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Sheffield DocFest · 2011

Sheffield DocFest 2011

Protest Docs

Documentaries from around the world that set out to challenge the political establishment and corporate interests.

Programme

8 films · 4 reviews

Jump to a film

Cinema Palestine

A documentary exploring the work of generations of Palestinian artists and filmmakers, especially those involved with political protest.

(Country: Canada; Year: 2011; Director: Tim Schwab)

Client 9 (Client 9: The Rise and Fall of Eliot Spitzer)

Review preview for Client 9

It’s hard to feel too much pity for Spitzer as the clichéd ‘man who had it all and threw it away’, but the film shows his virtues and faults, and presents a compelling, if occasionally anecdotal, case for there being conspiracy.

Daniel Hooper · 4 out of 5
A profile of the man who, potentially, could have been president, and the scandal that bought about his downfall.

(Country: US; Year: 2010; Director: Alex Gibney; Writer: Alex Gibney; Stars: Eliot Spitzer, Kim Allen, Wrenn Schmidt, Michael Schwendeman, Laura Somma) , Official site

Full review

Inside Job

Review preview for Inside Job

Charles Ferguson's documentary - unlike the subject matter he is broaching - makes a virtue of economy.

Amber Wilkinson · 4.5 out of 5
Documentary examining the US economic meltdown, which suggests it was no accident.

(Country: US; Year: 2010; Director: Charles Ferguson; Writer: Chad Beck, Adam Bolt; Stars: Matt Damon) , Official site

Full review

Up In Smoke

A Cornish scientist tries to persuade third world farmers to use new methods to reinvigorate their land instead of slashing and burning vital forests.

(Country: UK; Year: 2011; Director: Adam Wakeling)

UK Uncut

Review preview for UK Uncut

Some forms of forceful police tactics against demonstrators are captured directly and make quite striking viewing.

Jennie Kermode · 3 out of 5
A look at the development of the UK Uncut protest group, which is dedicated to challenging corporate tax avoidance.

(Country: UK; Year: 2011; Director: Gemma Atkinson, Fred Grace) , Official site

Full review

Wiebo's War

A look at devout Christian Wiebo Ludwig's battle against gas and oil companies, his retreat from society and the mysterious death that occurred on his land.

(Country: Canada; Year: 2010; Director: David York; Stars: Wiebo Ludwig)

Zero Silence

Young people in the Middle East talk about their reasons for revolution.

(Country: Sweden; Year: 2011; Director: Javeria Rizvi Kabani, Jonny Von Wallstrom, Alexandra Sandels)