This session from Doc/Fest 2014 looks at the process of translating academic research into films. Revealing trends and facts of the social world can (and should) be visually and emotionally engaging if the relationships between the facts, context and connections are explored meaningfully. Using the example of a documentary on the legacy of Thatcherite social policy on crime, the panel consider how academics (from Sheffield and Southampton Universities), funders (Economic and Social Research Council) and filmmakers can work together to create thought-provoking documentaries that reach a wide audience.

Session filmed by Sheffield Hallam University students and edited by Dave Holloway.