Sheffield Doc/Fest has revealed more members of its senior team, including a new Head of Film Programmes and leads on its Marketing Audience strategy and campaigns.
Festival programmer Raul Niño Zambrano becomes Head of Film Programmes, a new role, which he starts in January. Previously Senior Programmer at International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam, he will lead on its screening programme.
“Sheffield DocFest plays such a vital role in the international documentary arena as well as for the British industry, and so it is a dream come true to lead on the programming and to connect filmmakers, film professionals and audiences with the latest trends within the documentary genre,” said Niño Zambrano.
“I am also excited to make a contribution to UK cultural life at a time when its film and TV industries are really taking such positive steps to be more inclusive and accessible.”
Immersive Director Francesca Panetta becomes Alternate Realities Curator. She was Creative Director in the MIT Center for Advanced Reality when she made Event of a Moon Disaster, which won a 2021 Emmy for Interactive Media Documentary. In Sheffield, she will work across VR, AR and Mixed Reality (MR).
“I’m absolutely delighted to be joining Sheffield DocFest, a festival that has long been a beacon for documentary making that pushes form and takes risks,” she said.
“I’m honoured to be curating Alternate Realities as the immersive industry enters a new phase – one in which audiences of all demographics are now familiar with virtual worlds, and artists and media makers are adopting and bending technologies at a furious rate.”
Together Films’ Sarah Mosses and John-Paul Pierrot will lead on the 2022 Festival’s Marketing & Audience strategy and campaign. Mosses will head up strategy, local and venue marketing partnerships and international engagement opportunities, while Pierrot will specialise in digital marketing management and team liaison.
“We are thrilled to use our international perspective to build Sheffield DocFest’s industry and audience reach in 2022,” stated Mosses.
“We have long admired the festival and having attended it personally for the past 10+ years, we know the brand essence extremely well. At its heart, Sheffield DocFest has always been a festival that challenges perceptions, and delivers a thought-provoking programme whilst still being great fun. We can’t wait to welcome the community back this year!”
As previously announced, award-winning filmmaker Asif Kapadia will be Guest Curator in 2022.
“We are thrilled to be welcoming such impressive industry leaders to the Sheffield DocFest team and are excited by the powerful combination of ideas, experience and international perspectives they will bring to the development and delivery of the 2022 edition,” added Clare Stewart, Interim CEO.
“While the landscape for festivals remains in flux, together with the existing team, we will forge a bright future for Sheffield DocFest and for the industry colleagues, audiences, partners and community who continue to be so invested in that future.”
