I've come to the end of a couple of market weeks, at the UK's Sheffield Doc/Fest and France's Sunnyside of the Doc. Both full of networking opportunities, pitching, market knowledge, and panel discussions. Plus socialising over beer, wine and tea - an essential part of the business! I leave both events with a long list of to-dos, as it's all about the follow-up - you start so many conversations at a market, but what matters is how you continue them. My stack of business cards from previous markets is testimony of many leads un-followed up - now I keep an electronic record of people met and conversations started, and make sure in the days following the market to send a quick email or message. Turning a thought into an idea, then writing it up into a project and finding partners to collaborate with is a process with plenty of pitfalls, but getting the ideas out there and just putting one foot in front of the other is the only way I know of doing it. Once you have an idea in its simplest

Three weeks to go to the opening night - I'm there from Wednesday evening to Saturday afternoon. Here's what I'm looking forward to: Watching films! (obviously) Combative/unafraid/provocative discussions and debates The sense of history from the characterul venues - the Crucible, Cutlers Hall, Channing Hall, all venues that express the industrial past of Sheffield and its 'maker' present Finding like-minded people to collaborate with (ideas are best developed together, aren't they?) Being somewhere international and inclusive. Filmmakers from over 70 countries attend to showcase their work, pitch ideas, and build partnerships. Seeing some of the live performances, talks, and art experiences that connect documentary to theatre, music, and digital art. Finding support in the AI storm Moderating the panel at the Documentary Film Council meeting on Saturday morning How about you? What am I missing? And if you're there, I'd be very happy to meet.

Walking around the beautiful galleries of Somerset House last weekend demonstrated the unique power of photography when artfully printed and exhibited - the experience often took my breath away. The setting and people watching might have had something to do with it - Somerset House really is the most special place. I went on three separate days to the fair (shout out to my sister Sheila who got me a VIP pass), and managed to cover most of the fair in that time. I have photography in my blood - it was my late father's profession and it's still how I feel most creative.(Do also check out Habie Schwarz' photos on Instagram from our Sunday visit there together). So it was three days to reflect on the kind of images of the world that we can now capture, and how we use them in film. Pictures that are worth a thousand words (the length of this blog post). Images that - if used in a documentary might be fleeting, or in some way a background to 'the story' or something that a protagonist was s

Visiting the Media Production and Technology Show at Olympia in London for two full days of panels, equipment demos, and conversations.