News

2025 Youth Jury Open for Applications

Our 2025 Youth Jury Programme is open for applications! If you are aged 18-23, based in the UK, and have a passion for documentary and the media industry, this is the programme for you. Apply by 10 January 2025, 12:00 GMT to take part.

News, Film, Community

Published on November 4

Tish Murtha turning round to look at the camera. Image is in black and white

‘The outsider': a film about the forgotten photographer Tish Murtha opens Sheffield DocFest 2023

Murtha died suddenly in 2013, having never received recognition for her photography. But today, she is recognised as one of the most significant artists of her generation. In an article written by Tom Seymour and originally published on The Art Newspaper, Paul Sng, photographer David Hurn, and Simon Bainbridge, the head of content for Magnum Photo Agency shed light on how Murtha’s career began. Read on to learn more.

Film, News

Published on June 8

A black and white archival image of two women handling analogue filming equipment.

Sheffield Film Co-op: The radical feminist collective that blazed a trail in 1970s Sheffield

In an interview with Sheffield Film Co-op members Jenny Woodley and Chrissie Stansfield originally published in the Sheffield Tribune, one of our 2023 Festival Programme Advisors Rachel Pronger digs deep into the collective’s history. Read on to learn more.

Published on June 2

Headshots of jury members for Sheffield DocFest 2023 competitions.

Supporting New Talent During the 30th Edition of Sheffield DocFest

We are excited to announce the filmmakers selected to participate in the Filmmaker Challenge; the four pitches - Channel 4 First Cut Pitch, BBC Storyville Development Pitch, The Whickers Pitch and The Podcast Pitch; along with our 2023 jury members. Join us at our 30th edition of the festival to ‘Spark Curiosity’ with documentary - and each other - in Sheffield, 14-19 June 2023.

Film, Industry, News, Press

Published on May 31

Announcing our full Industry programme for Sheffield DocFest 2023

We are pleased to reveal our full Industry Programme for the 30th edition of Sheffield DocFest which completes our full festival line up. This year we are ‘Sparking Curiosity’ with documentary - and each other - in Sheffield, 14-19 June 2023.

Industry, News

Published on May 17

Meet our 2023 Alternate Realities Talents

Meet the 8 artists, practitioners, technologists and producers taking part in this year's edition of the Alternate Realities Talent Market, which will take place on Saturday 17 June.

Published on May 16

Amplify: Production Talent 2023 Cohort

We are thrilled to announce the cohort for this year’s edition of Amplify: Production Talent, supported by BBC and Channel 4.

Published on May 16

Announcing our full Public Programme for Sheffield DocFest 2023

We are proud to reveal our full Film programme, Alternate Realities exhibitions, and public Talks for the 30th edition of Sheffield DocFest where we are ‘Sparking Curiosity’ with documentary - and each other - in Sheffield, 14-19 June 2023.

News

Published on May 10

Close up of Tish Murtha, a British social documentary photographer

Announcing 2023 Opening Night Film, Guest of Honour, and one of our headline talks

We are thrilled to announce the Opening Night Film, our Guest of Honour, and one of headline talks ahead of our full Programme Launch on Wednesday 10 May.

News, Film

Published on April 26

A full room of people sat down, facing a panel of four people sat on a stage. To the left of them is a screen showing the faces of two people, both have short curly hair.

BBC Storyville Early Stage Development Pitch

BBC Storyville is delighted to announce a unique opportunity to pitch to be part of a new development programme at Sheffield DocFest. Storyville is passionate about feature documentaries, telling timely stories from across the world.

Published on April 26

Groups of people sat at tables, in discussion, at a previous Sheffield DocFest MeetMarket in Cutler's Hall

2023 MeetMarket Projects

Explore the 48 international documentary projects selected to pitch at the 18th edition of our flagship pitching forum, the MeetMarket. The event will take place on Thursday 15 and Friday 16 of June 2023.

Industry, News

Published on April 25

A group of people sat down at a Sheffield DocFest event

Banijay UK Acceleration Bursary for Up-and-Coming Talent

Applications are now closed for the Banijay UK's Acceleration Bursary for Up-and-Coming Talent, which aims to support 35 emerging creatives across the UK television industry to attend the 30th edition of Sheffield DocFest.

News

Published on April 19

A collage of the 15 film producers taking part in our Future Producer School 2023

Introducing our 2023 Future Producer School cohort

We're excited for you to meet the 15 creatives who will be taking part in our Future Producer School this year which will be running from April - June.

News

Published on April 17

A collage of people engaged in activities such as group discussions and watching a film

Join our Local Advisory Group!

Are you interested in shaping the future of the festival and based in South Yorkshire? Applications are now open to be part of our Local Advisory Group. Apply by Tuesday 25 April 17:00 BST.

Community

Published on April 4

Three headshots. On the left, is an image of a white woman with blonde hair, wearing a pink jumper. Centre, is an image of a white woman with blonde/brown hair, wearing a blue top. On the right, is an image of a white woman with ginger hair wearing an orangey brown jumper.

Welcoming Senior Team Members & Alternate Realities Advisory Committee

Welcoming Beccy Ashdown as Talks & Sessions Senior Producer; Lisa Brook as Festival Marketing & Communications Lead; Verity Nalley as Alternate Realities Consultant; and meet our Alternate Realities Advisory Committee, who will be reviewing and selecting projects for our 2023 Alternate Realities Exhibition.

News, Arts, Industry

Published on March 16

Three headshots. On the left, is an image of a white man with grey hair and facial hair. In the centre, is a picture of a white woman with grey shoulder length hair. On the right, is an image of a mixed-race woman with dark hair tied up above her head.

Announcing our new trustees

Following an open call for applications, we are delighted to welcome three newly appointed members to our Board of Trustees: Stephen Bowen, Lucy McDowell and Zoe Mumba. They will bring a wide-range of expertise to the organisation, across film, funding and development, human rights and law, public relations and technology.

News

Published on March 16

Composite image of volunteers wearing black t-shirts

Volunteer applications open

Interested in volunteering? Want to see how an international film and arts festival works? Join our DocCrew Volunteer Programme. With roles available across all areas of the festival, there's something for everyone. Find out more and get involved.

News, Arts, Film, Industry, Community

Published on March 16

A woman with long, blonde hair is stood at a podium in front of a microphone. Beside her five people are sat on chairs, smiling.

The Channel 4 First Cut Pitch is back!

Want to get your new documentary in front of Channel 4? Five new directors will have the chance to pitch their 60' film at the First Cut Pitch at our festival this June and one winner will walk away with a commission. Apply by Sunday 2 April 2023.

News, Industry

Published on March 10

Composite image of 5 headshots on a navy blue background, with white text that reads: Sheffield DocFest Youth Jury.

Meet our 2023 Youth Jury

We are thrilled to introduce our 2023 Youth Jurors, meet this year's cohort: Alexandra Judkins, Amanda Daud, Annabel Bai Jackson, Jenny Luisa Barruol and Tymofii Donets. The Youth Jurors will be curating a selection of films for the festival, and will select the winner of our Youth Jury Award!

Published on March 2

Meet our 2023 Future Film Programmers

In collaboration with Sheffield Hallam University, we are delighted to introduce this year's cohort of Future Film Programmers who have curated a selection of impactful documentaries centred on a theme of social change. Join us for a free screening of two works from the selection on Wednesday 8 March at Showroom Cinema, Sheffield.

News

Published on March 1

Introducing our Film Programme Team, Programme Consultants & Advisers

We're thrilled to introduce our Film Programme Team, and team of Programme Consultants and Advisers, who will who will be selecting films for this year’s edition, set to take place 14-19 June 2023.

News, Film

Published on February 20

Composite image of 8 film stills, stacked on top of each other.

8 MeetMarket Alumni Films to Watch Online

Each year, 40-50 projects are selected to take part in our MeetMarket; many have returned to screen in our Film Programme; have been selected to screen in international festivals across the world; and have been nominated for, and gone on to win prestigious awards! Take a look at some of the projects that have come through our MeetMarket over the years.

Published on February 17

Composite of two images. To the left: a group of people are watching a talk. To the right: a man is pictured standing in front of a camera. Over the top of the image, text reads: Future Producer School.

Future Producer School

**Applications now closed**
Future Producer School, created by Sheffield DocFest and Bungalow Town Productions, has returned! Future Producer School aims to develop industry partnerships and provide industry knowledge and experience to up-and-coming producers that have the ambition to become international feature documentary producers.

Industry, News

Published on January 12

Composite of three headshots. Left is Annabel Grundy, a white woman with reddish hair swept to the side of her face. Centre is Raul a man with dark curly hair and facial hair. Right is Paul, a white man with greying facial hair, he's wearing a hat.

Meet our Leadership Team

As we move forward into the 30th Edition of Sheffield DocFest, meet our renewed leadership team: Annabel Grundy - Managing Director; Raul Niño Zambrano - Acting Creative Director; and Paul Steele - Director of Partnerships and Community.

Published on January 9

Pictured against a background of green foliage. Paul Steele standing to the right of the image, wearing a flat cap and winter coat.

Announcing our new Director of Partnerships and Community: Paul Steele

We are delighted to welcome Paul Steele to the recently expanded role of Director of Partnerships and Community. Paul joins Sheffield DocFest in February after a successful decade as the Managing Director of Junction Arts, an ambitious charity and social change organisation in Chesterfield, Derbyshire.

Published on December 8