News

A photo of a large hall filled with groups of people holding meetings seated around small tables

Sheffield Docfest’s Meetmarket celebrates 20 years with the announcement of 49 projects

Sheffield DocFest, the UK’s leading documentary festival and one of the world’s most influential markets for documentary projects, is thrilled to announce its slate for the 20th edition of the MeetMarket.

Industry, News

Published on April 30

Portrait of Fenton Bailey, pictured right, and Randy Barbato, pictured left, sitting at a desk with two computer screens against a yellow wall.

Sheffield Docfest Announces World Of Wonder Co-Founders Fenton Bailey & Randy Barbato As This Year’s Guests Of Honour

News, Industry

Published on April 29

The Whickers Podcast Pitch Award 2025 – Shortlist Announced!

Industry, News

Published on April 23

A digital image with a plain blue background. In the centre of the graphic there is text reading Climate Spring. The text is filled with a photograph of trees in blossom and blue skies on a residential street in spring.

Climate Spring Documentary Pitch now open for applications

Climate Spring Announces New £10k Documentary Development Pitch at Sheffield DocFest.

News, Industry

Published on April 9

A line of tables with people either side of each table chatting animatedly. The most prominent person in the image is a person in the middle of the photo with long red hair.

Applications open for Amplify: Production Talent 2025

Applications are open for Amplify: Production Talent, an initiative aimed at entry-level production professionals who are looking to elevate their careers.

News, Industry

Published on March 14

Panel of people sat on chairs on stage with a woman stood at a lectern facing away from the camera in the foreground

The Channel 4 First Cut Pitch is back for 2025!

Want to get your new documentary in front of Channel 4? Channel 4 First Cut Pitch at Sheffield DocFest is back! Five new directors will have the chance to pitch this June and one winner will walk away with a commission. Apply by Friday 21st March 2025.

News, Industry

Published on February 25

Meet our 2025 Youth Jury

We are delighted to announce our 2025 Youth Jurors for this year's edition, taking place across Sheffield, 18-23 June 2025.

News, Film, Industry, Community

Published on February 19

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

News, Industry

Published on March 10

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.

Industry, News

Published on January 12

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.

News, Film, Arts, Industry, Community

Published on September 8

2022 Sheffield DocFest Festival Guide

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.

News, Film, Industry, Arts

Published on June 15

Announcing our full programme for Sheffield DocFest 2022

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.

News, Arts, Film, Industry

Published on May 31