Author: Anna Richards
Supervisors: Dr James Fenwick (Director of Studies), Dr Rinella Cere

Sheffield DocFest has become a major international documentary film festival based in the heart of Sheffield. Working in a collaborative partnership with DocFest, this research considers the heritage and cultural evolution of the festival, as well as using archival research and oral history to consider its origins, growth and formation.

The first ever edition of DocFest (known then as Sheffield International Documentary Festival) appeared in 1994, but the history of the festival dates further back to the 1980s. Sheffield itself at this time was struggling with its identity after the collapse of the steel industry and mass unemployment. The emergence of DocFest coincided with the political aims of Sheffield’s left-wing city council and wider conversations about the future identities of post-industrial cities. This research investigates the complex relationship between the festival itself, the post-industrial identity of Sheffield and the wider documentary community.

Working with DocFest, this project has the ability to reach a wide range of people through public engagement events at the festival. Still in the early stages of planning, it aims to stage an exhibition to celebrate the 30th edition of the festival. Using archival materials from DocFest’s own collection and Sheffield Hallam University’s unique archival holding, this project intends to display and exhibit a range of historical materials to celebrate DocFest’s history. This event in particular intends to reflect on the cultural identity of DocFest and preserve the heritage of the festival. By using archival materials and interviewing individuals involved in the festival, this research project altogether aims to construct a history of the festival and uncover aspects of DocFest’s history that have been previously overlooked.