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Sheffield DocFest · 2015

Sheffield DocFest 2015

Films In Competition

Programme

12 films · 5 reviews

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The Black Panthers: Vanguard Of The Revolution

Review preview for The Black Panthers: Vanguard Of The Revolution

The film is an interesting, timely, though ultimately dispiriting look at how the twin forces of institutional bigotry and internal discord fragmented one of the key organising forces in black America.

Owen Van Spall · 4 out of 5
Story of the rise and fall of the Black Panther Party.

(Year: 2015; Director: Stanley Nelson)

Full review

Cartel Land

Review preview for Cartel Land

One person's armed vigilante is another person's guardian angel and the border between these two ideas is wafer thin and easily crossed as Matthew Heineman's beautifully shot and probing documentary shows.

Amber Wilkinson · 4.5 out of 5
Vigilantes on both sides of the Mexican Border with the US take on the drug cartels.

(Country: US, Mexico; Year: 2015; Director: Matthew Heineman)

Full review

The Confessions Of Thomas Quick

Behind the confessions of Sweden's most notorious serial killer.

(Country: Sweden, UK; Year: 2015; Director: Brian Hill )

Good Girl

A documentarian hit by depression turns her camera on herself.

(Country: Norway; Year: 2014; Director: Solveig Melkeraaen; Writer: Solveig Melkeraaen; Stars: Ravn Lanesskog, Solveig Melkeraaen)

The Hunting Ground

Review preview for The Hunting Ground

Even if Dick took away the interviewees and voiceovers from this film, the statistics alone would make for startling reading.

Owen Van Spall · 4 out of 5
Investigation of rape on US university campuses - and the institutional cover-ups.

(Year: 2015; Director: Kirby Dick; Writer: Kirby Dick; Stars: Diane Rosenfeld)

Full review

Orion: The Man Who Would Be King

Review preview for Orion: The Man Who Would Be King

With such a fascinating subject, it's hard for director Jeanie Finlay to go wrong.

Jennie Kermode · 3.5 out of 5
The mystery and surprising history of the man with Elvis Presley's voice.

(Country: US, UK; Year: 2015; Director: Jeanie Finlay; Writer: Jeanie Finlay)

Full review

Portraits Of A Search

Following three mothers of people who have 'disappeared' during President Calderon's war on drugs.

(Country: Mexico; Year: 2014; Director: Alicia Calderón Torres )

The Russian Woodpecker

A Ukrainian victim of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster discovers a dark secret and must decide whether to risk his life by revealing it, amid growing clouds of revolution and war.

(Country: US, UK, Ukraine; Year: 2014; Director: Chad Gracia; Writer: Chad Gracia)

A Sinner In Mecca

Review preview for A Sinner In Mecca

The principal focus of the film is on one man's personal relationship to his faith.

Jennie Kermode · 3.5 out of 5
An openly gay documentary maker undertakes the Hajj, attempting to resolve his difficult relationship with his faith.

(Country: US; Year: 2015; Director: Parvez Sharma; Stars: Parvez Sharma)

Full review

A Syrian Love Story

Amer met Ragda, when both were locked up in a Syrian jail for speaking out against an oppressive regime. Twenty years and four sons later, filmmaker Sean McAllister comes into their lives, as Amer is waiting for Ragda, who has once again been imprisoned.

(Country: UK; Year: 2015; Director: Sean McAllister )

Tea Time

Elderly women who have met for tea for more than six decades.

(Country: UK; Year: 2015; Director: Maite Alberdi )

A Young Patriot

Documentary charts the coming of age of a passionate Chinese teenage patriot.

(Country: France, China; Year: 2015; Director: Haibin Du; Writer: Haibin Du)