Culture round up: Sheff DocFest, Folk Alliance showcase submissions & mindful travel
Storytelling past, present and future: Sheff DocFest
Sheff DocFest 2024 was a storytelling experience filled with the immersive activations, documentary premieres, discussions, panels, mixers and workshops.
Emperor, Queer Utopia: Act I Cruising, Shadowtime and Draw For Change: We Exist, We Resist stood out from the Alternate Realities programme as dynamic pieces with charismatic narrators, visually stimulating mixed media and responsive elements that encourage viewer participation. These VR pieces evoked empathy, heightened self-awareness and self-reflection, tying in well with this year’s ‘Reflections on Realities’ theme.
Mark Warmington’s 90-minute documentary Harder Than the Rock premiered at the Crucible Theatre, telling the emotive story of the Cimarons, the UK’s first reggae band formed in 1967. Harder Than The Rock tells the story of the band’s rich history, following their final chapter as they dream of performing in front of live audiences again. Followed with a Q&A hosted by DJ and director Don Letts, the audience were treated to a warm live conversation with the band, who later took to the stage to at the official after party. If there is ever an example of intelligent, respectful and in-depth human documentary-making, Harder Than The Rock is it.
Swipe across to see a selection of British Underground visual Sheff DocFest’s highlights:
Are you folk?
Submissions for Folk Alliance International 2025 are closing on 28th June 2024.
Last year, musicians like Trials of Cato, Minor Gold and St. Catherine’s Child performed, networked and explored at the showcases, mixers, jams and panels at Folk Alliance International.
The Folk Alliance International Conference is the world’s largest gathering of the folk music industry and community, crossing a diverse array of genres including Appalachian, Americana, Blues, Bluegrass, Celtic, Cajun, Global Roots, Hip-Hop, Old-Time, Singer-Songwriter, Spoken Word, Traditional, Zydeco, and various fusions.
Be part of warm, energetic, curious, creative and collaborative energy across 4-days of folk, roots and traditional music - the perfect ground to present your sound to music industry professionals.
Send in your application today.
“Thinking about tomorrow rather than simply thinking about today.”
Mindful Travel: Dan’s voyage to WOMEX
As part of our mission to work as consciously as possible, BU’s Dan took the coach to Spain for last year’s WOMEX conference:
“Coach journeys generate less than a 1/4 of carbon emissions compared to flying, is virtually a door to door service and there are no check ins, no security delays and no arriving hours before your departure. It’s a cliche but I do really believe in the journey not the destination. (Although the destination is also glorious)! I also believe in being a ‘good householder’ in regard to the environment, recognising the importance of handing things on better than I found them.
In this case, I recognise that caretaking WOMEX & our planet ahead of passing on to the next generation is also me thinking about tomorrow rather than simply thinking about today.
I was a bit nervous about the toilets, feeling travel sick and being left behind at a petrol station (a story for another time!), but the journey was amazing and I can honestly say that I loved every minute. I wasn’t exhausted which is a surprise.
I arrived at WOMEX 2023 feeling energised, and if anything, I felt a sense of joie de vivre. It has been good to travel slow, see the sights and not feel rushed”.
See Dan’s photo-capture of his slow travel to WOMEX 2023 below and visit horizonsatwomex.com for information, news and UK delegate access to WOMEX 2024.
