DocFest announces line-up

55 world premieres included in Sheffield festival's line-up

by Amber Wilkinson

My Name Is Pauli Murray will be among the films screening across the UK
My Name Is Pauli Murray will be among the films screening across the UK Photo: Pauli Murray Foundation

Sheffield DocFest has announced its full line-up for this year's festival, which will run from June 4 to 13, both physically in the city and online.

The slate includes 55 world premieres, 22 international premieres, 15 European premieres and 59 UK premieres across 57 countries with 63 languages represented, including new International and UK Competitions, and a Northern (England) Focus.

Highlights include the world premiere of the first instalment of Academy Award winner Steve McQueen’s new series for the BBC, Uprising. Directed by Steve McQueen & James Rogan, the film - about the 1981 New Cross fire - will be presented as a Special Screening.

The festival has previously announced that this year’s Retrospective: Films belong to those who need them - fragments from the history of Black British Cinema, will be a celebration of Black British screen culture - curated by guest curators including David Olusoga, who is also the subject of the BBC interview. Films of all lengths will all be presented as part of the retrospective including titles such as Burning An Illusion by Menelik Shabazz, It Ain’t Half Racist, Mum by Stuart Hall, Looking for Langston by Isaac Julien, Second Coming by Debbie Tucker Green, The Black Safari by Colin Luke, Baby Mother by Julien Henriques and Franco Rosso’s The Mangrove Nine. Karen Alexander has joined the previously announced line-up of guest curators.

Alongside its Sheffield line-up five premiere screenings will be shown across the UK in 16 partner cinemas, including the European premiere of My Name Is Pauli Murray, the opening film Summer Of Soul (...Or, When The Revolution Could Not Be Televised) and the UK premiere of Lift Like A Girl.

Festival director Cíntia Gil said; “We are very proud to present a programme that brings together a multitude of forms, landscapes and visions, with a myriad of incredible talent to whom we deeply thank for their trust. We are excited about holding this festival in a way that welcomes everyone - in Sheffield, in cinemas across the UK, and online. The importance and urgency of cinema has only grown since we last saw a film on the big screen.”

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