Sheffield DocFest 2021 will open with the European premiere of Summer of Soul (…Or When The Revolution Could Not Be Televised), by Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, and close with the world premiere of The Story of Looking, the latest film by Mark Cousins.
Both Summer of Soul on June 4 and The Story of Looking on June 12 will also be available simultaneously in cinemas around the UK.
Mark Cousins commented, “We’re honored to premiere our film on the closing night of Sheffield’s acclaimed Doc/Fest. We hope it will send audiences and delegates back out into the world with hearts aglow and fresh eyes!”
Festival Director, Cíntia Gil added, “We wanted to open and close with films that spoke to our programme and to what Sheffield Doc/Fest stands for, and to inspire our audiences after a very difficult time. These films have helped us imagine our programme along the winter lockdown months, and will hopefully add to the joy of coming together again to share life and film before the Summer blooms.”
Sheffield DocFest 2021 also revealed four films from the Into the World strand – The Return: Life After Isis directed by Alba Sotorra, MINAMATA Mandala directed by Kazuo Hara, Carlos Ghosn: The Last Flight directed by Nick Green and Alvorada Palace directed by Anna Muylaert and Lô Politi.
The Return: Life After Isis
Alba Sotorra, UK, Spain, 2021, UK Premiere
A unique portrait of a group of Western women whose teenage years were spent supporting ISIS, but who now want to return to their countries and transform their lives. Among them are Shamima Begum and Hoda Muthana.
MINAMATA Mandala
Kazuo Hara, Japan, 2021, UK Premiere
Into the World will also screen MINAMATA Mandala, by the Japanese master Kazuo Hara. An epic, 15-year journey and three-part film, where Hara treats each individual and the local community with tremendous empathy, and raises necessary global questions about public health, corporate accountability, and the environment.
Carlos Ghosn: The Last Flight
Nick Green, France, UK, Lebanon, 2021, World Premiere
Carlos Ghosn – the former CEO of the Renault-Nissan Alliance charged with various financial crimes – has become the protagonist of one of the most dramatic and mysterious plots in the history of international corporations. His rise and fall is portrayed by Nick Green in Carlos Ghosn The Last Flight, a portrait of a fascinating character, shedding light on this complex and multilayered story whilst also divulging new details on his spectacular escape to Lebanon.
Alvorada Palace
Anna Muylaert and Lô Politi, Brazil, 2021, European Premiere
Alvorada Palace, by Anna Muylaert and Lô Politi, set in Brazil’s Presidential Palace, follows Dilma Rousseff and her closest members of staff over the days that lead up to the impeachment trial that resulted in her downfall, in a poignant reflection on the nature of leadership and power.
Titles from the 2021 Official Selection will screen in Sheffield, at Showroom Cinema, and online.