Access the festival
We are committed to welcoming audiences from all backgrounds.
Our current access provision to events during the festival can be found below. This page will be continuously updated as more access provision is confirmed as we get closer to the festival.
For all enquiries relating to access please email access@sheffdocfest.com or please call the box office on +44 330 122 8870.
We look forward to welcoming you to the festival!
Festival Passes
For those in receipt of Personal Independence Payment PIP - formerly Disability Living Allowance (DLA) - or your country's equivalent you are able to purchase a Concession pass for £160 ex VAT. Please email registration@sheffdocfest.com with proof of status and to receive instructions to register.
Affordability
Concession tickets are available to claimants, full-time students, over 60’s and anyone who cannot afford a full-price ticket, via the DocsForAll concession – no proof of status is required and we operate concessions on a trust basis.
Complimentary tickets are available for Personal Assistants, Carers or sign language interpreters who are assisting someone attending an event, and must be booked in advance. To book, please email boxoffice@sheffdocfest.com with proof of DLA or a valid CEA card or international equivalent.
Free and open to all, our Alternate Realities Exhibition at Site Gallery runs from 11am – 8pm during the festival and will continue after the festival with a reduced selection of works, and following normal gallery opening times, until Sunday 16 July. Please note that the project Within Touching Distance requires advance booking.
Wheelchair spaces
All festival venues are wheelchair accessible. To reserve a wheelchair space please email boxoffice@sheffdocfest.com.
If you’d like to reserve a wheelchair space for events at the Crucible theatre - please visit the following link:
Please note that wheelchair spaces are subject to availability.
Venues
All of our party and reception venues have seating available. There will be a DocFest representative at every venue and event - if you require general assistance such as quiet space, or a seat, they can assist with this.
For all venue information including accessibility please follow the following link:
British Sign Language (BSL) interpreted events
British sign Language interpreters will be present at the following events for the duration of the event or for the Introduction and conversation. Seats are allocated to ensure a good view of the interpreter.
Thu 15 June, 11:00 The D-Word: Why Disability Inclusion Doesn’t Have To Be Difficult, Crucible Playhouse
Signed - A British Sign Language interpreter will be visible on stage throughout the event.
Live Captions - spoken dialogue during the Q&A on stage will be converted to text and appear on screen.
Open to Industry Pass holders only. For more information please follow this link:
Thu 15 June 17:15 Your Fat Friend + Conversation, Crucible Theatre
Signed - A British Sign Language interpreter will be visible on stage throughout the event.
Open Captions - spoken dialogue and sound effects in the film clips will be converted to text and appear on screen.
Audio Described - an audio commentary of actions in the film, interspersed with dialogue, will be available through a headset
For more information or to book tickets please follow this link:
Fri 16 June, 15:00 Rose Ayling-Ellis: Signs for Change, Crucible Theatre
Signed - A British Sign Language interpreter will be visible on stage throughout the event.
Open Captions - spoken dialogue and sound effects in the film clips will be converted to text and appear on screen.
Live Captions - spoken dialogue during the Q&A on stage will be converted to text and appear on screen.
For more information or to book tickets please follow this link:
Fri 16 June, 17:30 The Good Fight Club + Conversation, Crucible Theatre
Signed - A British Sign Language interpreter will be visible on stage during the introduction and conversation.
Open Captions - spoken dialogue and sound effects in the film and clips will be converted to text and appear on screen.
For more information or to book tickets please follow this link:
Sat 17 June, 14:45 Is There Anybody Out There? + Conversation, Crucible Theatre
Signed - A British Sign Language interpreter will be visible on stage during the introduction and conversation
Open Captions - spoken dialogue and sound effects in the film will be converted to text and appear on screen.
Audio Described - an audio commentary of actions in the film, interspersed with dialogue, will be available through a headset.
Live Captions - spoken dialogue during the Q&A on stage will be converted to text and appear on screen.
For more information or to book tickets please follow this link:
Open Captioned Films
Some of our films featured in our programme will be screened with captions, which appear as subtitles on screen (in English, with English language films), often with additional descriptive information. For example, "footsteps approaching" or “music is played”. Captioning is a service for hearing-impaired and D/deaf people but can be useful for those without hearing loss as well.
The films, and their screening times, that have captions are listed below.
Please check back regularly for updates as we confirm and quality check films.
Thu 15 June 17:15 Your Fat Friend + Conversation, Crucible Theatre
For more information or to book tickets please follow this link:
Thu 15 June 20:30 Dalton's Dream + Conversation, Crucible Theatre
For more information or to book tickets please follow this link:
Fri 16 June 17:30 The Good Fight Club + Conversation, Crucible Theatre
For more information or to book tickets please follow this link:
Sat 17 June 14:25 Is There Anybody Out There? + Conversation, Crucible Theatre
For more information or to book tickets please follow this link:
Sat 17 June 18:00 The Price of Truth + Conversation, Crucible Theatre
For more information or to book tickets please follow this link:
Sat 17 June 21:00 Wham! + Conversation, Crucible Theatre
For more information or to book tickets please follow this link:
Sun 18 June 10:30 Long Distance Swimmer - Sara Mardini + Conversation, Crucible Theatre
For more information or to book tickets please follow this link:
Sun 18 June 13:45 Let the Canary Sing + Conversation, Crucible Theatre
For more information or to book tickets please follow this link:
Sun 18 June 18:00 Is There Anybody Out There? The Light Cinema - Screen 6
For more information or to book tickets please follow this link:
Sun 18 June 20:30 TLC Forever + Conversation, Crucible Theatre
For more information or to book tickets please follow this link:
Subtitled Films
Our programme contains many films subtitled into English from other languages. These may also be suitable for D/deaf or hearing-impaired customers but won’t always include additional descriptions of sounds. Some films will have Q&As but please note that in most cases it is currently not possible to provide live captioning for this.
The films that have subtitles are available by downloading the following word document below.
Please follow this link:
Audio Description
We offer Audio Description (AD) on a select number of films. The normal film soundtrack is broadcast to speakers in the usual way, while a recorded narrator explains what's happening on screen through personal headphones.
There are 20 headsets available at Showroom Cinema, 10 at Curzon Sheffield, 15 at the Crucible Theatre and 5 headsets at the Light Cinema.
To get your headset please speak to the venue staff on the day of the screening. Headsets are available on a first come, first served basis.
The films, and their screening times, that have audio description available are listed below. Please check back regularly for updates as we still confirm the full available programme.
Thu 15 June 17:15 - Your Fat Friend + Conversation, Crucible Theatre
Fri 16 June 15:30 - Bad Press, Showroom, Bertha DocHouse Screen 3
For more information or to book tickets please follow this link:
Fri 16 June 15:15 - Red Herring + Q&A, The Light - Screen 9
Sat 17 June 10:00 - Richland, Showroom - Warner Chappell Production Music Screen 4
For more information or to book tickets please follow this link:
Sat 17 June 14:25 - Is There Anybody Out There? + Conversation, Crucible Theatre
For more information or to book tickets please follow this link:
Sat 17 June 20:45 - Bad Press, Showroom - Channel 5 Screen 2
For more information or to book tickets please follow this link:
Sun 18 June 10:00 - Bad Press, Curzon - Screen 3
For more information or to book tickets please follow this link:
Sun 18 June 12:45 - Richland Curzon - Screen 3
For more information or to book tickets please follow this link:
Sun 18 June 18:00 - Is There Anybody Out There? The Light Cinema - Screen 6
For more information or to book tickets please follow this link:
Sun 18 June 18:15 - Red Herring + Q&A, Showroom - Channel 5 Screen 2
Sun 18 June 18:30 - Your Fat Friend + Q&A, The Light - Screen 9
Relaxed Film Screenings
Our Relaxed screenings are sensory adapted cinema. This means that we want them to be as inclusive as possible. You can move around and make noise during the film, the sound will be a little quieter and the lights will be up a little so you can see around you. There will be a quiet space available for everyone outside of the cinema screen and, as with all our screenings, carer tickets are free. These screenings are for everyone but they are especially programmed for neurodiverse people.
Thu 15 June 14:45 Relaxed Screening: Confessions of a Good Samaritan, Showroom - Splice Post Screen 1
For more information or to book tickets please follow this link:
Sat 17 June 10:00 Relaxed Screening: A Year In A Field, Showroom - Splice Post Screen 1
For more information or to book tickets please follow this link:
Mon 19 June 15:30 Relaxed Screening: Shorts, Showroom - Splice Post Screen 1
For more information or to book tickets please follow this link:
Kino Bambino
Every Monday at 12pm, the Showroom screens a film for parents and babies under one year old. Parents can enjoy our latest releases without having to find a babysitter!
Come along and watch a film in a comfortable atmosphere, with appropriate sound levels and a dedicated storage area for your pushchairs. After the screening you can relax with a complimentary hot drink in the bar and socialise with other parents and guardians.
To view the film information and to book your tickets please follow this link:
Support for those with babies & children
DocFest is a breastfeeding-friendly event, and those with babies should feel welcome to breastfeed at all festival venues. If you require support with childcare during the festival there are options available to you that you can take advantage of in Sheffield. For a list of local childminders or babysitters in Sheffield, please click here.
For flexible daytime or evening babysitters, we recommend downloading Bubble.
Programme Guide Materials
You can view both our full Festival Guide and Highlights Guide online now. A downloadable version of both guides is available, please click the following link for more information:
Online Programme
A selection of films from across our main programme will be available to stream online, within the UK, from Monday 19 - Sunday 25 June.
Click the following link to find out more about our DocFest Online programme:
