[Commlist] PhD Bursary at Sheffield Hallam University

*A Critical Cultural History of Sheffield Doc/Fest, 1989-2019*

**

Applications are invited for a *PhD scholarship* in the area of *Film 
Festival Studies*, commencing 1^st October 2021.

The PhD will examine the cultural history of Sheffield Doc/Fest 
<https://sheffdocfest.com/>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. It will require ascertaining 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 
<https://www.shu.ac.uk/research/specialisms/culture-creativity-research-institute/research-centres/centre-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 
<https://www.shu.ac.uk/international/fees-scholarships-and-discounts/tuition-fees>

*How to apply *

We strongly recommend that you contact Dr James Fenwick 
((j.fenwick /at/ shu.ac.uk) <mailto:(j.fenwick /at/ shu.ac.uk)>) and Dr Rinella Cere 
((r.cere /at/ shu.ac.uk) <mailto:(r.cere /at/ shu.ac.uk)>) to discuss your research 
proposal before submitting an application. You will need to submit a 
personal statement detailing:

-Your previous 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 an academic background in film, media, or 
cultural studies, with a focus on documentary. Desirably you will have 
archival experience and / or interviewing experience. 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 
<https://www.shu.ac.uk/research/degrees/apply>

Submit your application to (culture-creativity-admissions /at/ shu.ac.uk) 
<mailto:(culture-creativity-admissions /at/ shu.ac.uk)>. The closing date for 
applications is 23.30, 14^th June 2021.

**

*Selection process*

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

**

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