2019
Sheffield International Documentary Festival
入選
入選
From international politics and music to film industry professionals and cultural icons—this curated selection of biographical documentaries offers intimate, eye-level encounters with influential figures across diverse fields. Through the lens, we gain rare insights into their lesser-known sides, and follow them as they navigate cultural clashes, personal revelations, and shifting global contexts. Each film invites you to explore contemporary issues through the lived experiences of extraordinary individuals shaped by history.
“When life hits a low, just say: I’m heading out.” Bhutan, Istanbul, Hokkaido, Siberia...Follow the protagonists in these films as they set off—whether in search of something, or simply trying to escape. Let their journeys lead you into unfamiliar lands and unexpected moments. As the new year begins, take a step away from the noise. Give yourself the gift of a healing journey—a chance to reset, rediscover, and roam free.
Why is it called "Touching the Essence of Humanity"? The phrase is actually drawn from a quote by Steve Jobs in The Lost Interview: “The key is to get in touch with the essence of what it means to be human—and then bring that into the work you do. I believe the reason the Macintosh succeeded is that the people who created it were musicians, poets, artists, zoologists, and historians—who also happened to be the best computer scientists in the world. Had they not entered computer science, they would have excelled in their own fields. They brought a sense of humanity into the machine. That humanistic attitude allowed us to draw the best from other disciplines. You can’t do that if you’re narrow.” This film program centers on diversity—selecting classics across five different forms of cinema. Through this range, we aim to explore the roots of what makes a work “classic.” Diversity protects us from narrowness. The essence preserved in each field offers us a broader, more open-hearted way to expand the boundaries of life.
Why do we write? When words erupt from the mind and pour into the heart, images and monologues take the place of daily tedium—of the mundane, the irritating, the unbearable. For some writers, however, writing is more than expression; it is salvation. It is an unshakable calling. In this themed selection on literature, Giloo presents documentaries that delve into the lives and inner worlds of writers—poets, novelists, critics—who wield pens (or typewriters) like swords, fearlessly confronting the truths of the world. The passage of time leaves behind not just pages, but marks of introspection—quiet yet undeniable badges of their creative journey.
Since 2020, the world has become a little different. Every morning, I find myself immersed in a mountain of emails—feeling the pulse of the world, exchanging encouragement with filmmakers and distributors across continents. This has become part of my daily ritual. I’ve always believed: the small screen is not a temporary shelter for homeless films. In fact, within the modest window of online streaming, perhaps films can reveal their essence more flexibly, and even forge deeper connections with audiences. Just like in Nomad: In the Footsteps of Bruce Chatwin, where the childhood image of a beautiful thunder lizard skin hidden in a cupboard would later become a vital, recurring symbol in a writer’s life—stories can begin anywhere, with anything. This time, I’ve selected five stories: A traveling backpack, a mountain range, a photo of an armed youth, a utopian farm, and an open-plan apartment—each sparking imagination and opening new narrative journeys. May these films nourish your life with inspiration and wonder. And as for tomorrow, I will return—quietly—to my ordinary routine of sending and receiving letters once again.
Over the past century, modern poetry has redefined the meaning of "poetic" time and again. Similarly, poetic cinema—originally pioneered by directors like Andrei Tarkovsky—has gone through countless divergences, clashes, and disruptions. Today, to label a film simply as “poetic” can feel almost reductive. Cinema’s engagement with poetry has long since moved beyond imitation; it has entered a stage where it redefines poetry itself—pointing to unexpected forms and aesthetics, even suggesting new directions for literature to break through its own limits. The five films I’ve selected reflect these expanded poetic sensibilities: Iron Moon — a raw yet tender documentary on labor rights and worker-poets in China The Cordillera of Dreams — a reflection on Chile’s shadowed history Manfei — an off-centered biographical portrait of a pioneering dancer The Man with the Camera — an experimental film on novelist Liu Na’ou Nomad: In the Footsteps of Bruce Chatwin — a return to the spirit of romanticism through Werner Herzog’s lens. These works may offer us a way to reexamine the world—not only as filmmakers or viewers, but with the vision of poets.
While watching a film, you’ve probably thought: If only I could be there too. Whether it’s the long journeys the characters take or the breathtaking scenery that stuns you into silence. John Berger once asked: “Did you come by photograph or by train? Every photograph is a means of transportation.” So take these documentaries as letters from afar— Let them lead you into unimagined journeys, Into lands you’ve never set foot in.
While watching a film, you’ve surely thought—if only I were there. Whether it’s the breathtaking landscapes or the long, winding paths walked by the characters, something pulls you in. John Berger once asked, “Did you come by photograph or by train? Every photograph is a means of transportation.” Let these documentaries be letters from afar— delicate invitations to places you’ve never imagined, and journeys you’ve never taken.
Through the power of storytelling, directors shape films— and in return, those films leave indelible marks on their creative souls. Giloo invites you to step inside and outside the frame, visiting the lives of master filmmakers both behind and beyond the camera. See Hou Hsiao-hsien’s quiet charm when he sets down the director’s baton, hear David Lynch reflect on the hidden corners of his past, and witness Agnès Varda’s final farewell—infused with childlike wonder and grace. These films reveal the true faces of iconic auteurs— their artistic journeys, their obsessions, their passions, and yes, a touch of beautiful madness.