The UK’s most prominent documentary festival has unveiled its 2020 lineup. This year’s programming will be largely digital due to COVID-19. Sheffield Doc/Fest is “launching a VOD platform with pay-per-view and subscription options for UK-based audiences that will screen the program and will also feature Q&As with filmmakers. Later, between October and November, organizers are planning to screen films in Sheffield cinemas over select weekends,” Deadline details. “In addition, Doc/Fest has partnered with BFI Player, Doc Alliance Films, The Guardian, and MUBI which will host its curated programs at various points between July and November.”
The slate includes 115 films from 50 countries. Titles set to screen include Deepti Gupta’s “Shut Up Sona” and Alison Ellwood’s “The Go-Go’s.” The former centers on Sona Mohapatra, an Indian singer fighting for equality and respect, and the latter tells the story The Go-Gos, an iconic all-female band whose hits include “We Got the Beat.” Both films are screening in the Rhyme & Rhythm program.
Also screening at Sheffield Doc/Fest is Alyx Ayn Arumpac’s “Aswang,” an unflinching look at Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs in the Philippines. “Aswang” is part of Sheffield’s Into the World slate, which also includes Kim A. Snyder’s “Us Kids,” a look inside the students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School’s mission to address gun violence after a mass shooting at their school kills 17 people.
Sheffield Doc/Fest launches June 10. Check out the women-directed and co-directed films in the program below. List adapted from ScreenDaily.
Into the World
Aswang (Phil-Fr) Dir: Alyx Ayn Arumpac
Influence (UK) Dirs: Diana Neille, Richard Poplak
Oeconomia (Ger) Dir: Carmen Losmann
Seekers (Fr) Dir: Aurore Vullierme
The Story Of Plastic (US) Dir: Deia Schlosberg
To See You Again (Mex) Dir: Carolina Corral
Us Kids (US) Dir: Kim A. Snyder
You Think The Earth Is A Dead Thing (Fr) Dir: Florence Lazar
Film About A Father Who (US) Dir: Lynne Sachs
Remnants Of A Revolution (Phil) Dir: Cha Escala
The Kiosk (Fr) Dir: Alexandra Pianelli
Rebellions
We’re Still Here (UK) Dir: Melissa Herman
The Art Of Living In Danger (Ger-Iran) Dir: Mina Keshavarez
Construction (Lat) Dir: Ilona Bruvere
Where’s Edson? (Bra) Dir: Dacia Ibiapina
Ghosts and Apparitions
Yãmīyhex: The Women-Spirit (Bra) Dirs: Sueli Maxakali, Isael Maxakali
Frem (Cze-Slo) Dir: Viera Čákanyová
The Metamorphosis Of Birds (Por) Dir: Catarina Vasconcelos
Truth Or Consequences (US) Dir: Hannah Jayanti
Rhyme & Rhythm
Breaking Barriers – The Casteless Collective (Ind-Ger) Dir: Maja Meiners
The Go-Go’s (US-Ire-Can) Dir: Alison Ellwood
Shut Up Sona (Ind) Dir: Deepti Gupta
The Vasulka Effect (Ice-Cze-Den-Swe) Dir: Hrafnhildur Gunnarsdottir
Faith And Branko (UK-Serb) Dir: Catherine Harte
Schlingensief – A Voice That Shook The Silence (Ger) Dir: Bettina Böhler
Sisters With Transistors (UK) Dir: Lisa Rovner
Exchange
Tava, The Stone House (Bra-Arg) Dirs: Vincent Carelli, Patricia Ferreira (Keretxu), Ariel Duarte Ortega, Ernesto Ignacio de Carvalho
