4 minute read
Introductions
The future of film is one of She eld DocFest’s central commitments: we put our work and our imagination into creating the best conditions for supporting projects and talent, inspiring meaningful discussions, and promoting much-needed change. This year’s programme brings together a wide range of activities that look at opening access to the industry; to funding; and to expertise and knowledge, but also openly ask what about our sector can be better. Necessary and urgent questions are being raised about structures within the industry that are, by many, taken for granted: like the models of financing film, and how they are bound to certain norms of storytelling. In turn, ethical questions
are being asked, too: who do these structures favour, and who do they exclude? We want to be part of this conversation as an organisation, and as a team, and we want to give our contribution to a fairer and more transparent environment. It is impressive to see the great partners that have come on board to organise panels and talks with us, having as a priority the most important topics for our industry today: from the links between journalism and creative documentary, to Brexit and strategies for building reciprocity in co-production. I want to thank each partner for their involvement in creating and shaping those sessions. It is also very inspiring to see di erent organisations coming back to She eld DocFest with their traditional pitching opportunities, and others coming for the first time with new opportunities. These are real and concrete occasions for films to get support, and thereby get closer to becoming a reality. My gratitude and appreciation goes to all the partners who are involved and interested in backing new projects. The impressive group of delegations coming for this year She eld DocFest Industry brings a diversity of projects, films and talent that makes us very proud and thankful to all the institutions that made them possible. She eld DocFest is a truly international platform that
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creates real space for di erent film cultures to meet and nourish each other. The MeetMarket and Arts Talent Market selection are also very open groups of projects and talents, bringing together a huge range of forms, territories and themes. I want to thank all the accessors and experts that helped put together this selection, and I hope the projects find rewarding opportunities within our Industry programme. Finally, I’d like to thank the She eld DocFest Industry team for their dedication and care to each project, each activity and detail. They have brought all this programme together in a way that allows for everyone to bring something positive from this festival. Every decision was made with real commitment and respect for each individual project and talent involved. We will continue inventing ways to support and inspire with greater passion and energy all the projects and talents that the festival engages with, and we hope to give our best for the future of film in the UK and in the world.
— Cíntia Gil, Festival Director
While preparing this year’s Industry Programme, we’ve felt a tremendous sense of momentum. In the face of lockdowns, travel bans, and borders shutting, our community is moving projects and ideas forward with more energy and urgency than ever. We’re excited to support so many brilliant works-in-progress and continue our part in creating spaces for this motion to flow, for global connections, and for critical, forward-thinking conversations. In this guide you can read about the projects selected for the MeetMarket (p. 12) and Arts Talent Market (p. 68). Our markets will showcase 77 projects encompassing 41 countries
of production, matching the creative teams with over 300 industry partners to help with funding and finding their way to audiences worldwide. Huge thanks to the assessors whose considered input to the selection process was invaluable: Alyona Bocharova, Anja Dziersk, Ayman El Amir, Carmen Thompson, Charmian Gri n, Chris Harris, Delphine, Eoin Dara, Heejung Oh, Katayoun Dibamehr, Kirill Sorokin, María Vera, Stefan Kloos, Toni Bell, and Varadila Nurdin. We invite you to tune in to the Industry Sessions and Live Pitches to encounter a wide range of filmmakers and industry execs presenting and discussing new work and ways of working. There are plenty of sessions that are practicallyoriented, helping you to navigate the industry, learn from others, and clue-up on how to work with the major documentary channels in the UK and abroad. As much as our Industry Programme seeks to o er an abundance of practical knowledge and networking opportunities for makers of all levels, we are equally committed to exploring together, critically and constructively, key political and ethical issues at the heart of documentary filmmaking. Within this year’s programme you’ll find sessions that consider the ways in which background, experience and identity shape the stories we tell; the case for documentary funding at the policy level; the hegemony of
classical narrative structures; as well as ways to navigate and tackle bullying and discrimination in the workplace. To all delegates, we hope you’ll take away many insights and share in this sense of momentum from this year’s online Industry Programme. And to our pitching teams and market participants, we wish you fruitful connections.
