: Zippy Kimundu (Afrofilms International Company Ltd.), Heather Courtney (10th Street FilmsLLC.)
- With Their Backs to the Sky Production country: USA. Director: Erik Nuding. Producers: Kendall Fitzgerald (A Dip in the Lake LLC.), Angelo Andrianiaina (A Dip in the Lake LLC.)
