Sheffield DocFest Concludes 30th Edition with Success, Overcoming Period of Instability

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Sheffield DocFest Concludes 30th Edition with Success, Overcoming Period of Instability

Sheffield DocFest is back and better than ever! The 30th edition of this prestigious all-documentary film festival in the North of England just wrapped, and it was a huge success. International and U.K. delegates flocked to the event, resulting in a 17% increase in attendance compared to last year. This year’s festival was under new leadership, with Annabel Grundy appointed managing director and Raul Niño Zambrano joining as interim creative director. Shortly before the start of the festival, Niño Zambrano was appointed to the creative director role on a permanent basis.

Speaking with FilmmakerFocus, Niño Zambrano drew a distinction between this year’s event and the preceding one. “Last year was kind of the first one after the pandemic times. There were also train strikes, so there were a lot of things going on,” he said. “We had not announced yet last year the new leadership team — really having a creative and a managing director. I think that has given a really good signal, like, ‘Oh, we are settled.'”

This year’s festival was a far cry from the previous year’s unsettled atmosphere. The festival welcomed 37 world premieres, 20 international premieres, 10 European premieres, 47 U.K. premieres, and 8 retrospective films. It was the festival’s most innovative documentary offering yet, which, in addition to films, included a theatre production, live podcast events, premieres of TV series, and virtual reality exhibitions.

Among the world premieres was Chris Smith’s documentary Wham! about the British pop supergroup of George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley. Nobel Peace Prize-winner Dmitry Muratov, the Russian journalist and subject of the world premiere documentary The Price of Truth, attended in person, taking part in a Q&A with director Patrick Forbes.

As the festival neared its close, Niño Zambrano told us he was hearing positive reactions from attendees. “I think the response had been really good. You never know how things will land, but really good feedback,” he noted. “One word I like is that people are saying it’s a ‘calm’ festival, so that means that people are really taking the time but are not in a rush. That’s the feeling I really want people to have, that you can go have a meeting, you can also go to a screening, you can [attend] a Q&A, you can maybe have dinner and then go to a party… I like how people feel comfortable to not be in a rush.”

Sheffield DocFest is also unique in its inclusive approach to social events. The festival pass gets attendees into all social events, of which there are many. “We have only one pass. That’s it. I don’t want to put obstacles for people,” Niño Zambrano underscored. “With the pass, you can just go into everything.”

Niño Zambrano shared insight into his goals for the festival going forward. “I really want to be this home for documentary — when you think of documentary that you have to come here,” he said. “For everybody in the U.K. to feel, ‘If I have an idea or I want to make a project or I have a film, that’s the place I have to be.’ And of course, internationally, that’s something that we have been doing for 30 years, a lot of people sending us their films, they really want to be in world premiere here. They really have chosen us to be that platform.”

With the industry facing significant headwinds, the chance to get together at a festival can rally spirits and fortify professionals for the challenges ahead. “I want just to nurture the whole documentary industry,” Niño Zambrano said, “whether you are the filmmaker or the producer or the editor, that you really find your place here.”

Nora Delgado

Nora, an accomplished filmmaker hailing from New York City, transitioned into film journalism after studying journalism at Columbia University. Her experience as a director and screenwriter gives her a unique perspective when covering the latest film industry news and conducting insightful interviews.

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