{"id":19717,"date":"2024-02-28T18:02:03","date_gmt":"2024-02-28T16:02:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.netfest.org\/festivals\/?page_id=19717"},"modified":"2025-11-06T23:13:23","modified_gmt":"2025-11-06T21:13:23","slug":"sheffield-docfest","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.netfest.org\/festivals\/sheffield-docfest\/","title":{"rendered":"Sheffield DocFest"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[vc_row][vc_column width=&#8221;2\/3&#8243;][vc_custom_heading text=&#8221;Sheffield DocFest&#8221; font_container=&#8221;tag:h2|font_size:70|text_align:left|color:%23000000&#8243; google_fonts=&#8221;font_family:Roboto%3A100%2C100italic%2C300%2C300italic%2Cregular%2Citalic%2C500%2C500italic%2C700%2C700italic%2C900%2C900italic|font_style:900%20bold%20regular%3A900%3Anormal&#8221;][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/6&#8243;][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;35&#8243;][vc_btn title=&#8221;participate&#8221; style=&#8221;custom&#8221; custom_background=&#8221;#db0369&#8243; custom_text=&#8221;#ffffff&#8221; shape=&#8221;square&#8221; link=&#8221;url:https%3A%2F%2Fsheffdocfest.com%2F|target:_blank&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/12&#8243;][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/3&#8243;][vc_custom_heading text=&#8221;June 10<sup>th<\/sup> | 15<sup>th<\/sup> 2026&#8243; font_container=&#8221;tag:h2|font_size:35|text_align:left|color:%23515151&#8243; google_fonts=&#8221;font_family:Roboto%3A100%2C100italic%2C300%2C300italic%2Cregular%2Citalic%2C500%2C500italic%2C700%2C700italic%2C900%2C900italic|font_style:700%20bold%20regular%3A700%3Anormal&#8221;][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;50&#8243;][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/5&#8243;][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;20&#8243;][vc_gallery type=&#8221;image_grid&#8221; images=&#8221;16195&#8243; img_size=&#8221;268&#215;68&#8243; onclick=&#8221;&#8221;][vc_empty_space][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/6&#8243;][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;2\/3&#8243;][vc_custom_heading text=&#8221;33<sup>rd<\/sup> Edition&#8221; font_container=&#8221;tag:h2|font_size:120|text_align:left|color:%23e5e5e5&#8243; google_fonts=&#8221;font_family:Roboto%3A100%2C100italic%2C300%2C300italic%2Cregular%2Citalic%2C500%2C500italic%2C700%2C700italic%2C900%2C900italic|font_style:700%20bold%20regular%3A700%3Anormal&#8221;][vc_column_text css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1709138603171{margin-top: -50px !important;}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p align=\"justify\"><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 22px;\"><strong>The Sheffield DocFest is the UK\u2019s leading documentary festival<\/strong><\/span> <span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 16px;\">and one of the world\u2019s most influential markets for documentary projects. We champion and present the breadth of documentary form \u2013 film, television, immersive and art \u2013 in the vibrant city of Sheffield each June. We offer makers and audiences a place for inspiration, debate, development, learning and challenge. <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-19726 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/www.netfest.org\/festivals\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/02\/sheffield_pic-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"629\" height=\"419\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.netfest.org\/festivals\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/02\/sheffield_pic-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.netfest.org\/festivals\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/02\/sheffield_pic-768x513.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.netfest.org\/festivals\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/02\/sheffield_pic.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 629px) 100vw, 629px\" \/>Our programming represents our core values \u2013 creativity, empathy, freedom, inclusivity and internationalism.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 16px;\">The festival saw 37 World Premieres, 20 International Premieres, 10 European Premieres, 47 UK Premieres and 8 retrospective films, from 52 countries of production. It was our most innovative documentary offering yet which, in addition to films, included an abridged theatre production, live podcast events, premieres of TV series and virtual reality exhibitions. More than 190 Industry Representatives from 93 companies and 19 countries took in-person meetings with selected projects and talents over the course of the festival market days.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Alternate Realities Programme<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 16px;\"><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 16px;\"><br \/>\nAlternate Realities is Sheffield DocFest&#8217;s programme for exhibiting and showcasing innovative non-fiction and immersive documentary in all forms.<br \/>\nWhether using new technologies or creative techniques which break the boundaries of traditional documentary practice, the Alternate Realities programme highlights the bravest most intriguing developments in non-fiction by artists, technologists and documentarians.<br \/>\nPlatforms considered for exhibition include virtual (VR), augmented (AR) and mixed reality (MR), 360 video, moving image, sound art, web interactives, artificial intelligence, games and performance.<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 16px;\">Since 2017, Sheffield DocFest\u2019s Alternate Realities exhibition has toured in the UK and internationally. Venues and events that hosted the tour include:<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.barbican.org.uk\/\">Barbican<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.scienceandmediamuseum.org.uk\/\">National Science &amp; Media Museum<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/homemcr.org\/\">HOME Manchester<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.lighthouse.org.uk\/\">Lighthouse<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/hepworthwakefield.org\/\">The Hepworth Wakefield\u00a0<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cooper-gallery.com\/\">The Cooper Gallery<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/setspace.uk\/\">SET<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.docmontevideo.com\/en\/\">DocMontevideo<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.docsp.com\/en\/\">DocSP<\/a> (Sao Paulo)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.noviembreelectronico.elculturalsanmartin.org\/\">Noviembre Electr\u00f3nico<\/a> (Buenos Aires)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/phi-centre.com\/en\/\">Phi Centre<\/a> (Montreal)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 16px;\"><br \/>\nThis programme is supported by Arts Council England.<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"field__item\">\n<div class=\"paragraph paragraph--type--text paragraph--view-mode--default\">\n<div class=\"clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-text field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__items\">\n<h3>Film Programme<\/h3>\n<div class=\"field__item\">\n<div class=\"paragraph paragraph--type--text paragraph--view-mode--default\">\n<div class=\"clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-text field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__items\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 16px;\">Our Film Programme offers filmmakers a place for inspiration, debate and challenge, and a relevant international platform to launch their work. It engages audiences with\u00a0 a multitude of forms, ideas, ways of doing and thinking, through World, International, European and UK premieres and through curated retrospective programmes. Sheffield DocFest looks to question the boundaries of documentary through a programme that challenges trends, brings diversity and enriches debate. The festival invites audiences to engage with experiences and stories from different parts of the world and to join makers in inspiring moments.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_custom_heading text=&#8221;Industry Programme&#8221; font_container=&#8221;tag:h2|font_size:24|text_align:left|color:%23000000&#8243; google_fonts=&#8221;font_family:Roboto%3A100%2C100italic%2C300%2C300italic%2Cregular%2Citalic%2C500%2C500italic%2C700%2C700italic%2C900%2C900italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal&#8221;][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_column_text]<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-19732 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/www.netfest.org\/festivals\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/02\/sheffield_market-300x169.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"793\" height=\"447\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.netfest.org\/festivals\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/02\/sheffield_market-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.netfest.org\/festivals\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/02\/sheffield_market-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.netfest.org\/festivals\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/02\/sheffield_market.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 793px) 100vw, 793px\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"field__item\">\n<div class=\"paragraph paragraph--type--text paragraph--view-mode--default\">\n<div class=\"clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-text field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__items\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 16px;\">The Industry Programme is the space within the festival for supporting the creation of new work, and discussing together the ways in which new work is made. Our flagship pitching forum, the MeetMarket, connects selected teams with a vast network of international industry representatives to present new projects (features and series). The Alternate Realities Talent Market runs in parallel to facilitate partnerships for teams presenting non-fiction new-media projects. The Amplify: Production Talent initiative is for entry-level production professionals to elevate their careers, and connect with UK-based production company execs.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 16px;\">We also host several live pitches where filmmakers can gain funding and constructive feedback from industry experts. And alongside all the pitching, every year we\u2019ll host an array of panel discussions on key topics relevant to industry delegates. We welcome delegates from all levels of experience and all territories to engage with our Industry Programme. Don\u2019t hesitate to contact us if you need any help navigating it.<br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 16px;\"><br \/>\nClick <a href=\"https:\/\/sheffdocfest.com\/marketplace\"><strong>here<\/strong><\/a> to find out more about our Industry Marketplace and initiatives.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;25&#8243;][vc_separator border_width=&#8221;2&#8243;][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=&#8221;2\/3&#8243;][vc_single_image image=&#8221;19729&#8243; img_size=&#8221;large&#8221;][vc_column_text]<strong><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 22px;\">Community Programme<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 16px;\">The Community programme features stories and ideas with a strong focus on what happens when people come together. It\u2019s about making connections in and to our city and is produced in partnership with people, artists and organisations based in Sheffield and the South Yorkshire Region.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 16px;\">The programme makes links across Film, Alternate Realities and Industry programmes to collaborate with local audiences, make deeper connections across the festival and broaden access for the programme, as well as strengthen industry opportunities for first time and independent filmmakers in Sheffield.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 16px;\"><strong>Sheffield DocFest is run by International Documentary Festival Sheffield<\/strong>, an independent registered charity (no.1184849), whose purpose is to advance the art of film, education and training in documentary filmmaking. Our core values as a charity centre around empathy, inclusiveness, social engagement, freedom and internationalism.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=&#8221;1\/3&#8243;][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;50&#8243;][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;50&#8243;][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;50&#8243;][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;50&#8243;][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;50&#8243;][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;50&#8243;][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;50&#8243;][vc_btn title=&#8221;see more&#8221; style=&#8221;custom&#8221; custom_background=&#8221;#6b6b6b&#8221; custom_text=&#8221;#f7f7f7&#8243; shape=&#8221;square&#8221; align=&#8221;center&#8221; link=&#8221;url:https%3A%2F%2Fsheffdocfest.com%2Ffestival-entries|target:_blank&#8221; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1709138335653{margin-top: -100px !important;}&#8221;][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/6&#8243;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space][vc_separator border_width=&#8221;2&#8243;][vc_empty_space][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/12&#8243;][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/3&#8243;][vc_custom_heading text=&#8221;Other Festivals&#8221; font_container=&#8221;tag:h2|font_size:38|text_align:left|color:%23000000&#8243; google_fonts=&#8221;font_family:Roboto%3A100%2C100italic%2C300%2C300italic%2Cregular%2Citalic%2C500%2C500italic%2C700%2C700italic%2C900%2C900italic|font_style:500%20bold%20regular%3A500%3Anormal&#8221;][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/3&#8243;][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/6&#8243;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space]                        <div class=\" \">\n                <div class=\"images-gallery-shortcode-wrapper slick \">\n    <div class=\"images-list\">\n                <div class=\"image-item image-col-5\">\n            <div class=\"slide-item\">\n                            <a href=\"https:\/\/www.netfest.org\/festivals\/fidmarseille\/\" target=\"_blank\">\n                            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.netfest.org\/festivals\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/02\/FID_small.jpg\" alt=\"FIDMarseille\">\n                            <\/a>\n                        <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n                <div class=\"image-item image-col-5\">\n            <div class=\"slide-item\">\n                            <a href=\"https:\/\/www.netfest.org\/festivals\/hot-docs\/\" target=\"_blank\">\n                            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.netfest.org\/festivals\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/02\/hotdocs_small.jpg\" alt=\"Hot Docs\">\n                            <\/a>\n                        <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n                <div class=\"image-item image-col-5\">\n            <div class=\"slide-item\">\n                            <a href=\"https:\/\/www.netfest.org\/festivals\/queer-lisboa\/\" target=\"_self\">\n                            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.netfest.org\/festivals\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/11\/queer_short.jpg\" alt=\"Queer Lisboa\">\n                            <\/a>\n                        <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n                <div class=\"image-item image-col-5\">\n            <div class=\"slide-item\">\n                            <a href=\"https:\/\/www.netfest.org\/festivals\/karlovy\/\" target=\"_self\">\n                            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.netfest.org\/festivals\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/11\/karlovy_short.jpg\" alt=\"Karlovy Vary International Film Festival\">\n                            <\/a>\n                        <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n                <div class=\"image-item image-col-5\">\n            <div class=\"slide-item\">\n                            <a href=\"https:\/\/www.netfest.org\/festivals\/locarno\/\" target=\"_self\">\n                            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.netfest.org\/festivals\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/07\/locarno_scorrevole.jpg\" alt=\"Locarno Film Festival\">\n                            <\/a>\n                        <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n                <div class=\"image-item image-col-5\">\n            <div class=\"slide-item\">\n                            <a href=\"https:\/\/www.netfest.org\/festivals\/venice\/\" target=\"_self\">\n                            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.netfest.org\/festivals\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/11\/venezia_short.jpg\" alt=\"Venice International Film Festival\">\n                            <\/a>\n                        <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n                <div class=\"image-item image-col-5\">\n            <div class=\"slide-item\">\n                            <a href=\"https:\/\/www.netfest.org\/festivals\/film-fest-gent\/\" target=\"_self\">\n                            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.netfest.org\/festivals\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/11\/gent_short.jpg\" alt=\"Film Fest Gent \">\n                            <\/a>\n                        <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n                <div class=\"image-item image-col-5\">\n            <div class=\"slide-item\">\n                            <a href=\"https:\/\/www.netfest.org\/festivals\/beijing-iff\/\" target=\"_self\">\n                            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.netfest.org\/festivals\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/11\/shanghai_short.jpg\" alt=\"Beijing International Film Festival\">\n                            <\/a>\n                        <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n                <div class=\"image-item image-col-5\">\n            <div class=\"slide-item\">\n                            <a href=\"https:\/\/www.netfest.org\/festivals\/guadalajara\/\" target=\"_self\">\n                            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.netfest.org\/festivals\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/11\/guadalla_short.jpg\" alt=\"Guadalajara Film Festival\">\n                            <\/a>\n                        <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n<\/div>            <\/div>\n                    [vc_empty_space][vc_empty_space][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[vc_row][vc_column width=&#8221;2\/3&#8243;][vc_custom_heading text=&#8221;Sheffield DocFest&#8221; font_container=&#8221;tag:h2|font_size:70|text_align:left|color:%23000000&#8243; google_fonts=&#8221;font_family:Roboto%3A100%2C100italic%2C300%2C300italic%2Cregular%2Citalic%2C500%2C500italic%2C700%2C700italic%2C900%2C900italic|font_style:900%20bold%20regular%3A900%3Anormal&#8221;][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/6&#8243;][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;35&#8243;][vc_btn title=&#8221;participate&#8221; style=&#8221;custom&#8221; custom_background=&#8221;#db0369&#8243; custom_text=&#8221;#ffffff&#8221; shape=&#8221;square&#8221; link=&#8221;url:https%3A%2F%2Fsheffdocfest.com%2F|target:_blank&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/12&#8243;][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/3&#8243;][vc_custom_heading text=&#8221;June 10th | 15th 2026&#8243; font_container=&#8221;tag:h2|font_size:35|text_align:left|color:%23515151&#8243; google_fonts=&#8221;font_family:Roboto%3A100%2C100italic%2C300%2C300italic%2Cregular%2Citalic%2C500%2C500italic%2C700%2C700italic%2C900%2C900italic|font_style:700%20bold%20regular%3A700%3Anormal&#8221;][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;50&#8243;][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/5&#8243;][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;20&#8243;][vc_gallery type=&#8221;image_grid&#8221; images=&#8221;16195&#8243; img_size=&#8221;268&#215;68&#8243; onclick=&#8221;&#8221;][vc_empty_space][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/6&#8243;][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;2\/3&#8243;][vc_custom_heading text=&#8221;33rd Edition&#8221; font_container=&#8221;tag:h2|font_size:120|text_align:left|color:%23e5e5e5&#8243; google_fonts=&#8221;font_family:Roboto%3A100%2C100italic%2C300%2C300italic%2Cregular%2Citalic%2C500%2C500italic%2C700%2C700italic%2C900%2C900italic|font_style:700%20bold%20regular%3A700%3Anormal&#8221;][vc_column_text css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1709138603171{margin-top: -50px !important;}&#8221;] The Sheffield DocFest is the UK\u2019s leading documentary festival and one of the world\u2019s most influential [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-19717","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","clearfix"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.netfest.org\/festivals\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/19717","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.netfest.org\/festivals\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.netfest.org\/festivals\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.netfest.org\/festivals\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.netfest.org\/festivals\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=19717"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/www.netfest.org\/festivals\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/19717\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":22506,"href":"https:\/\/www.netfest.org\/festivals\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/19717\/revisions\/22506"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.netfest.org\/festivals\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=19717"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}