With more than 100 films, talks and immersive events packed into six days, DocFest can be a daunting programme to navigate. Thankfully, Mark’s done some of the hard work for you. From urgent frontline reporting to joyful explorations of music and memory, here are a few of his must-sees from this year’s festival line-up.
The Gas Station Attendant
A daughter reflects on her South Asian father’s life, his never-ending pursuit of the American dream, and the human capacity to love and survive.
Live Aid at 40 – When Rock N Roll Took on the World
Marking four decades since one of music’s most iconic moments, this world premiere will revisit the grounbreaking 1985 Live Aid concert.
A Little Gray Wolf Will Come
On the eve of the war in Ukraine, a Russian journalist from a pro-Kremlin TV channel brings her rebellious and Westernised teenage daughter on a journey through Putin’s Russia. This is a fascinating glimpse of how Russian media gives a one-sided view of the war – one not everyone believes.
2000 Metres to Andriivka
A companion piece to 20 Days in Mariupol from 2023, directed by the same filmmaker, Mstyslav Chernov. Anyone who saw that harrowing film will be steeling themselves for this. Helmet cam footage and first-person narration capture the gruelling nature and grinding reality of modern warfare in the Russo-Ukraine war.
The BBC Interview with Professor Brian Cox
If a DocFest event ever needed little introduction, it’s this one. Let’s all just wallow in the comforting enthusiasm of Britain’s favourite ex-member of indie-dance band D:Ream – and number one science boffin.
The Alabama Solution
A jaw-dropping exposé, secretly filmed by inmates, exposing corruption, violence and resistance inside one of America’s deadliest prison systems.
A State of Passion
A powerful account of a British-Palestinian surgeon who has become a vital witness to the devastation wreaked by Israel’s bombing of Gaza.
Dreaming of You
The story of indie band The Coral – six school friends who emerged from the backstreets of Wirral into the chaos of the early 2000s music scene. The film blends animation, archive footage and audio diaries as they tell their story in their own words.
Cuba and Alaska
A film I predict will make a big impact after the festival. It follows two women serving as field medics on the frontlines of the Ukrainian conflict, offering a rare and raw insight into their daily lives. A powerful piece that will live on in people’s minds long after the credits roll.
Blue Has No Borders
A young filmmaker is determined to get to know her neighbours in the port town of Folkestone. But in the aftermath of Brexit, building new relationships isn’t easy.
Billy Idol Should Be Dead
The singer proves to be a witty and honest chronicler of his own life, revisiting pivotal moments from suburban childhood to fronting Generation X – one of England’s most iconic punk bands.
Gaza Sound Man
Through immersive soundscapes, Mohammad Yaghi captures the realities of life on the ground in Palestine before and after 7 October 2023.
Move Ya Body: The Birth of House
A celebration of the revolutionary sound that emerged from Chicago’s South Side, sparking a global movement of joy, freedom and radical togetherness.
Mr Nobody Against Putin
A primary school teacher in Russia becomes an unlikely whistleblower, going undercover to document propaganda and militarisation inside the country’s school system.
The Perfect Neighbour
A minor neighbourhood dispute in Florida escalates over two years, with tragic consequences for a close-knit community. A stark look at race and gun culture in America.
Filmmaker Challenge
If you want to see Sheffield through the eyes of others, I cannot recommend this strongly enough. Six budding filmmakers are given a budget, professional support and just 24 hours to shoot and edit a five-minute film about any aspect of life in Sheffield. All the shorts are shown together at the Showroom on the Saturday of the festival, with the filmmakers on hand to share some context.
For the full programme and ticket info, head to sheffdocfest.com.
