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 [+lee también:
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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 [+lee también:
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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 [+lee también:
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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 [+lee también:
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Special Mention
Total Trust [+lee también:
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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 [+lee también:
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Special Mention
1001 Days – Kethiwe Ngcobo, Chloe White (UK/South Africa)

Audience Award
Your Fat Friend [+lee también:
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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