Once again the Sheffield International Documentary Festival has enjoyed a resounding success. Between the 10th and 16th October 2005, an international crowd descended on the Showroom Cinema to be involved in the UK’s premiere event for documentary film.

There were nearly 9,000 admissions and delegate pass sales were up over 13% on 2004. The festival also welcomed over 45 filmmakers from around the globe who came to support their films.

This year saw one new competition, the Sky One Development Prize, which in an unexpected turn produced two winners, who will both take away £5,000 towards the production of an authored documentary for Sky One. Two winners also emerged from the Channel 4 Sheffield Pitch Event and the Jerwood First Cuts Documentary Award:

Sky One Development Prizes – Be Good Films (Bruce Goodison) with the programme idea entitled ‘Kathy Burke on the Celebrity Baby Trade’ and Doghouse Productions (Giles Hartley) with the programme idea entitled ‘Jack Dee’s Guide to Being Happy.’
Jerwood First Cuts Documentary Award – Sasha Maja Djurkovic with her short film “Last Men Standing”
Channel 4 Sheffield Pitch Event – Havana Marking with her programme idea called “Crippendales” following Robert who’s confined to a wheel chair but dreams of becoming a stripper.