Sheffield, England — The 32nd edition of Sheffield DocFest wrapped up recently, showcasing an impressive array of cinematic talent from around the globe. The festival concluded on Sunday with its closing gala at the Crucible Playhouse, where director Anastasiya Miroshnichenko’s film Welded Together was awarded the prestigious Grand Jury Award for the International Competition.
The jury praised Welded Together as a powerful depiction of resilience, highlighting both the strength of its central character and a community united in solidarity. The film poignantly contrasts the generosity of the Belarusian people with the stark challenges posed by alcoholism.
Kicking off on June 18, this year’s festival featured a robust lineup, including 51 world premieres from 68 different countries. In collaboration with Showroom Cinema, the DocNights screening program is set to continue throughout the year, offering audiences further opportunities to engage with documentary films.
In addition to the Grand Jury Award, other accolades were given across various categories at the festival. Comparsa, directed by Vickie Curtis and Doug Anderson, received the Grand Jury Award for the International First Feature Competition. For this category, the film Carmela and the Walkers directed by Luis Herrera and Esteban Coloma received a Special Mention.
The International Short Film Competition saw In a Whisper by Catarina Gonçalves take home the Grand Jury Award, with Oscurana by Violeta Mora receiving a Special Mention. The Tim Hetherington Award was presented to Sudan, Remember Us, directed by Hind Meddeb.
Further recognition was given in the International Virtual Reality Competition, where Speechless Witness of a Wandering Tree took the top honors. The Youth Jury Award went to Runa Simi directed by Augusto Zegarra, with The Stand by Christopher Auchter earning a Special Mention.
The Shine Global Children’s Resilience Award for Documentary was awarded to Comparsa. In the funding categories, The Video Guy by Sam Howard and Alexander Dickerson clinched the first prize in The Whickers Pitch, while Somewhere Over the Rainbow by Koval Bhatia secured the second prize.
The Podcast Pitch also honored excellence, with Chris Mitchell’s Redemption Man taking first prize and Jesse Lou Lawson’s The Great Gay Penguin Cover Up receiving second prize. Clio Symington was recognized in the First Cut Pitch segment, while Michelle Sanders’ Downstream earned accolades in the Climate Spring Pitch.
Lastly, the Al Jazeera Documentary Channel Co-Production Award recognized both Gaza Sunbirds and Power, Elaine for their compelling narratives.
The festival not only showcased notable films but also fostered discussions around vital global issues, cementing Sheffield DocFest’s role as an important platform for documentary filmmakers.
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