Nick Cunningham

Eight Chilean doc companies have sailed in for Sunny Side 2023. These include Bioesférica Filmes whose Diary of an Infiltrator is presented in the June 22 History Pitch session. “For years, there has been considerable interest from Sunny Side of the Doc in fostering a more robust presence for Chile; abroad, there is a high value placed on our productions,” says Paula Ossandón, director of Chiledoc.

The Grand Jury Award for the International Competition went to In the Rearview by Maciek Hamela (Poland, France, Ukraine) while the top prize in International First Feature Competition went to Q by Jude Chehab (USA, Lebanon, 2023). All winners including Industry Awards: The Whickers Pitch, Channel 4 First Cut Pitch, BBC Storyville Development Pitch, The Podcast Pitch…

In Misho Antadze’s short documentary Metabolism, selected for Sheffield, robots have taken over some of the functions we inexorably associate with human beings, such as milking cows and waiting on tables. “The observational documentary work that I make, it's mostly because I'm curious. I want to see these things, so making these films is a way of taking a look for myself and obviously to bring the audience with me as well,” Antadze says.

Paradiddle Pictures announces dates and deadlines for its Autumn season of documentary workshops that look to cover all bases within project development, production and post-production. DocCelerator also provides an on-demand programme designed to meet the requirements of local, regional or national film organisations.

In Melanie Manchot’s feature debut, a recovering alcohol and substance addict re-enacts moments from his own chaotic past life as he takes on the acting role of historical embezzler Thomas Goudie, whose public arrest in 1901 was reconstructed on celluloid (BFI Archive). Part observational doc and part fiction, all the support roles in STEPHEN are played by former or recovering addicts. “The shoot was probably the best three and a half weeks of my life,” Manchot tells BDE. “And I think for most of the cast as well.”

The new sector-wide body for the UK’s independent doc film industry will be unveiled at Sheffield DocFest on Saturday June 17. The organisation’s remit is to “to represent the UK’s independent documentary community, facilitate transparent communication within the sector and take effective, coordinated action to address the key issues facing the sector.”

When Swedish Maria Fredriksson was contacted by two sisters about their discovery of a twin of their older sister who had committed suicide more than 30 years before, little did the docmaker know that this was just the beginning of an increasingly dark journey into the unknown. Fredriksson talks to BDE about a film that packs more jaw-dropping WTF moments into its 100 minutes than are humanly imaginable.

The former Director of BFI London LFF and Interim CEO of Sheffield DocFest joins Rotterdam 21 June. “It is dear to my heart as the first international film festival I attended 25 years ago. It shaped my understanding of the interdependencies between cultural activity and industry development, and the importance of engaging a dedicated local audience while positioning a festival as vital for the international, independent film sector,” says Stewart.

Netflix announced June 13 the five filmmaking teams who will receive funding and professional support to make a short documentary on the theme of ‘Connection,’ as part of the second roll-out of of the Netflix Documentary Talent Fund. Each team will now produce a short doc of 8-12 minutes with a budget of £30,000 that will be released on Netflix’s YouTube channel in the New Year.

On the eve of its 30th edition, Sheffield DocFest toppers Annabel Grundy and newly appointed Creative Director Raul Niño Zambrano explain the appeal of one of the world’s leading doc events, and the city that hosts it. “There are lots of things about Sheffield that really chime with docs…in terms of independent spirit, doing it yourself, succeeding against the odds,” says Grundy. “You have to be scrappy to get stuff made in the north.”