20/06/2023 - The jury was struck by the Polish-French-Ukrainian co-production’s ability to show “beautiful visions that hold both craft and story close, opening windows into the heart of our shared humanity”

That’s a wrap for the 2023 edition of Sheffield DocFest (14-19 June). The closing ceremony of the event was held at Sheffield’s Crucible Playhouse on 18 June. This year’s programme included 37 world, 20 international, ten European and 47 UK premieres, as well as eight retrospective films, hailing from 52 countries of production. More than 2,550 delegates, including 190 industry representatives, attended the gathering, marking a 17% increase on 2022’s figures.

On this occasion, the prestigious International Competition’s Grand Jury Award was presented to In the Rearview [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] by Maciek Hamela (Poland/France/Ukraine). The jury, made up of Kim Longinotto, Rodrigo Reyes and Vinay Shukla, said: “We would like to take this moment to ask: what is the meaning of the art of non-fiction today? As we journeyed through this cohort of films, we found vulnerable, beautiful visions that hold both craft and story close, opening windows into the heart of our shared humanity. If documentaries matter, if they are to be relevant and important at all, they must connect us to the lives of others. Crafted with intimacy and delicate respect, we as a jury were stunned by the brilliant simplicity of this film, which makes us fellow passengers on a universal odyssey of survival and exodus.” A Special Mention was given to Stone Town, directed by Jing Guo and Dingding Ke (China).

Next, the Grand Jury Award for the International First Feature Competition was presented to Q by Jude Chehab (USA/Lebanon). The jury, made up of Sonja Henrici, Anna Higgs and Rosa Ruth Boesten, stated: “From the first frame, this story engrosses the viewer cinematically and emotionally, bringing with it the sense that we are witnessing the birth of a powerful new filmmaking voice. The audience is invited to become an intimate witness to a filmmaker’s – and a daughter’s – enquiry, as we see three generations of women coming to terms with the impact of their involvement with a secretive Islamic movement on their family. As a very specific story unravels the universal truths of love and loss, Chehab’s deft direction shows how an ultimately destructive devotion has entwined itself in the lines and legacy of her family.”

Meanwhile, 20 Days in Mariupol [+see also:
film review
interview: Mstyslav Chernov
film profile] by Mstyslav Chernov (Ukraine) scooped the Tim Hetherington Award. The prize recognises a film and a filmmaker that best reflect the legacy of photojournalist and filmmaker Tim Hetherington, and was presented in association with Dogwoof. The jury members, Julian Carrington, Bruno Jorge and Katayoon Shahabi, highlighted how Chernov’s film is the one that “most embodies the spirit and legacy of the journalist for which it is named”, labelling it as “a work of astonishing courage and moral clarity, which brings moving context to familiar images in a way that only long-form documentary filmmaking can”. A Special Mention was given to Total Trust [+see also:
film review
film profile] by Jialing Zhang (Germany/Netherlands).

Finally, the prize in the International Alternate Realities Competition was bestowed upon The Man Who Couldn’t Leave by Singing Chen. In particular, jury members Emma Cooper, Derek Richards and Andres Jurado praised “the sheer level of craftsmanship in using the form to engender palpable empathy in its audience” as well as “the level of detail employed to support the audience in the challenging position in which they are necessarily located. […] We engage with the story not just because it is so devastating, but also because the sheer poetry of its delivery leaves us with a seed of hope,” they added.

Here is the full list of this year’s award winners:

International Competition Grand Jury Award
In the Rearview [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] - Maciek Hamela (Poland/France/Ukraine)
Special Mention
Stone Town – Jing Guo, Dingding Ke (China)

International First Feature Competition Grand Jury Award
Q - Jude Chehab (USA/Lebanon)

International Short Film Competition
The Takeover – Anders Hammer (USA/Afghanistan/Norway)
Special Mention
A Maiden Sings – Max Torrés Altés (Spain)

Tim Hetherington Award
20 Days in Mariupol [+see also:
film review
interview: Mstyslav Chernov
film profile] – Mstyslav Chernov (Ukraine)
Special Mention
Total Trust [+see also:
film review
film profile] – Jialing Zhang (Germany/Netherlands)

International Alternate Realities Competition
The Man Who Couldn't Leave – Singing Chen (Taiwan)
Special Mentions
Surfacing – Rosa Rossella Schillaci (Italy/Portugal)
Within Touching Distance – Sneha Belkhale, Hayley Hill, Ross Flight, Persis Jade Maravala, Jorge Lopes Ramos, Elisa Moriconi, Alex Peckham (UK)

Youth Jury Award
Anhell69 [+see also:
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trailer
interview: Theo Montoya
film profile] – Theo Montoya (Colombia/Romania/France/Germany)
Special Mention
1001 Days – Kethiwe Ngcobo, Chloe White (UK/South Africa)

Audience Award
Your Fat Friend [+see also:
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film profile] - Jeanie Finlay (USA/UK)

The Whickers Pitch Film & TV Funding Award
Women of My Life – Zahraa Ghandour (Iraq)

The Whickers Pitch Development Prize
I Want to Kill My Grandfather – Lilyana Torres, Carlos Morales (Mexico)

Channel 4 First Cut Pitch
Catherine Hart

BBC Storyville Development Pitch
With Woman – Mia Harvey, Ayo Akinwolere
Kashpirovsky – Lukasz Konopa