Sheffield 2021

The gentle melancholy that permeates this documentary about a 90-year-old Welsh man stoically planning the end of his days is balanced quite perfectly by the beautiful voices of the male voice choir he is a member of.

It is 75 years since Pakistani freedom fighter Fatima Sughra clambered on to the top of a high building to pull down the British flag. Her example still inspires the Karachi feminists featured in Anam Abbas’ feature debut This Stained Dawn, screening as a world premiere in Sheffield this week. Abbas explains to BDE.

The prolific Irish/Scottish director talks to Business Doc Europe about the joys of looking and the brilliance of selfies, Gertrude Stein’s equation on observation and construction and what it’s like, post-cataract op, to have Robert Altman living in one of your eyes.

Using as its creative starting point an iconic early 70s photograph by acclaimed photographer Don McCullin of a youngster running along a bleak Liverpool street, this engaging documentary delves into the community who live in that same area today.

US experimental filmmaker, photographer and poet Lynne Sachs’ new short E•pis•to•lar•y: Letter to Jean Vigo (screening June 6 as part of Let’s Start Again at the Sheffield Doc Fest) offers an unusual meditation on the events of January 6, 2021, when protesters stormed the United States Capitol in Washington. The director explains to BDE.

Spanish director Alba Sotorra talks to Business Doc Europe about her doc in which she she explores the plight of the so-called ISIS brides, including the divisive Shamima Beguma from the UK and the American Hoda Muthana.

What is the point of documentary? What is the point of doc festivals? And given the plethora of rescheduled events competing for both industry and public attention, what is the point of Sheffield? To answer these questions Doc Fest director Cíntia Gil goes back to first principles with Business Doc Europe.

Festival programme includes 55 world premieres in Sheffield and UK cinemas, and online. “We are very proud to present a programme that brings together a multitude of forms, landscapes and visions, with a myriad of incredible talent to whom we deeply thank for their trust,” says Fest Director Cíntia Gil.

Sheffield Doc/Fest 2021 has announced the films that will premiere in its Rhyme & Rhythm strand. ‘Rhyme & Rhythm is where cinema and other artforms meet. Through music and performance, visual art and sport, each film offers encounters and inspirations to a different beat,” say organisers. The fest runs 4 - 13 June, in Sheffield and online.

Fifty-five projects have been selected for presentation to industry partners at the 16th edition of Sheffield DocFest’s flagship pitching forum, the MeetMarket (9-11 June). Furthermore, 22 projects are selected for Arts Talent Market, running in parallel.