Sheffield Hallam University

Applications are invited for a PhD scholarship in the area of Film Festival Studies, commencing 1st October 2021. Full details here: https://www.findaphd.com/phds/project/a-critical-cultural-history-of-sheffield-doc-fest-1986-2019/?p132643

The PhD will examine the cultural history of Sheffield Doc/Fest from its origins in the early 1990s through its evolution and growth in the early 2000s, through to its recent obtainment of charity status. Doc/Fest is a major annual international media event, which is central to the UK’s creative industries, to the international documentary community, and to the economy and cultural life of Sheffield and the wider Yorkshire region. The aim of the project will be to research the political economy of the festival to understand how it has operated as a transitional platform between the local, regional, and (inter)national.

You will investigate the relationship between Doc/Fest, the city, and the documentary community. The project will ascertain what the festival meant to stakeholders in the early 1990s and how this evolved over the subsequent decades. Sheffield and Doc/Fest are deeply interconnected. Doc/Fest was marketed as being ‘internationally’ focused, but Sheffield has always been at its centre. The festival has operated from the start as a brand promoter for the city, influencing the perception of stakeholders beyond Sheffield (delegates, filmmakers, policy makers). Major national broadcasters have sponsored the festival and, in return, expected the programming to reflect their own institutional and commercial priorities, thus shaping the cultural evolution of Doc/Fest. These issues are currently overlooked in existing histories and studies of Sheffield’s cultural industries and creative economy.

The student will make use of newly deposited archival papers, analysing and cataloguing the documents. They will also interview previous board members, company executives, festival directors, administrators, filmmakers, and festival delegates. In addition, the student will co-organise a critical history public engagement event in collaboration with Doc/Fest reflecting on the festival’s cultural evolution, key films and speakers from its past, and reflections on its future.

The PhD candidate will be supported by two external advisors at Doc/Fest: Cíntia Gill, the current festival director, and Melanie Iredale, the deputy director.

You will be joining a vibrant PhD programme in the Centre for Culture, Media & Society (CCMS). CCMS is an exciting interdisciplinary research environment with a particular concern to recognise culture as a key interlocutor for social and political change and pursues work capable of delivering critical insight and real-world impact.

You will have opportunities to learn at a range of seminars, workshops and conferences. We offer training on specific research methods via modules on the M. Res in Social Science and access to specialist media and film.

Funding

Scholarships are available to Home and International students for 3 years of full-time or 5 years of part-time funding to include:

• University tuition fees at Home levels. If you are required to pay tuition fees at the International rate you will need to fund the difference between Home and International fees.
• An annual maintenance stipend at UKRI national minimum doctoral stipend rates: £15,609 per annum for 2021/22 full-time study; £7,805 per annum for part-time study.
• £500 per annum project costs

For more information visit: Tuition fees for EU, other EEA and Swiss nationals

How to apply

We strongly recommend that you contact the project supervisors Dr Fenwick and Dr Cere before submitting an application. You will need to submit a personal statement of up to 1000 words detailing:

• Your skills and experience relevant to this project.
• Why you want to undertake this specific project.
• A brief discussion of the challenges you foresee in conducting this research.

Applicants will ideally have a master’s degree and a background in film, media, or cultural studies, with a focus on documentary, or equivalent experience. Desirably, you will be familiar with archival methods and interviews. We encourage applicants from underrepresented backgrounds, communities, and identities to apply.

Where English is not your first language you will need to submit evidence of English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS 7.5 (or equivalent).

Sheffield Hallam welcomes applications from all candidates irrespective of age, pregnancy and maternity, disability, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religion or belief, or marital or civil partnership status.

For more information about how to apply and an application form please visit https://www.shu.ac.uk/research/degrees/apply

Submit your application to culture-creativity-admissions@shu.ac.uk. The closing date for applications is 23:30, 14th June 2021.

Selection process

Interviews will take place week beginning 12th July by videoconference.