Sheffield DocFest, the UK’s leading documentary festival and Climate Spring, a global organisation working to shift our cultural response to the climate crisis through film, TV and popular culture, are delighted to announce the return of the Climate Spring Pitch at Sheffield DocFest in 2026. Applications open today and close at 1pm on Monday, 11th May 2026.
This year’s pitch competition introduces a new digital-first approach, responding to audiences’ growing appetite for formats that meet them where they discover and engage with content in today’s ever-evolving digital landscape. The pitch champions creatives to explore bold and innovative unscripted storytelling for digital audiences, centering the power of community and offering solution-oriented visions of the future.
Four shortlisted creatives will be invited to pitch their idea at Sheffield DocFest in June 2026 and one winner will receive £10,000 in production funding to create and distribute their project with narrative consultation from leading experts at Climate Spring.
Who should apply?
The programme is aimed at UK-based storytellers experienced in producing mainstream or digital content, from producers, creators, directors to production companies, looking to roadtest ideas, raise their profile or supercharge the development of a project that tackles a climate narrative they feel passionately about.
The brief
Judges are looking for early development, high-impact, short-form documentary formats designed specifically for digital platforms, for example, a visual podcast, interview series, archive documentary, access, comedy show, roadtrip, talent-led format or influencer explainer.
Proposals must consider one of two theme strands:
- Rethinking the Future - stories that show how system change in areas including technology, food, transport, housing, or energy can improve lives
- The Power of Community, looking at ideas that celebrate community and co-operation
Click here for the full brief.
Read and download Climate Spring’s storytelling guide From Apocalypse to Regenerative Futures here.
How to apply
The deadline to apply is 1pm on Monday, 11th May 2026.
If you have any queries, please contact enquires@climate-spring.org
Mimi Poskitt, Sheffield DocFest’s Managing Director, said: “Building on the momentum of last year, our partnership with Climate Spring continues to empower filmmakers to tell bold, inventive and urgent stories. At Sheffield DocFest, we share a deep commitment to platforming work that speaks to the defining issues of our time, and to amplifying voices that challenge, provoke and inspire. We’re excited to see how this collaboration will shape the future of the industry and the stories still to come.”
David Leach, Head of Unscripted at Climate Spring, said: “We’re excited to return to Sheffield DocFest with a digital-first competition, responding to audiences’ growing appetite for content that meets them where they discover and engage with content today. At Climate Spring, we’re working to shift our cultural response to the climate crisis through film, TV and popular culture. With this year's pitch, we encourage creatives to explore innovative and timely unscripted ideas that entertain broad digital audiences, centre the power of community, and offer visions of a future where system change is possible. We’re excited to see how creatives will rise to the challenge.”
Read and download Climate Spring’s storytelling guide From Apocalypse to Regenerative Futures here.
