Nick Cunningham

MeetMarket, Sheffield’s flagship industry event for new documentary features and series, is open for projects. Now in its 18th year, the MeetMarket is one of the world’s most important markets and pitching forums for documentary and factual programming, and looks to connect docmakers from across the world with UK and international industry experts. Submissions deadline: February 17 2023.

In Melanie Manchot’s feature debut (in late post-production), 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.”

When the polar bears turn up every year in the Canadian town of Churchill, Manitoba, so do the tourists, thousands of them, and a lot of news crews besides. Oh, and filmmakers too. Jack Weisman and Gabriela Osio Vanden explain to BDE why their Oscar short-listed 14-minute doc will give audiences paws for thought. “Something I've taken away from this project is that if you place the camera at the right spot at the right time, the film will always reveal itself,” says Weisman.