'The Archivist' Premiers at Sheffield Doc Fest in June

We are delighted to see that 'The Archivist', a documentary by Rob Curry and Tim Plester about Doc Rowe will have its world premiere at the forthcoming Sheffield Doc Fest. (Trailer).

Doc is a long-time member of the Folklore Society Council, a tireless recorder of contemporary traditions and who our non-print media award is now named after.

From the Doc Fest website:

David "Doc" Rowe has spent decades documenting Britain's vibrant folk traditions. Now, with time running short, he faces a race to preserve his legacy.

Rowe has devoted his life to documenting customs, songs and celebrations that few others thought worthy of attention, building an extraordinary archive along the way. As personal challenges mount and the collection's future grows uncertain, the urgency of his mission sharpens. With remarkable access, we get close to Rowe as he pushes forward, idiosyncratic and unflappable, navigating the fragile line between preserving memory and letting go. The Archivist is a story about one person's determination to celebrate the living traditions that connect us to where we come from and who we are, whatever the cost.

There are two screenings of the film scheduled at the Doc Fest on the 13th and 14th June.  For more details, see the Doc Fest website.  

Published 19th May 2026