Podcasts by Sheffield DocFest Podcast

Michael Dapaah aka Big Shaq talks…. from 2020-07-03T09:40:58

Comedian, rapper and all-round sensation Michael Dapaah (aka Big Shaq) joins Karen Gabay (BBC radio host and TV producer) to discuss how he gets his message to the masses: whether communicating ...

Imaginary Friends: Stories from ‘the Loneliest Generation' from 2020-06-19T08:18:28

In 2018, the UK’s Ministry of Loneliness was installed to combat the issue of isolation. Generation Z has been singled out as ‘the loneliest generation’, with social media’s effects often receiv...

Cinema and State: Developing Policy Frameworks for Feature Docs from 2020-06-07T07:58:45

UK film policy is almost entirely geared towards fiction, while the unique challenges facing the documentary sector are overlooked. It’s high-time the UK had a bespoke policy framework to suppor...

Real drama: What's Next for the Access Doc? from 2020-05-22T10:00

So you’ve got brilliant, hard-won access, now what? With fiercer competition for audiences, it’s what you do with that access that’s all important. We explore the ingredients needed for a hit se...

Secrets and Lies: Testimony and Archive in Contemporary History from 2020-05-08T10:00

This session from Doc/Fest 2019 explores the resurgence of archive and testimony in history filmmaking, with a panel of producers and contributors from some of the BBC’s most successful projects...

Craft Summit: Filming the Unfilmable from 2020-04-28T10:10:02

How do documentary filmmakers tackle the most taboo of subjects and tell stories that can’t be shared openly, while respecting the ethical, legal and personal sensitivities of the people involve...

Commissioning: Documentary for Broadcast from 2020-03-27T10:00

Highlighting their priorities, leading commissioners talk about forthcoming commissioning opportunities as they take part in Doc/Fest's version of Question Time. Commenting on recent successes, ...

Funding and Commissioning: Feature Documentary from 2020-02-28T10:00

With everything solid melting into air, and the documentary landscape never more varied and complex, this panel asks leading commissioners, funders & distributors: how do independent filmmakers ...

Through the Eyes of the Other: Craft Summit 2019 from 2020-02-14T10:00

We explore the craft of directing through films that focus on a central character. Taking us deep into their films and filmic method, 2 directors explore approaches to character, the relationshi...

Breaking the Class Ceiling from 2020-01-31T10:00

In 2018, socio-economic inequality in the television and film industry became National news, when the Panic! report revealed that the industry was becoming less welcoming to talent from working ...

Rodney P talks Bass, Beats and Docs from 2020-01-17T10:00

Since forming the seminal hip-hop group London Posse in 1987, Rodney P has been widely regarded as the Godfather of British hip-hop, and has collaborated with a diverse range of artists includin...

Channel 4 Interview: Paddy Wivell from 2020-01-03T10:00

In twenty years of directing documentaries for Channel 4 and the BBC, Paddy Wivell has made a name for himself for the seemingly effortless and compassionate way he connects with his subjects, f...

Bush, Boobs&Body Positivity with the Slumflower from 2019-12-20T10:00

Chidera Eggerue preaches her messages of self-love and body positivity to thousands on her blog, The Slumflower, and with hugely successful campaigns like Listen

BAFTA Masterclass: Asif Kapadia from 2019-12-06T09:00

The Academy Award and multi BAFTA-winning filmmaker, Asif Kapadia, elevated the art of archive documentaries with Amy and Senna, films which were both critically acclaimed and box office hits. H...

Paul Greengrass in Conversation from 2019-11-27T09:58:16

Having cut his teeth on the investigative documentary strand World in Action, known for its forceful and unorthodox journalistic approach, Paul Greengrass has become one of the world’s most popu...

Jenn Nkiru talks Film, Art and Cosmic Archeology from 2019-11-08T10:00

Filmmaker and ‘cosmic archaeologist' Jenn Nkiru is one of the UK’s most exciting directors, with a unique and distinctive visual style. Her films are powerful explorations of black identity incl...

A Conversation with Werner Herzog from 2019-10-25T10:00

Arguably one of the greatest living filmmakers, who battled Klaus Kinski on the set of Aguirre, Wrath of God, dragged a ship over a hill for Fitzcarraldo and famously ate his own shoe on film af...

Vicky McClure: Dementia&Music from 2019-05-24T10:00

We welcomed BAFTA-winning actor Vicky McClure, star of This is England (produced by Sheffield based Warp Films), as well as Line of Duty and Broadchurch, to Sheffield Doc/Fest for the first time...

Brian Reed&Richard Miron in Conversation from 2019-05-10T09:36:51

Brian Reed (Host and co-creator of S-Town) and Richard Miron (Director/Producer of For the Birds) explore the real life mysteries and strange tales that inspired their work.

Chaired by Ly...

Whose Story: Authentic Voices in Storytelling from 2019-04-05T10:00

From the Syrian conflict to Black Lives Matter; now more than ever there is an urgency for stories told by less represented and authentic voices emerging from affected communities. Getting acces...

Times Up: The Industry Response to Bullying&Harassment from 2019-03-22T10:00

Allegations against Harvey Weinstein and numerous others exposed a deeply troubling side to the film and TV industry.

Following the birth of the ground-breaking anti-sexual assault and wo...

The BBC Interview: Mary Beard from 2019-03-08T10:00

One of our favourite talks from the 2018 festival: Charlotte Moore, Director of Content at the BBC, interviews public intellectual, feminist, author and television presenter Mary Beard.

I...

Documenting Grenfell: a Problem in Plain Sight? from 2019-02-22T10:00

In 2017 the Grenfell Tower tragedy shook the nation: claims of gross negligence, government cuts, and lack of political action angered communities, and the demand for justice and call for change...

Poverty in the UK: New Approaches to Storytelling from 2019-02-08T10:00

Poverty in the UK is increasing for the first time in two decades. We are seeing more people struggling to make ends meet. Does television set out accurately the complexities of living in povert...

Jamal Edwards MBE: SBTV, Music&Mental Health from 2019-01-25T10:00

Britain's hottest young entrepreneur Jamal Edwards, founded YouTube-based SBTV in 2006 with a self-recorded grainy rap battle. Now hailed as one of the most important digital youth culture platf...

Craft Summit 2018: Documentary Subjects How Close Do You Go from 2019-01-11T10:00

This interactive and probing session uses the experience of a psychologist to gain insight into the art of directing actuality, the portrayal of character and examine whether we can ever get too...

Khalik Allah: Exploring a New Film Language from 2018-12-07T10:00

Self-taught photographer and filmmaker, Khalik Allah's profoundly personal work has been described as "street opera"; visceral, haunting and honest. Having previously worked with Wu-Tang Clan an...

My Big Break from 2018-11-23T10:00

Film and TV professionals at varying stages in their career discuss the successes (and challenges) that paved their way into the industry. With a panel made up of two BAFTA Breakthrough Brits, t...

Not Another Diversity Panel! from 2018-11-09T10:00

Factual television is not an equal playing field. Women, ethnic minorities and those from a working class background are underrepresented in the industry. Apanel of commissioners and creators di...

BAFTA Masterclass: Matthew Heineman from 2018-10-26T10:30

Matthew Heineman, the BAFTA- and Oscar- nominated director, is one of the most exciting documentary filmmakers working today. His films City of Ghosts and Cartel Land offered searing comment on ...

Best of Times, Worst of Times: The Future of Feature Documentaries from 2018-10-11T14:37:16

Are we entering a new "Golden Age" for feature documentary? Will new funding sources create a flurry of blockbuster features, or is cinema exhibition inexorably declining as audiences ‘Netflix a...

Munroe Bergdorf: Women, Gender&Activism from 2018-09-28T10:00

As both a high-profile activist and an international model, Munroe Bergdorf's experiences as a transgender woman remain the driving force behind her work. Voted 8th in Pride Power's Top 100 List...

The Channel 4 Interview: Guy Martin from 2018-09-14T15:04:54

Sheffield Doc/Fest and Channel 4 welcomed the Grimsby-born, TV adventurer, record breaker, motorcycle racer and lorry mechanic to the Festival for the first time. With inspirational documentarie...

Sir Lenny Henry in Conversation with June Sarpong MBE from 2018-07-27T12:00

Doc/Fest and Sky were delighted to welcome Sir Lenny Henry to the 2017 Festival. In conversation with June Sarpong, the celebrated comedian and actor discussed his game-changing career, his docu...

Maxine Peake - My Desert Island Docs from 2018-03-26T17:33:23

Sheffield Doc/Fest was thrilled to welcome the acclaimed Salford-based actress and writer Maxine Peake to the Festival for the first time. Talking to Guardian journalist Simon Hattenstone Maxine...

How Do You Reach The Other 99%? The New Opportunities for Docs Online from 2018-03-09T12:11:56

Viewing of high quality factual TV content online has had a massive explosion in the last 18 months – with documentaries attracting millions of global viewers, but as a UK production company or ...

How to Make Fast Turnaround Docs from 2018-02-23T10:00

In these strange times with "the media” under attack in the West, there’s an urgent need for trustworthy storytelling that responds to current events – and documentary filmmakers are increasingl...

Doc/Question Time: Is the Media Failing to Reflect the Real Opinions of the People? from 2018-02-09T10:00

A distinguished panel from the world of film, media and politics discuss the rise of populism, ‘echo chambers’ and question how open we all are to contrary points of view in today’s media. 

What Does Brexit Look Like? 'Artistic Responses' from 2018-01-26T10:00

Filmmakers and commissioners at the 2017 Festival discuss the creative impact of Brexit on documentary-making in Britain. A year after Britain voted to leave Europe, we ask how best to represent...

Commissioner Question Time: Specialist Factual for all Platforms from 2018-01-12T10:00

Should Specialist Factual be a genre that takes more risks? With broadcast giants like Netflix and Amazon changing the landscape of TV, taking risks and winning big, how should terrestrial and c...

Peter Greenaway CBE: Where Next for Storytelling? from 2017-12-29T10:00

Acclaimed director and artist Peter Greenaway is widely regarded as one of the most important innovators of our time. His work stretches back to the 1960s and includes the feature The Cook the T...

Commissioner Question Time: Feature Length from 2017-12-15T10:00

How do different commissioners define a feature documentary? Is it based on viewer expectations, the importance of the central issue or simply its duration? Is a deeper level of access, revelati...

Female Trailblazers: New Ways of Working in Media from 2017-11-13T10:34:21

There is a new vanguard in our media culture. A growing pool of talented and experienced women, tired of waiting for the film and TV industry to reach the 21st century, are driving it forward th...

The BBC Interview: Louis Theroux meets Nick Broomfield from 2017-10-27T10:00

In a career spanning more than four decades, Nick Broomfield is one of the most influential documentary makers of our time. Having initially carved his name in hard hitting observational fare, w...

New Genderation: Has Factual Kept Up With the Revolution in Gender and Sexuality? from 2017-10-13T14:35:17

Documentaries about the LGBT community have broken into the mainstream. Films like My Transexual Summer, Gay and Under Attack and Girls to Men have told a diverse range of stories. While some of...

Freddie Flintoff&Robert Penn Talk Docs&Chips from 2017-10-13T13:54:12

Doc/Fest welcomed cricketing legend and former England captain, along with journalist and co-presenter Robert Penn, to the 2016 Festival, to talk about their popular series for Sky 1; ‘Flintoff:...

Olly Alexander Talks Documentary from 2017-09-29T10:00

Doc/fest were thrilled to welcome Olly Alexander, frontman of the British electronica trio Years and Years to the Festival to discuss the making of his first documentary 'Olly Alexander: Growing...

D.A. Pennebaker&Chris Hegedus in Conversation with Francine Stock from 2017-09-15T10:00

Talking to BBC Radio 4 Film Programme presenter Francine Stock, renowned filmmakers and Academy Award-winners D.A. Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus discuss their latest film Unlocking the Cage, as w...

Exploring the American Markets from 2017-09-04T09:46:47

Continuing the recent trend of aggressive M&A activity, streaming giants Netflix and Amazon snapped up a wealth of documentary content at this year’s Sundance festival in January. With the US, s...

Stacey Dooley Talks... from 2017-08-18T10:00

The popular documentarian and journalist, Stacey Dooley returned to Sheffield Doc/Fest 2017 to discuss the art of uncovering surprising and shocking stories. At the heart of Stacey’s documentari...

BAFTA Masterclass: Making True Crime Docs&Series from 2017-08-04T10:00

From blue flashing crime scenes to tense interrogations, the thirst for True Crime is insatiable. So how do content creators keep one of the longest running documentary genres fresh and exciting...

Ian Hislop&Jolyon Rubinstein: Post-truth&Satire from 2017-07-21T10:00

Ian Hislop, the editor of the satirical news magazine Private Eye and team captain on Have I Got News for You, came to Sheffield Doc/Fest for the first time. In conversation with the BAFTA winni...

Professor Green: Documentaries&Me from 2017-03-31T12:00

Professor Green, Stephen Manderson to his friends, came to Doc/Fest to talk about his film work for BBC3; intensely personal portraits of difficult subjects like male suicide and homelessness.

Commissioning: Singles, Specials&Series from 2017-03-17T12:00

With Netflix & Amazon making bold moves into the documentary space, what does this mean for an already cluttered international market? Is exclusive access and strong storytelling still enough, o...

The Channel 4 Interview: Michael Moore from 2017-02-10T13:27:14

Sheffield Doc/Fest and Channel 4 welcomed Oscar-winning director Michael Moore back to Sheffield, 18 years after his first visit. Voted one of “The World’s 100 Most Influential People” by Time M...

Innovation in Archive from 2017-01-27T13:55:01

This Sheffield Doc/Fest 2016 session explores the ways that filmmakers and artists are combining archive and new technologies to engage audiences across TV, cinema, VR, galleries and exhibition ...

New Dimensions in Testimony from 2017-01-12T12:00

Dr Stephen Smith’s keynote talk at the Alternate Realties Summit showcased New Dimensions in Testimony; ground-breaking natural language software that allows audiences to have a “virtua...

Viva la Revolucion: Video Activism and Citizen Journalism from 2016-12-16T12:00

 How do filmmakers capture political struggles? What challenges do filmmakers face in making politically-committed documentaries? How can radical films connect with audiences? This session, from...

In Conversation with HBO's Sheila Nevins from 2016-12-02T12:00

A powerhouse in the documentary world, Sheila Nevins has shepherded scores of the genre’s best films over many years and, as President of HBO Documentaries, is one of the US’s most powerful docu...

How to get Your Theatrical Doc Funded and Distributed from 2016-11-25T12:00

It’s a golden age for theatrical documentaries with new forms of distribution and exhibition easing the way while audience appetites for watching documentaries on the big screen have never been ...

Writing with Light: The Art of Cinematography from 2016-11-11T12:00

The harmony of photography and story has been the goal of professional cinematographers throughout cinema history. But how is the perfect marriage of image and narrative achieved and what choice...

Notes on Blindness: Into Darkness, a Film and VR Autopsy from 2016-10-28T12:00

Following the UK Premiere, the Notes on Blindness team shared insights on creating and distributing film and virtual reality together for the first time. From early conversations at Doc/Fest’s M...

Ronnie O'Sullivan in Conversation from 2016-10-14T12:00

Following a kaleidoscope of strong personalities around the table in the 70s and 80s, the realm of snooker became a somewhat homogenised place following the introduction of corporate sponsorship...

BAFTA Masterclass: Working with Archive from 2016-09-30T12:00

Archive is an essential tool in the documentarians’ toolbox. In this masterclass from Sheffield Doc/Fest 2016 we hear from filmmakers from both film and television who have creatively used archi...

The Absolutely Adventurous Joanna Lumley in Conversation from 2016-09-02T12:00

Doc/Fest and ITV were thrilled to welcome a true legend to the 2016 festival: Joanna Lumley OBE. The celebrated actor, documentarian and campaigner came to Sheffield to talk about her esteemed a...

Breaking In: A Guide for Film Industry Entrants from 2016-09-02T12:00