ReConnect at Sheffield DocFest
I’m currently working for Sheffield DocFest, and have produced 40 Talks & Sessions for the festival, that will run from 23rd to 28th June. The festival is jam-packed with films, alternative realities installations, experiences, talks, sessions, parties and more.
Each year the 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 will be celebrating Trans led documentaries, 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 also be showcasing a range of new funding opportunities for filmmakers, and exploring the question, have we reached the peak in celebrity issue documentaries?
I’m excited and 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 talk or session will take audiences on a journey of discovery, exploration and reflection. Prepare to be inspired!
Highlights include:
Pratibha Parmar in Conversation - 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 in-Competition title My Name is Andrea, which explores the work of Andrea Dworkin, her creative approach to filmmaking and her inspirations.
ITV Interview: Ellie Simmonds - 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.
Channel 4 Interview: Will Young - 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.
Ukraine. Password: Palianytsia - In solidarity with Ukraine, Sheffield DocFest put together a programme in collaboration with Docudays UA, that includes work across our Film programme, Alternate Realities exhibition, Industry programme and Talks & Sessions. The programme will launch the British Council and Ukrainian Institute’s ‘UK/Ukraine Season of Culture’ with the World Premiere of 'One Day In Ukraine.’
Co-Creation: Collective Dreams, Co-Created Realities - 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 Co-Creation 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.