Film Sex & Docs & Rock ‘n’ Roll June 6, 2011 It’s that exciting time when all those spectacled, trendy London media-types arrive in Sheffield to network, complain about the food, and share their love of documentaries. It’s Sheffield Doc/Fest 8th-12th June.

If you live in Sheffield, you may have noticed the pink and white flags popping up a little earlier than expected; the annual festival has been moved forward to a new, more summery slot.

Our focus has been drawn to Devonshire Green’s day of atmospheric open-air screenings featuring: Grey Gardens (introduced by Albert Maysles!) and Werner Herzog’s latest documentary, Cave of Forgotten Dreams, about what he terms the “proto-cinema” of the 32,000 year old cave artworks found in the French Chauvet caves -all held under a hopefully cloudless skies.

There will also be numerous workshops and “sessions” for the budding filmmaker/fanatic to glimpse their long-lusted-after director.

In the caverns of the Lyceum Theatre you will find Adam Curtis discussing his influences for the recent brilliant BBC documentary ‘All Watched Over by Machines of Loving Grace’, kindly alongside a screening at the Showroom for those not used to the joys of BBC iPlayer.

Those interested in dinosaurs, space, Egypt and frozen ice caps can Meet the Animators in The Chapel for a heart-to-heart on all things 2D, 3D and CGI/VFX.

Also find at the Site Gallery the Cross platform, a free film ‘videotheque’ including Jarvis Cocker’s Musical Map of Sheffield for those native to the City.

There’s so much to choose from I could waffle all day! Here’s a flashy trailer to add to the excitement:

For more information such as festival passes and individual ticket purchases visit the Doc/Fest website.

Isla Badenoch.