| The 7th Sheffield International Documentary Festival, the only festival in the UK solely dedicated to the documentary form and arguably the most comprehensive in Europe, opens on Monday 16th October. The festival continues to grow in both size and stature by representing documentary film and television from all over the world. This year they will bring together films from Israel, Japan, Cambodia and Papua New Guinea which will, in festival director Caroline Cooper's words, "give an insight into lives which in some ways may appear to bear little relation to our own." Cooper adds, "but perhaps (the films will) encourage us to reflect differently on our personal experiences." The festival has developed a pedigree through this far sighted dedication which is clearly reflected in an impressive list of both international and national companies and organisations and regional film bodies that have agreed to be associated with it through sponsorship. UK based backers include: BBC; Channel 4; The History Channel, Discovery Networks Europe; Planet Wild; Pact; The BFI and many more. International associates equally broad: The Embassy of The United States of America; The Austrian Cultural Institute; The Canadian High Commission and The Danish Film Institute. Overseas footage is clearly a key theme of this year's festival and which will be explored in depth in the Big World: Small Screen. The all day event, taking place on the Friday, tackles two major reports on the decline of British TV documentaries covering international human rights, development and cultural issues.. There will also be some very interesting and revealing Masterclasses from some of the world's documentary pioneers. Among them will be a tribute to Stanley Forman and Martin Smith, who were the key figures of Plato Films, a socialist documentary production company with a staggering archive of left wing footage that celebrated its Golden Anniversary at the NFT in May. The Sorious Samura Masterclass will be an enlightening experience for those who followed the news of his crew's arrest and internment by the Liberian government. Broadcast journalist, Shona McDonald will interview this internationally acclaimed director about his work and future projects, particularly his award winning and controversial film, Cry Freetown. William Klein - Filmmaker, Photographer and Scriptwriter has made some 21 documentaries and fiction films and over 250 commercials and has been a major influence for filmmakers, for example, Stanley Kubrick. In his interview by his friend and one time agent Sandy Lieberson, Klein discusses his work with Fellini, Resnais and Louis Malle and talks of his new film, Messiah, an ironic examination of Handel's famous oratorio. Also featured is an interview by the film critic Derek Malcolm with his long-term friend Frederick Wiseman about the latter's observational films. Of course, there is also the oft insightful Channel 4 interview. This year's features Lowell Bergman, the 60 Minutes and Frontline investigative journalist portrayed by Al Pacino in Michael Mann's hit, The Insider. With only a sprinkling of the sessions, masterclasses and films mentioned above, this year's festival will not only bring some of the leading documentary filmmakers together but also focuses on debate. Roger James, Chair of the Board of Directors offers, "It is the attention to the craft of creating documentary work that is unique to the festival." This will be the last Sheffield documentary festival for both James and director Cooper, she remarked, " When both of us depart later in the year our reward will be the memories of another stimulating and inspirational festival." The festival runs from Monday 16th October to Sunday 22nd October. Tickets can be booked from the box office on: 0114 275 7727. |
