Brent Woods is stepping down as director of the SheffieldInternational Documentary Festival (Oct 10-16) after four years in the role andten years in total at the festival.

Woodswill be leaving in January 2006 and the Sheffield International Documentary FestivalBoard will begin recruiting a new Director in due course.

Woods commented, "I feel the time has come to take a changein direction and concentrate on other projects. I've thoroughly enjoyed my tenyears at the Festival and am proud of what we have achieved and the high regardin which it's held internationally"

Sheffield International Documentary Festival ChairmanSteve Hewlett said: "We owe hima tremendous debt of gratitude and wish him well with his future endeavours."

Woods will now be focusing on further developing hiscreative consultancy business and will make an announcement about his specificplans in the near future.