Sheffield DocFest is to receive a reduced one-year grant from Sheffield City Council, while the latter determines the level of its long-term commitment to the event.
Today (November 7), the council’s finance committee will approve a one-year grant extension to provide £100,000 to help support the festival as it celebrates its 30th edition in 2023. The grant is £50,000 less than the festival has received in previous years.
The one year grant has been made to ensure the factual festival’s “stability and viability” according to a report by the council.
The report read: “Providing a one-year extension whilst a longer-term agreement is reached ensures stability and viability for Sheffield DocFest whilst they continue to recover from the pandemic and international travel recovers globally.
It ensures that the festival organisers are in a position to plan ahead and develop the festival whilst DocFest recruits and develops their senior team for the years ahead. The council will also be able to review its position in 2023 and decide how best to continue any further sponsorship to Doc/Fest.”
Sheffield City Council said in a statement that: “Sheffield DocFest is working on a new five-year plan and investing in a new management team, and we are working with them in this process and will be putting in place long-term arrangements with DocFest in due course.
“The reduction in funding is a continuation of a planned reduction in funding from 2022, and in line with the Council’s plan to support events, as they increase commercial and grant income. We remain committed to this important cultural and economically impactful event for Sheffield.”
Last week, DocFest appointed Annabel Grundy as its managing director, to work in tandem with acting creative director Raul Niño Zambrano to run the festival which will from 14-19 June next year.
In August, it appointed Zambrano as its acting creative director as it transitioned into a joint leadership structure following Cintia Gil’s departure due to “artistic differences” and deputy director Melanie Iredale.
The festival brings in an estimated £1.4m in spending to the city each year, and was attended by 30,000 delegates in 2022.
This story first appeared in Screen’s sister title Broadcast.
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