News
Sheffield DocFest 2023 poster

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.
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Industry, News
Published on May 17
Sheffield DocFest 30th edition poster

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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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News, Industry
Published on March 10
Composite image of eight headshots.

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.
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News
Published on March 1
Composite image of 20 headshots.

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.
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News, Film
Published on February 20
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.
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Industry, News
Published on January 12
Composite of five images, including various shots of people interviewing filmmakers on stage and standing for photos with filmmakers.

Join the Sheffield DocFest Youth Jury!

Applications for our Youth Jury programme are open. Now in its 16th year, the programme offers five young film enthusiasts the opportunity to meet film industry experts, select films for the Festival, and choose the winner of the Youth Jury Award announced at the Sheffield DocFest Awards Ceremony!
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News, Film
Published on November 22
Annabel Grundy wearing a black jumper and trousers. Stood outside, surrounded by fallen autumn leaves. She's pictured against painted with a graffiti style mural - white text against a blue background reads: You and me both mate.

Announcing our new Managing Director: Annabel Grundy

Announcing our new Managing Director, Annabel Grundy who will join the Festival in December 2022 in a new joint leadership position, working collaboratively alongside Acting Creative Director, Raul Niño Zambrano.
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News
Published on November 2
2022 Festival Report

2022 Festival Report & Highlights

Our 2022 Festival Report is here! Take a closer look at Sheffield DocFest 2022, and revisit some of our best moments.
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News, Film, Arts, Industry, Community
Published on September 8
Festival of the Mind

Festival of the Mind

Festival of the Mind takes place across Sheffield from 15 – 25 September. We're pleased to present a selection of three films from our 2022 Film Programme, screening for free at the Spiegeltent on Thursday 22 September.
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News, Film, Community
Published on September 1
Raul Niño Zambrano, Alex Cooke and Clare Stewart

Announcing Raul Niño Zambrano as Acting Creative Director for 2023

Announcing Raul Niño Zambrano as Acting Creative Director for 2023; Sheffield DocFest moves to new leadership model and commences open search for Managing Director.
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News
Published on August 17
Sylvia Bednarz

Sylvia Bednarz joins The Grierson Trust as Managing Director

The Board and Team at Sheffield DocFest congratulates Sylvia Bednarz, our Partnerships & Operations Director, on her new appointment as Managing Director of The Grierson Trust.
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News
Published on July 28
audience

2023 dates announced and Lightning Passes on sale

Following this year’s hugely successful festival, we are delighted to announce the dates for Sheffield DocFest 2023 with Lightning Passes now on sale.
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News
Published on July 27
Silhouette of a person wearing a VR headset, stood in front of a projection of digitally rendered trees and leaves.

Alternate Realities Exhibition Continues...

Our Alternate Realities main exhibition continues until 24 July at Site Gallery, Sheffield. Experience a range of works that are currently leading the field of experimental documentary making. Free and open to all.
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News, Arts
Published on June 30
Awards

2022 Awards Winners Announced

We are delighted to announce this year’s winners presented during the awards ceremony at Sheffield City Hall’s Memorial Hall this evening, the Festival’s closing night.
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News
Published on June 28
DocFest 2022

Roadmaps - Finding your way at #SheffDocFest2022

Whether you're an emerging filmmaker or interested in finance and funding, utilise these useful roadmaps to plan the key events for you to attend at Sheffield DocFest 2022.
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News
Published on June 24
jurors

2022 Jury Members Announced

We are delighted to announce the Juries for this years’ International Competition, International First Feature Competition, International Short Film Competition, the Tim Hetherington Award and the Alternate Realities Award.
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News
Published on June 21
docfest

Youth Jury Select Their Highlights

With the festival opening this week, we spoke to a few members of this year's Youth Jury to talk about their experiences of DocFest so far, and ask them what they're looking forward to.
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News
Published on June 19

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