News

We are delighted to announce the Selection Committee for the second edition of our Queer Realities Director’s Lab, supported by the BFI National Lottery Creative Challenge Fund, awarding National Lottery Good Cause funding.

We are incredibly proud to reveal our full Public Programme for the 33rd edition of Sheffield DocFest, 'Realities In Motion'.

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.

Sheffield DocFest has announced the initial line up for this year’s festival. The 2026 edition of Sheffield DocFest, ‘Realities in Motion’, will take over Sheffield from 10 - 15 June, featuring this year’s Festival Guest of Honour Maxine Peake, Miriam Margolyes, Chris Packham, Andrea Arnold, alongside a special event dedicated to one of the world’s most famous living documentary makers, Sir David Attenborough.

In partnership with Sheffield Libraries, we're inviting young artists across Sheffield to create a birthday card to celebrate Sir David Attenborough's 100th birthday!

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.

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.

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.

Our 2022 Festival Report is here! Take a closer look at Sheffield DocFest 2022, and revisit some of our best moments.

The Alternate Realities Commission artwork and new film - Feminist Economics Football: A Cooperative Game for Sheffield - has been installed in Site Gallery, available to view until 24 July 2022 as part of the Site Gallery extended run.

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.

Discover the films, artworks events presented as part of the Film Programme, Alternate Realities exhibitions and Talks & Sessions. Plus, browse the full festival schedule and find out vital information about this year's Industry Programme including Marketplace and Talent.

We're thrilled to announce our full Film Programme, Alternate Realities, Industry Programme and Talks & Sessions. Explore the programme now, and ‘ReConnect’ with documentary - and each other - in Sheffield, 23-28 June.

We're proud to announce the 2022 cohort of Alternate Realities Talent Artists. Meet the 9 artists/teams that we believe represent huge potential for development and artistic impact within the ‘Alternate Realities’ space.

We’re women* and non-binary football players to take part in a 3-sided co-operative football match organised by Feminist Exchange Network at Sheffield DocFest 2022. The match will take place Thursday 23 June at Sheffield Amphitheatre. Register your interest here.

In solidarity with Ukraine, we're proud to announce ‘Password: Palianytsia’ a collaborative documentary programme with Docudays UA, which will launch the British Council and Ukrainian Institute’s ‘UK/Ukraine Season of Culture’ with the World Premiere of Babylon’13’s One Day in Ukraine.

Announcing our 2022 Alternate Realities commission: Feminist Economics Football: A Cooperative Game for Sheffield. Sign-up to take part in a unique game of football on the first day of the festival on 23 June 2022.

DocHost invites local residents to host filmmakers and artists who are attending the Festival, in their homes between 23 - 28 June 2022. Sign-up to host, or be hosted!

Volunteer applications are open for Sheffield DocFest 2022. Interested in taking part? Hear what some of our DocCrew alumni have to say about their experience volunteering with us.

Up to £15,000 funding, curatorial and marketing support is available for an artist or collective anywhere around the world to create a new, or complete a developing, non-fiction digital project.
Apply by Sunday 27 February 2022.

In collaboration with The Hepworth Wakefield, join us 21–23 January for a group exhibition comprising moving image works from UK and international artists and filmmakers Geraldine Snell, Heesoo Kwon, Duncan Marquiss, Lina Laraki and Séamus Harahan.

Join us for the second of our salon events, presented with The Cooper Gallery as part of our Alternate Realities winter tour.

Introducing to our team: Raul Niño Zambrano as Head of Film Programmes; Francesca Panetta as Alternate Realities Curator; and Sarah Mosses & John-Paul Pierrot of Together Films agency to lead on the 2022 Festival’s Marketing & Audience strategy and campaign.