Sheffield DocFest: War Medics, North-South Romance, and More

by

Topics for documentaries at the upcoming 32nd Sheffield DocFest next month include:
– Billy Idol’s life story
– Female medics working on the frontlines in Ukraine
– A matchmaking agency linking North Korean women with South Korean men
– A whistleblower exposing issues within Vladimir Putin’s administration in Russia
– The impact of Brexit after its occurrence
– Indian sex workers creating short films

In summary, a festival taking place in the northern part of England plans to showcase a total of 116 films, including 82 features and 34 shorts. The event will boast an impressive lineup of 51 world premieres, 16 international premieres, eight European premieres, and 39 U.K. premieres from various countries around the globe, numbering 68 in total.

Billy Porter is scheduled to appear among other notable figures, serving as executive producer for the documentary titled “I Was Born This Way“, which celebrates the life of Carl Bean. The film follows Bean’s journey from a challenging upbringing to his accomplishments in music and advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights.

Billy Porter has been announced as one of the attendees among other prominent figures at the event for the documentary “I Was Born This Way“, which chronicles the life story of Carl Bean, focusing on his musical achievements and advocacy efforts for queer rights, stemming from a difficult childhood.)

The piece will be showcased in the Rhythms segment of the Sheffield festival, alongside Jonas Åkerlund’s “Billy Idol Should Be Dead”. This film presents discussions about “the rock legend’s stormy career, personal life, and enduring influence on global popular culture” from his family, friends, and collaborators.

Indeed, political topics and disputes will undoubtedly be highlighted as well, such as in the festival’s People & Community segment, featuring Amber Fares’ film “Coexistence, My Ass!“. The film’s synopsis describes it as follows: “Comedian Noam Shuster Eliassi uses satire as a form of resistance, humorously revealing harsh truths about the complex relationship between Israel and Palestine – a relationship where coexistence often feels like a cruel jest.

The “Rebellions” segment will feature David Borenstein’s work, titled “Mr. Nobody Against Putin“. This documentary portrays a primary school teacher in Russia who unexpectedly takes on the role of a whistleblower by covertly recording evidence of propaganda and military indoctrination within Russia’s educational system.

At the Sheffield DocFest, we firmly trust that narratives have the ability to spark change and envision a different tomorrow. As expressed by Mimi Poskitt, the managing director of Sheffield DocFest, this is the essence of DocFest 2025: gathering to learn and be motivated into action. While designing this year’s event, we took time to ponder how, in a landscape where filmmakers face escalating challenges, our festival can become a haven where documentaries flourish.

Raul Niño Zambrano, the creative director of Sheffield DocFest, noted that this year they’ve gathered a diverse array of powerful short films, documentary features, series, podcasts, discussions, and immersive works from around the world. The goal is to transform Sheffield into a unique venue where different viewpoints converge, in line with our motto. Our 2025 program explores pressing, innovative, and forward-thinking narratives – encompassing topics like activism, climate justice, queer perspectives, and extraordinary journeys through historical artifacts.

The 32nd edition of the Sheffield DocFest takes place June 18-23.

Have a look at the schedule for their global competition and their initial feature competition from overseas, as shown below.

Global Contest
Cuba & Alaska – Yegor Troyanovsky – Ukraine, France, Belgium, 2025 (World Premiere)
Two army medics from Ukraine, whose lives are documented through phone and body camera recordings, face the turmoil of war with courage, humor, and camaraderie.

In 2025, renowned filmmaker Hao Zhou explores a massive Chinese factory during the pandemic era to shed light on how global supply chains and exploitative corporate behaviors affect the lives of laborers. (World Premiere in Macau)

Title Character: The Gas Station Attendant
Author: Karla Murthy
Country: USA
Year: 2025 (World Premiere)
Synopsis: A narrative exploring the life of a South Asian man, his relentless chase for the elusive American dream, and the profound ability to love and endure.

In the premiere of 2025, “North South Man Woman” by Morten Traavik and Sun Kim, we delve into an intriguing exploration of love, commerce, and geopolitics as North Korean women interact with their South Korean counterparts. (Norway, Latvia, South Korea)

As a gamer, I’d say:
Shards of Light – A gripping narrative by Mila Teshaieva and Marcus Lenz, hailing from Germany and Ukraine, premiering worldwide in 2025. This film takes us to Bucha, a city ravaged by war, where its resilient inhabitants continue to fight for survival amidst unbearable hostility and suffering. Amidst the despair, there’s still a flicker of hope that burns brightly.

Continuing the Journey with Pineapples – Kim Hopkins – United Kingdom, 2025 (World Premiere)
A bittersweet tale of the former pop band singer from Black Lace and his emotional voyage on the road alongside his aging mother and partner, as he strives for a second chance at success.

A Young Welder’s Journey: – Anastasya Mirashnichenko, Anastasiya Zinovieva – France, Netherlands, Belgium, 2025 (World Premiere)

A young welder embarks on a journey to confront her shattered past in order to safeguard her sister. Along the way, she crafts a future from fortitude, perseverance and the ember of opportunities for redemption.

In this heartfelt tale of love and urgent plea, a native pair bravely put everything at stake to safeguard the Amazon and secure the future of their unborn child (International Premiere – 2025; directed by Richard Ladkani).

International Debut Film Competition (with Netflix’s backing)
Boundless Blue – Jessi Gutch – United Kingdom, 2025 (World Premiere)
Eager to understand her neighbors in the seaport town of Folkestone, a budding filmmaker encounters challenges post-Brexit when forging fresh connections.

A personal exploration of self-acceptance titled “The Broken R” (Rotacismo) focuses on Ricardo, a 24-year-old individual born with Treacher Collins Syndrome, who has spent his life grappling with the inability to properly articulate the letter ‘R’ since birth. This story unfolds in Ecuador and Italy in the year 2025 (World Premiere).

Carmela and the Walkers (Carmela y los Viajeros) – Luis Herrera, Esteban Coloma – Ecuador, 2025 (World Premiere)

In a world growing less accepting of strangers, a story unfolds about an Ecuadorian woman extending her home to Venezuelan migrants, serving as a poignant testament to our ability for compassion and human kindness.

Title Debut: Fiery Sisters’ Showdown – Vickie Curtis, Doug Anderson – Guatemala, USA, 2025 (World Premiere)

In this Guatemalan town, two passionate sisters transform their sorrow and outrage into a street act as an expression of protest against the rampant gender-based violence in their country.

In the festive month of December, refugees are concealed within the woodlands near the Poland-Belarus border. This impactful documentary amplifies their unheard pleas. (World Premiere in December 2025: Poland, Lithuania, Qatar)

In the days preceding the conflict in Ukraine, a reporter from a pro-Kremlin television network takes her defiant, Western-leaning teenage child on a voyage across Putin’s Russia, hailing from Russia themselves. (World Premiere, 2025 – Croatia, Netherlands, France)

Lullaby for the Mountains” (Translation: “Song for the Mountains”) – Hayk Matevosyan – Armenia, USA, 2025 (World Premiere)

In this captivating journey, the age-old monasteries nestled in Armenia’s mountainous regions whisper tales of times long gone. The terrain transforms into sonic terrains, and the enigmatic depths concealed within unfold.

“From Redlight to Limelight” – Bipuljit Basu – India, Finland, Latvia, 2025 (World Premiere)

This is a story about a vibrant community of Indian sex workers and their families who embark on a journey to create short films, aiming to transform their lives and serve as an inspiration for others.

Global Short Film Contest
Alboroque – Sabrina Fernández Casas – Switzerland, Spain, 2025 (World Premiere)
In an effort to safeguard their villages and revitalize the flora and fauna of Galicia, a remarkable group bands together to combat invasive vegetation and local administrative apathy.

Through Animal Eyes: A Journey by Scientists and Philosophers – Carlo Nasisse – USA, Costa Rica, 2024 (International Premiere)

In this film, scientists and philosophers explore the boundaries of human perception as they delve into the vision of various animals.

In “A Colour I Named Blue” (​色をこえて青を見る), Sybilla Patrizia, set in Japan in 2025 and premiering in Europe for the first time, two artisans specializing in indigo dye embark on a personal voyage. One seeks to create his unique hue of blue, while the other unearths fresh significance through his color blindness.

Behind the Dam (La Presa) – Manuel Ojeda, Cuba, 2025 (World Premiere)
In this intriguing tale, a fish, said to stretch three meters in length, is believed to lurk hidden behind a dam. Tingo, consumed by an unyielding desire, pursues this elusive creature, determined to capture it and silence his doubters.

Title Day – Antonio Napoli – Italy, 2025 (World Premiere)
In the spirit of an old saying from Naples: ‘More events unfold in a single day than in a whole century’. Today is that very day for the city of Naples.

A reforestation project in the Patagonian Andes reveals a land once marred by colonialism, as wildlife and people slowly return to a previously burned-down indigenous forest. (World Premiere – Belgium, 2025) – Julian Garcia Long’s work

In a Soft Whisper – A film about figure skater Nina Pinzarrone’s unwavering dedication and silent determination as she prepares for her performance, all while maintaining a composed exterior – premieres in 2025 (World Premiere) by Catarina Gonçalves in Portugal, Hungary, and Belgium.

Title Character: Oil Alert! – Igor Smola – World Premiere, Azerbaijan, Singapore, 2025
In the heart of the ocean, an oil rig’s industrial equipment struggles to broadcast a warning signal about an impending disaster.

At Dusk, the Journey Commences – Violeta Mora – Honduras, Hungary, Portugal, Belgium, 2025 (World Premiere)

In this film, we follow the perilous path of migrants as they embark on a dangerous foot journey across the United States border. The movie powerfully depicts their experience.

Read More

2025-05-07 14:25