Are you an early-career production professional interested in elevating your career, and connecting with UK production company executives at Sheffield DocFest 2022? Hear what participants of our UK Broadcast Production Talent Market (now Amplify: Production Talent) have to say about their experience at the festival.
Ben Nisbet
What are you up to now in your career and/or what have you been working on?
At the moment, I'm a Development AP with Remarkable Productions who are part of Banijay. I sit solely in the factual team who specialise in timely documentaries, groundbreaking access series and big and bold factual entertainment formats. Since the festival, I've also worked across various productions and the highlight of my last year was with 72 Films on Channel 4's Spice Girls: How Girl Power Changed Britain.
What did you get out of the experience of participating in the UK Broadcast Production Talent Market (UKBPTM)?
I was amazed to even secure a place in the UKBPTM in the first instance. I was keen to work out how best to use my voice and where to place myself to really understand the art of making films more broadly. Crucially, participation in the UKBPTM gave me the confidence in recognising my own strengths. It felt incredibly special to have contact with industry leaders and to have the time to work out next steps in realising my creative aspirations.
What was your highlight of Sheffield DocFest 2021?
Having access to such a range of fun and exciting documentaries was certainly a highlight. I found the programme helped to really build on my own understanding of what documentary could be, having arrived to the festival with a more rigid definition of what documentary was. There was never a shortage of inspiration in such a wide-ranging group of films.
Leanne Hayman
What are you up to now in your career and/or what have you been working on?
Shortly after taking part in the UKBPTM 2021 I went freelance, and I'm now AP on a complex, exciting feature doc being produced by Shine TV for release later this year.
What did you get out of the experience of participating in the UKBPTM?
It was fantastic to have conversations with lots of different companies through the UKBPTM. It was a great ice-breaker and led to lots of promising new connections.
What was your highlight of Sheffield DocFest 2021?
Taking part in the UKBPTM was the highlight of my DocFest in 2021, and of course I saw some great films through the doc player. But, I'm really looking forward to getting back to Sheffield in person for this year's festival.
Maria Nicola
What are you up to now in your career and/or what have you been working on?
In the last 6 months I have finally made the transition from researcher to assistant producer. I am currently working with Raw TV to produce a very exciting documentary series for a major US channel.
What did you get out of the experience of participating in the UKBPTM?
Participating in the UKBPTM was super helpful in making contacts within the industry and especially with companies I really wanted to work for. It’s definitely a great way of introducing yourself and kick starting your working relationships.
What was your highlight of Sheffield DocFest 2021?
My highlight was finding out what was going around me in the world of documentary and especially at a time which felt incredibly alienating during the pandemic. I also really valued the talks I had with the industry professionals who gave me their time and tips for success.
Mia Harvey
What are you up to now in your career and/or what have you been working on?
I’m currently working on a single documentary film for Channel 4 as an Assistant Producer. I’m also in my final year at the National Film and Television School, developing my graduate film.
What did you get out of the experience of participating in the UKBPTM?
It was a great opportunity to connect directly to executives at some of the best production companies in the UK. Everyone I met with was so friendly and interested to hear about my previous experience and my future aspirations. Overall, it has given me confidence and the network that I didn’t have before.
What was your highlight of Sheffield DocFest 2021?
Watching Summer of Soul! I’m still not over this film!
Tammie Ash
What are you up to now in your career and/or what have you been working on?
I'm currently a development researcher in BBC Studios' Science Unit having had previously worked on a short-form digital kids' series for BBC Earth and a long-form 6-part series called Sciences Greatest Mysteries for the Chinese streamer BiliBili. I was also a researcher at Wise Owl Films on My Second Hand Home which is a new 8pm pilot for Channel 4.
What did you get out of the experience of participating in the UKBPTM?
I had the opportunity to meet so many amazing people from a range of companies that I'd previously not known much about but now would love to work for! I made connections that I never would've made at all otherwise.
What was your highlight of Sheffield DocFest 2021?
My highlight was the Broadcast Production Talent Market! It's easy to feel like just an observer at film festivals but the BPTM made me feel like I was properly part of it.
