Sheffield DocFest, the UK's leading documentary festival and marketplace, is returning to the creative city of Sheffield from June 14 – 19 2023 and we're thrilled to see such a strong selection of Scottish talent and productions featured in this year's programme.
Scotland-based filmmaker Paul Sng's feature documentary Tish will be taking the prestigious opening night film slot, providing audiences with an intimate portrait of British documentary photographer Tish Murtha. In addition to the opening night film, three Scottish projects will be featured in this year's MeetMarket and the deeply personal documentary Is There Anybody Out There from filmmaker Ella Glendining will have its UK premiere at the festival.
Read on to find out more about Scotland's actvity at Sheffield and the Scottish talent in attendance.
Opening Night Film: Tish
The 30th edition of Sheffield DocFest will open on 14 June with the world premiere of Paul Sng's Tish which offers a riveting portrait of the trailblazing photographer Tish Murtha. The film captures the passion and commitment of the photographer who dedicated her life to recording the hopes, dreams, and struggles of working-class communities in the industrial North-East.
Director: Paul Sng
Producer: Jennifer Corcoran
Associate Producer: Harley Hessel
Production Company: Velvet Joy Productions, Hopscotch Films, Freya Films
Screen Scotland funding: TISH accessed £75,000 through Screen Scotland’s Film Development and Production Fund to support the Scottish talent involved in this project including Director Paul Sng and producer Jennifer Corcoran and Scotland's wider documentary sector.
Promotional image for TISH, courtesy of Velvet Joy Productions
MeetMarket
There are three Scottish projects at the festival’s MeetMarket which is one of the world’s largest documentary and factual markets and pitching forums. Selected projects will have the opportunity to meet with international industry representatives among 200+ international funders, broadcasters, distributors, festival programmers and exhibitors. They are:
All Shields Up
Summary: An eight-hour standoff begins in the most culturally-diverse neighbourhood in Scotland when neighbours and activists surround an Immigration “dawn raid” van to stop the UK Home Office from deporting two residents.
Director: Felipe Bustos Sierra
Producer: Ciara Barry (Barry Crerar Ltd)
State of Betrayal
Summary: Lied to. Spied on. Betrayed by her fiancé. In her quest to uncover the truth about why she was targeted by an undercover spy cop, Donna McLean exposes an intricate 50-year web of deceit in the British state.
Director: Paul Sng
Producers: Sinead Kirwan (Enemy Films), Chris Patterson (Causeway Pictures)
Executive Producer: Sarah Drummond (LS Films)
Elevated
Summary: Riding elevators provides Andrew an escape from the world outside. Growing up on the autism spectrum has always made him feel like an outsider. When he posts an elevator video online, he suddenly sparks a community of like-minded souls into existence. A network of friends and deep connections bring Andrew's life surprising new meaning.
Director: Gustav Littorin
Producers: Ashley Smith (Sisyfos Film Production), Clara Harris (Sisyfos Film Production)
Journeys strand: Is There Anybody Out there?
Sheffield DocFest's Journeys strand promises to take audience on a journey of discovery.
Is There Anybody Out there?
Summary: While navigating daily discrimination, a filmmaker who inhabits and loves her unusual body searches the world for another person like her, and explores what it takes to love oneself fiercely despite the pervasiveness of ableism.
Director: Ella Glendining
Producer: Janine Marmot
Screen Scotland funding: The film accessed £90,000 National Lottery and Scottish Government funding through Screen Scotland’s Film Production and Development Fund to enable Scottish based documentary production company Tigerlily Two to co-produce a compelling debut creative documentary with a strong positive disability voice and theme.
Is There Anybody Out there? promotional image, courtesy of Tigerlily Two
Scottish Documentary Institute Delegation
Screen Scotland has supported the Scottish Documentary Institute to enable Scottish documentary filmmakers to attend the festival, meet key decision makers and promote their work.
The filmmakers taking part in this year’s delegation are:
Paul Sng - LS Films (MeetMarket)
Clara Harris - Sisyfos Films (MeetMarket)
Reece Cargan - Bombito Productions (Future Producer School)
Aimara Reques (Aconite Productions)
Duncan Cowles
Grant Keir (Faction North)
Martyn Robertson (Blackhouse Films)
Nadira Murray (Sylph Productions)
Patrick Steel (Fat Toad Films)
Rohan Crickmar (LS Films)
Screen Scotland has also supported a number of Scotland-based filmmakers to attend the festival through our Market and Festival Attendance Fund. Please get in contact with us if you're looking for more information about Scotland's activity at Sheffield DocFest 2023 by emailing [email protected]
Explore the full festival programme of the Sheffied DocFest website: https://sheffdocfest.com/festival/2023/explore