News

A group of people stand in front of a purple wall within an alternate realities exhibition.

Storytelling in Gaming: Challenge Lab - Participant Call Out

Alternate Realities is Sheffield DocFest’s immersive XR strand. In 2026 the programme is centered around the documentary and storytelling possibilities of gaming multi-worlds, which act as meeting spaces for many different communities.

In order to support early career, independent creatives or those with ideas in very early stages, the programme will host a three-day Storytelling in Gaming: Challenge Lab, in strategic partnership with Sheffield Hallam University and supported by the British Council. Five creative teams selected from a global public call out, will develop prototypes for new work in a structured lab residency.

Industry, News, Arts

Published on April 17

To the right of the image, a woman wearing a red top stands at a lectern in front of a pull up banner which says 'BBC Storyville'

BBC Storyville Development Pitch 2024

BBC Storyville is delighted to announce an opportunity to pitch to be part of its 2024 DocFest Development Programme. Storyville is passionate about feature documentaries, telling timely stories from across the world.

Industry, News, Film

Published on March 18

Back of a mans head in the foreground, facing two people across a table.

Applications open for Amplify: Production Talent

Applications are open for Amplify: Production Talent, an initiative aimed at entry-level production professionals who are looking to elevate their careers. Apply by Thursday 9 April 2024, 12 noon BST.

News, Industry

Published on March 14

Person wearing a blue top and glasses stands talking at a lectern.

The Channel 4 First Cut Pitch is back for 2024!

Want to get your new documentary in front of Channel 4? Five new directors will have the chance to pitch their 60 minute film at the First Cut Pitch at our festival this June. One winner will walk away with a commission. Apply by Sunday 14th April 2024.

News, Industry

Published on March 12

Our five Youth Jurors stand in a line smiling at the camera with a speaker stood in the middle of the line.

Meet our 2024 Youth Jury

We are delighted to announce our 2024 Youth Jurors for this year's edition, taking place across Sheffield, 12-17 June 2024.

News, Film, Industry, Community

Published on February 16

A collage of the 2024 Industry team for Sheffield DocFest: Top Left: Lisa Marie Russo, centre: Patrizia Mancini, top right: Vanessa Lobón Garcia, bottom left: Sophie Duncan, bottom right: Lieven Heeremans

Introducing our 2024 Industry team

We are thrilled to announce our 2024 Industry Team who will be shaping our Marketplace and programme of talks and sessions for Sheffield DocFest 2024, taking place 12 - 17 June.

News, Industry

Published on January 30

Two Doc Crew members fitting people with virtual reality headsets at the Sheffield DocFest 2023

2024 Virtual Reality Programme Entries Open

Sheffield DocFest will present a Virtual Reality Programme as part of its 31st edition, which will take place from 12 - 17 June 2024. Entries are now open and will close on Friday 1 March, 12 noon GMT.

News

Published on January 19

A collage of the 5 film programme consultants and the 15 film programme advisers for Sheffield DocFest 2024

Introducing our 2024 Film Programme Team, Programme Consultants & Advisers

We're thrilled to introduce our 2024 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 12-17 June.

News, Film

Published on January 11

A collage of nine films that featured in the 30th Edition of Sheffield DocFest

DocFest Programmer Picks of 2023

The Sheffield DocFest Film Programme Advisers share the non-fiction films that made it onto their list of the Top Five Films of 2023! Are any of these films on your list?

Film, News

Published on December 15

2023 Festival Report

Our 2023 Festival Report is here! In the report, we take a look back at our 30th anniversary edition and reflect on some of the achievements of the festival. Read the full report here.

News, Film, Arts, Industry, Community

Published on November 2

Festival Films & Where to Watch Them

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!

News, Film

Published on September 27

A hall filled with round tables, and people taking meetings around them. To the right of the image, slighty blurred and out of focus is a sign which reads 'MeetMarket'

Open Call for MeetMarket Preselectors

**Applications are now closed**We are seeking expressions of interest from those living and working in the UK with a minimum three years experience in areas such as film and TV production, film markets/forums, film financing, film fund, film sales, film or TV commissioning to preselect projects submitted for our 2024 MeetMarket.

News, Industry

Published on August 31

Your Fat Friend wins Audience Award at the 2023 Sheffield DocFest

We are so thrilled to announce the 2023 Audience Award is presented to Your Fat Friend directed and produced by Jeanie Finlay (USA, 2023)!

Film, News

Published on June 19

Sheffield DocFest 2023 Jury Awards poster

Announcing 2023 Sheffield DocFest Award Winners and an Increase On Delegate Attendance Figures

As our 30th Edition comes to a close, we're thrilled to announce this year’s winners presented during the Awards Ceremony, supported by Adobe, at Sheffield’s Crucible Playhouse on Sunday 18 June 2023.

Film, Industry, News, Press

Published on June 18

A black and white photo of two men looking at each other

Nobel Prize Winning ‘Novaya Gazeta’ Editor Dmitry Muratov to Attend the Sheffield DocFest World Premiere of 'The Price Of Truth'

We are pleased to announce that Dmitry Muratov will attend the Sheffield DocFest 2023 screening of The Price of Truth, which is followed by an in-person conversation with director Patrick Forbes. The event takes place at Sheffield Crucible Theatre and is supported by Channel 4.

Film, News

Published on June 15

Two people dancing outside at a silent disco event at a past edition of Sheffield DocFest

Your Favourite Memories of Sheffield DocFest

Over the past 30 editions of Sheffield DocFest, we have had the great joy of creating a space for documentary makers and lovers to come together and celebrate the work being done by the industry. Here are some good, heartfelt, and funny times members of the DocFest team, both past and present, have had since we began way back in 1994. We’d love to hear yours!

Community, News

Published on June 13

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

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

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

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

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