Sheffield Council have released details of their bid to bring Channel 4 to Sheffield including visualisations of a TV production headquarters next to Sheffield Station. Sheffield is one of several cities that have thrown their hat into the ring in respond to a government consultation on moving the public service channel out of London. It is estimated a Sheffield headquarters could bring over 4,000 highly skilled jobs to the city by 2027. Azz Mohammed reports for Sheffield Live!
Sheffield Council has submitted proposals to bring Channel 4 to the city in response to a government consultation on relocation of the public service television channel. Sheffield faces stiff competition from Cardiff, Liverpool, Bradford and Birmingham, as well as Manchester where the BBC’s Media City is situated. Government is seeking views on relocation of the broadcaster’s activities to an outside London location to help drive creative jobs in the regions. Sheffield Live! reporter Simon Thake spoke to Councillor Mazher Iqbal.
The Children’s Media Conference, taking place over four days this week, brings together practitioners and commissioners involved in TV, radio and interactive media for children. Baillor Jalloh reports for Sheffield Live!
Ponds Forge played host to a competition with a difference as the European Gaming League took over the sports centre for two days of eSports console action playing Call of Duty. The online gaming league promotes team-based video gaming competitions with a prize pool of 25,000 dollars for the winning team at the Sheffield event. Simon Thake reports for Sheffield Live!
New documentary Joe Cocker: Mad Dog with Soul features never-before-seen footage of the Sheffield soul and blues legend including backstage at the celebrated 1969 Woodstock Festival. The recently released film, which was on show at Sheffield Doc/Fest tracks the star’s musical career and difficult journey to sobriety with archive footage and interviews with close associates. Sheffield Live! reporter Simon Thake spoke to film director John Edginton.
Oscar winning director Vanessa Roth brought her new film Daughters of Destiny to Sheffield Doc/Fest ahead of its launch on Netflix this summer. Daughters of Destiny follows some of rural India’s most vulnerable and disadvantaged children as they grow up in the Shanti Bhavan project. The film is an exploration of poverty, discrimination, opportunity and the search for purpose. Sheffield Live! reporter Simon Thake spoke to Vanessa Roth.
The Alternative Realities exhibition at the Millennium Gallery and in Tudor Square provided a taste of emerging technologies including 3D and 360 degree film-making. Sheffield Live! reporter Simon Thake gazes into the future.
Among new films premiered at this year’s Sheffield International Documentary Film Festival is a hard hitting take on how freedom struggles are changing the world. Sheffield Doc/Fest attracts some of the biggest film makers to the city with over 3,000 people registered to participated in the five day event. Sheffield Live! reporter Azz Mohammed spoke to Rupert Russell, writer and director of Freedom for the Wolf.
One of the stand out films at this year’s Doc/Fest is the story of two gay Syrian refugees competing in a pageant for the title of Mr Gay Syria. The documentary tells a story of resistance to persecution and the life-threatening situations faced by LGBT+ Syrians. Sheffield Live! reporter Simon Thake was at the screening and spoke to Turkish director of the film Ayse Torpak.
This year’s Sheffield International Documentary Film Festival features a collection of documentary love stories, including US production For Ahkeem. Directed by Jeremy Levine and Landon Van Soest, the film tells the coming-of-age story of 17-year old Daje who is determined to turn her life around after a rough upbringing in St Louis. The film explores themes of teenage proverty, education and hope. Sheffield Live! reporter Simon Thake spoke with the directors at a question and answer session at the Light Cinema.