Documentary filmmaker and IdeasTap member Lara Smallman was the winner of our Sheffield Doc/Fest brief. We sent her along to the UK's top doc festival to watch films, take masterclasses and hear from her idols. Here's how she got on...
Pushing boundaries was a definite trend at this year’s Sheffield Doc/Fest.
In Terry Pratchett: Choosing to Die, a no holds-barred examination of euthanasia, made all the more personal by Pratchett’s own Alzheimer’s diagnosis, we see a man take his own life at the infamous Dignitas centre in Switzerland.
Emily James’ Just Do It takes us behind the scenes of the closely guarded UK climate activism scene and into the minds of a resourceful collective, known as domestic extremists. But is trying to save the planet really a crime? James pushed boundaries further still, using crowdfunding to get her film up and running.
Elsewhere, Morgan Spurlock’s (pictured above) POM Wonderful Presents: The Greatest Movie Ever Sold made its UK debut. Spurlock’s altogether unique approach to exploring the world of product placement meant that despite previous successes, he really had no idea how his film was going to be received: “A life afterwards? I have no idea! I guess I hope that people see it.”
A number of sessions at the festival allow you to get to grips with the dos and don’ts of everything from pitching an initial concept to how best to go about distributing your finished film. Others give you the chance to delve that little bit deeper into what’s changing on the doc scene.
Sessions this year covered everything from how recent events in the Middle East have impacted on Arab media to whether mainstream docs are guilty of resorting to shock tactics to boost ratings. Meanwhile, we have the advent of constructed reality in the form of Made in Chelsea and The Only Way is Essex to thank for many a heated debate on what qualifies as documentary.
An extra special treat comes in the form of masterclasses. Think An Audience With… meets This Is Your Life: the chance to get up close and personal with industry idols. I got to hear what drives Nick Broomfield to make the films he does, what it takes to put a smile on the face of the harshest of critics, A A Gill, and why at 84 and after a lifetime of filmmaking, Albert Maysles has yet to put his camera down.
Networking is as big a part of the Fest as the films themselves. Many made their way to Sheffield for that and that alone. Parties are the perfect way to relax after a long day of all things documentary, and meet potential funders or co-producers. Business card swapping continues long into the night, and there are almost always a few famous faces milling around.
Whether you’re looking to make contacts, pitch for funding or sell your film, Sheffield Doc Fest is the place to be.
Watch our video interview with Charlie Russell, director of Terry Pratchett: Choosing to Die. Also, check out our interview with one of Doc/Fest’s founders, Colin Pons.
Find out more about Sheffield Doc/Fest.
