It was interesting to note last night that when CNN and The Guardian and several other international news websites were difficult to get onto because of the vast numbers logging in, social networking sites such as Facebook were also jammed. People were communicating, creating personalised news content together and discussing the event.

This morning I understood the experiences of several friends who stayed up watching, as I read back over their news feeds. Apart from the collective woops and congrats, Nitasha ate election cake and a series of snacks, Nat was drunk before the results started, and Dave was detailed with voting figures as always (he runs a political blog). I like to understand things through people I know, the social with the political, being shared on the Internet. Which is obviously very potent with this, the first YouTube coated election. There were daily reports, propaganda and campaigning messages released in viral videos. How strange to think back in 2004 YouTube didn’t yet exist. What will the world and our way of documenting and sharing it through media be like in 2012?

It’s also, of course, the start of Sheffield Doc/Fest, (which newsfeed: Heather Croall thinks makes it the perfect day). This year the festival is at full capacity, sold out with more delegates than ever before. I am mentoring some kids this afternoon at Doc Day, and then off to watch the opening night film Thriller in Manila. I’m going to corner Charlie, who I am so very happy to see, to find out some tips for the best films to see. I’ll let you know what I hear from him and others in the ‘know’.

I got the train back from Britdoc with the Producer, after his winning Best British feature, to add to his double win at Sundance (Documentary Grand Jury and Audience Award), and learnt the extent of the energy spent to make the film so perfect. For example, the amazingly fortuitous archive footage of the training wire was shot by a prolific cinematographer, but never developed. After discovering it in Phillipe’s dusty cellar, obtaining the rights to use it involved lawyers and religion and multiply witnesses. This is a film born out of the dedication of everyone involved, and must be seen.

It’s made by Common Craft, an awesome company who explain technological terms clearly and completely, by making short factual films. So, it seems entirely fitting to show some of their work here. Who else do you think is making really great factual how to guides?