Sheffield DocFest has announced its slate for the 2024 MeetMarket…
Taking place Thursday 13 June and Friday 14 June, as part of a broader marketplace programme of talent development, pitches, roundtables and conferences designed to connect new projects with industry partners that runs across the festival. The selection includes 50 documentary projects, in the development, production stage and rough cut stages, to be pitched in one-to-one meetings to international and UK industry representatives and experts.
Drawn from 533 submissions, the 50 projects in the 2024 selection encompass 44 countries of production and co-production. New works will be presented from experienced producers such as Ina Fichman, Estelle Robin You, Monica Lazurean-Gorgan and Michèle Stevenson, working alongside first time and second time filmmakers.
The 5 Rough Cut titles which will be screened to industry representatives and receive tailored feedback are: The Age of Water, B-Side, Our Land, Queer as Punk, and Will They Ever Come BacRecently released projects that were previously pitched at the Sheffield Meetmarket include Mother Vera (Visions du Réel 2024), Motherboard (CPH:DOX 2024), Nocturnes (Sundance 2024), Life is Beautiful (IDFA 2023), Tish (Sheffield DocFest 2023 opening night film) and Between the Rains (Tribeca 2023).
Patrizia Mancini, Head of Industry, Sheffield DocFest:
“Sheffield DocFest continues to strive for an open and inclusive Marketplace whose goal is to welcome and support original and impactful non-fiction storytelling, for professionals from across the world and across genres. This year our selection welcomes several exciting and engaged new voices in addition to an international slate from experienced producers, embodying our commitment to making space for fresh perspectives and truthful stories.”
This year, 15 UK and international industry professionals used their combined expertise in production, development, sales, distribution, funding, exhibition, and festivals to assess the applications received to the MeetMarket. The selectors were Alex Moussa Sawadogo, Dumitrita Pacicovschi, Elhum Shakerifar, Emily Copley, Hicham Falah, Inadelso Cossa, Katayoon Shahabi, Kiyoko McCrae, Lara Sousa, Lisa Marie Russo, Patrizia Mancini, Peter Yam, Raul Niño Zambrano, Rodolfo Castillo-Morales, and Sophie Duncan.
The 31st edition of Sheffield DocFest will celebrate the art of documentary and bring creatives from across the world together in Sheffield between 12-17 June 2024. The full public programme will be announced on Wednesday 8 May 2024, followed by the full industry programme of industry sessions, pitches and events on 15 May 2024.
Lisa Marie Russo, Executive Producer and Sheffield DocFest Marketplace Consultant:
“It’s a pleasure to once again work alongside the MeetMarket team as we prepare for Sheffield DocFest 2024. The rigorous and collegiate selection process assures that a broad range of voices and visions from around the globe will have a platform to advance their filmmaking partnerships. The selection reflects eclectic, energetic and thoughtful approaches, which embrace a modern day urgency to the stories we tell.”
The full list of MeetMarket projects can be seen on the next page…
