We take a look at the Asian films that will be screened at the Sheffield DocFest which is taking place from June 14 – 19, 2023 in Sheffield, UK.

– Feature Films –

Rakesh and Ganesh, two friends from the Koli fishing community in Bombay, live very different lives. Ganesh, with his foreign education, access to money and network of contacts, embraces modernity with the latest fishing technology. Rakesh, by contrast, struggles to make ends meet and is forced to continue with the family’s traditional shallow-water fishing methods. However, both are impacted by the challenges of a declining profession, climate change and the demands of their young families. Director Sarvnik Kaur offers a fascinating and contemplative portrait of these two men, while the film’s gentle rhythms capture the ebb and flow of the sea – an everchanging constant in Rakesh and Ganesh’s lives. (Sheffield DocFest 2023)

Clip:

Initially inspired by her doctoral thesis and the poetry of Forogh Farrokhzad, Sreemoyee Singh’s film uses frank and moving interviews with filmmakers Jafar Panahi and Mohammad Shirvani to explore the lives of women in Iran, under a regime that has dismissed the idea of femininity by erasing a woman’s body, forbidding women to sing, and forbidding desire. Shot over six years, Singh’s film successfully interweaves a celebration of Iran’s cinema and culture with perceptive portraits of activists such as human rights campaigner Nasrin Sotoudeh, who has continually fought for women’s freedoms and rights. And just as Farrokhzad brought a poetry and lyricism to the one film she made, 1963’s The House Is Black, so Singh’s performance of a traditional Persian song stands as a moment of profound beauty and solidarity. (Sheffield DocFest 2023)

Trailer:

What would you do if your entire village abandoned you for a whole, freezing winter, with no companionship save for the presence of the other wife to your dead husband? Set amidst the high altitude of the Nepalese Himalayas, No Winter Holidays records life for Ratima and Kalima as they work to look after their village during a harsh and unforgiving season. Both in their seventies, they gradually come to accept each other’s presence, aware that surviving in this climate depends on their relying on each other. Stunningly shot, capturing the full magnificence of the mountain landscape while never losing focus on its subjects, Rajan Kathet and Sunir Pandey’s film is a fascinating portrait of rivalry, loneliness, old age and womanhood. (Sheffield DocFest 2023)

Trailer:

In Shan State, a region steeped in a rich cultural heritage that borders China, Laos and Thailand, folk singer Nan Mya Han is renowned for a mesmerising voice that has echoed across the lush and verdant countryside, captivating audiences for decades. Sai Naw Kham’s richly atmospheric feature debut captures the singer in later years, reflecting on the deep sense of loss that pervades her community due to an ongoing civil war; through her metaphorical verses, she expresses the pain and sorrow of a people battered by the ruinous politics of the region. Interspersed with performances by the artist, Song of Souls documents rituals around healing, death and birth that are intrinsic to Shan culture, giving a window into the complex tapestry of beliefs and traditions that shape so many lives. (Sheffield DocFest 2023)

Once a major hub for the Chinese fishing industry, Stone Town is facing seismic change. With its economic bedrock at risk, the small, secluded town is turning towards tourism as a way to support its local population. Jing Guo and Dingding Ke’s film balances intimate portraits of the townsfolk, whose lives are impacted by the coming change, with a wider perspective on the modernisation project driven by Xi Jinping’s government. The filmmakers capture the anxiety, sorrow and confusion of the people, in tandem with a perspective on a burgeoning environmental crisis, the ramifications of political turbulence and injustice at the way rapid modernisation impacts everyday lives. Stone Town is a compelling portrait of a world where feelings of despair and frustration are drowned by late-night drinks and non-stop karaoke singing in dingy bars. (Sheffield DocFest 2023)

As the pandemic hit in 2020, many saw their employment opportunities dramatically diminished. Filmmaker Taku Aoyagi found himself out of work and so, to earn a living, he moved to Tokyo to become an Uber Eats rider – one of the few booming businesses as society closed its doors. Shot mostly on mobile phones and GoPros, Tokyo Uber Blues journeys through a 21st century megalopolis, with Aoyagi guiding us as he goes about his work. At the same time, his film grapples with what it is to be a twentysomething in present-day Japan, issues around the gig economy and the way a city was transformed by a world-changing event. By turns high-spirited, comical and despairing, Tokyo Uber Blues is an essential, intimate portrait of recent times. (Sheffield DocFest 2023)

Trailer:

A woman seeks the release of her husband, who was jailed on charges of subverting state power. A couple seek to expose human rights abuses, while a journalist writes about them. In all three cases, these activists are victims as a result of physical intimidation and the violation of their privacy. Combining hidden camera footage with interviews, Jialing Zhang’s film highlights how these cases represent a wider and worrying increase of state intervention in citizens’ lives through the development of increasingly complex technology. Its aim is to reduce peoples’ rights and freedoms ­– surveillance and propaganda are employed to eliminate individual thought, to misinform and, ultimately, to enslave. Total Trust is a disturbing portrait of one country today that plays out like a dystopian vision of a future world. (Sheffield DocFest 2023)

Kumar is one of India’s leading Hindi news journalists. During his time at NDTV, a leading national news channel, he has witnessed first-hand a changing media landscape. Resources and funds are depleted, colleagues have left for better-paid jobs and ratings continue to dip. Amidst all this, he also has to deal with personal threats, hate emails, the decimation of ethics through competition with other channels, and a rise in nationalism that is radically transforming political, social and cultural life. Shukla presents this story like a thriller, capturing with urgency the threat that these changes pose. As Kumar continues to fight for a fair and balanced news media, While We Watched reflects an unsettling trend sweeping across the world. (Sheffield DocFest 2023)

– Short Films –

In China, beekeeping is an ancient and traditional profession. Every spring, beekeepers migrate huge distances with their bees in search of the best nectar to harvest the highest quality honey. Relying on the changing seasons and fluctuating temperatures, making a living is becoming increasingly difficult in this traditional industry. Flower Chasers follows the journey of young beekeeper Xiaolong and his family as they travel across China in search of flowers and honey, witnessing the precarious living conditions beekeepers face, along with the threat of an ecological crisis. (Sheffield DocFest 2023)

Trailer:

More information: https://sheffdocfest.com/