Films stills left-right: WHAM!, The Deepest Breath, While We Watched, Evacuation, The Good Fight Club, Right to Fight, Otto Baxter: Not A F***ing Horror Story, A Year in a Field, Smoke Sauna Sisterhood, 20 Days in Mariupol, Beyond Utopia, Is There Anybody Out There?, and Tish.
In June we celebrated our 30th edition of Sheffield DocFest in Sheffield and online. Our 2023 Film Programme boasted 120+ films from 52 countries of production, and included 38 World Premieres, 19 International Premieres, 10 European Premieres, 47 UK Premieres and 8 retrospective films.
Take a look at some of our titles from across the festival that are available to watch online, on TV and in cinemas now, and look ahead to some of the upcoming releases scheduled for the rest of the year. Catch up on your favourites, or tune into the films you missed during the festival!
WHAM! directed by Chris Smith
An intimate celebration of George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley’s enduring friendship, from childhood and through their years together as one of the UK’s biggest bands.
World Premiere in Rhythms Strand.
The Deepest Breath directed by Laura McGann
Breathtaking in more ways than one, Laura McGann’s ravishingly beautiful film chronicles a fascinating partnership at the heart of a dangerous extreme sport.
UK Premiere in Journeys Strand.
While We Watched directed by Vinay Shukla
Hindi-language journalist Ravish Kumar and filmmaker Vinay Shukla examine the rapidly deteriorating state of television reporting in India.
UK Premiere in Rebellions Strand, supported by Bertha Foundation.
Rent on Prime, Curzon Home Cinema, Sky Store.
Evacuation directed by James Newton
With unparalleled access and using previously unseen footage, this searing three-part series charts the 2021 evacuation of Kabul.
Following the World Premiere of the first episode in the series at our festival in June, stream the full series now on Channel 4/All 4.
The Good Fight Club directed by Jack Retallack & Liz Biggs
This series charts the fortunes of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) athletes fighting to make it from their South London gym to Las Vegas and the world championship.
Following the World Premiere of the first episode in the series at our festival in June, watch the full series on Sky Documentaries and NOW streaming service.
Right to Fight directed by Georgina Cammalleri
The story of three pioneering US sportswomen who, in the 1970s, attempted to break into the most macho sport of all: competitive boxing.
World Premiere in Memories Strand.
Otto Baxter: Not A F***ing Horror Story director by Peter Beard, Bruce Fletcher & Otto Baxter
We follow Otto Baxter, a 35-year-old man with Down Syndrome, over six years, as he writes and directs a foul-mouthed, autobiographical comedy-horror-musical set in Victorian London.
World Premiere in People & Community Strand.
A Year in a Field director by Christopher Morris
BAFTA-winning documentarian Christopher Morris reflects upon human existence, its relationship to the environment and the urgent need for compassion and transformation.
World Premiere in International First Feature Competition.
Smoke Sauna Sisterhood directed by Anna Hints
Anna Hints’ Sundance-winning documentary celebrates female solidarity and community through a group of Estonian women who continue an age-old tradition.
UK Premiere in Memories Strand.
20 Days in Mariupol directed by Mstyslav Chernov
Ukrainian filmmaker and journalist Mstyslav Chernov presents an unsparing portrait of Mariupol under siege and the bravery of those struggling to survive in it.
UK Premiere in Rebellions Strand, supported by Bertha Foundation.
Winner of our 2023 Tim Hetherington Award, presented in association with Dogwoof.
Beyond Utopia directed by Madeleine Gavin
An account of the hazardous journey that North Korean dissidents – and those who help them – take to flee one of the world’s most repressive regimes.
UK Premiere in Rebellions Strand, supported by Bertha Foundation.
Is There Anybody Out There? directed by Ella Glendining
In this deeply personal and disarmingly honest documentary, filmmaker Ella Glendining searches for individuals with the same rare disability as herself.
UK Premiere in Journeys Strand.
Tish directed by Paul Sng
A moving portrait of social documentary photographer and trailblazer Tish Murtha, who dedicated her life to documenting the lives of working-class communities in North East England.
World Premiere in International Competition.
Our 2023 Opening Night Film.
