Sheffield DocFest announces programme

Event will feature 38 world premieres

by Amber Wilkinson

Moonage Daydream will open DocFest
Moonage Daydream will open DocFest Photo: Courtesy of Sheffield DocFest

Sheffield DocFest has announced the full programme of this year's festival, which will run from June 23 to 28.

This year's line-up will feature 38 world premieres.

In addition to film screenings, there will be talks from guest curator Asif Kapadia with editor Chris King; Brett Morgen (Moonage Daydream), Pratibha Parmar (My Name Is Andrea) and David Olusoga: (StoryTrails).

BBC news journalist Clive Myrie will also feature as an interview, along with singer Will Young, who will discuss documentary Losing My Twin Rupert, and British Olympian Ellie Simmonds.

Alex Cooke, Chair of the Board of Trustees, says: “There has never been a more important time for documentaries. They take us into worlds and lives and help us understand, they let us empathise, and they hold those in power to account. This special festival affords us a community, one to find real comfort in. I hope you forge new friendships; I hope you feel welcome, I hope you leave feeling re-energised and mostly, I hope you have some much-needed fun.”

As previously announced, Sheffield DocFest opens with the UK premiere of Brett Morgen’s David Bowie documentary Moonage Daydream, which recently had its world premiere in Cannes. Other notable names include Werner Herzog, whose The Fire Within: Requiem For Katia And Maurice Krafft joins the line-up, alongside Reyes'

Clare Stewart, Interim CEO Sheffield DocFest says: “Sheffield DocFest has an extraordinary legacy of connecting the global documentary ecosystem with the people of Sheffield and South Yorkshire. As one of the world’s leading documentary festivals, and the UK’s only film marketplace, we create opportunities for business through our industry programme, for creativity by bringing filmmakers and artists together, and for exchange between makers and audiences through our screening programmes, exhibitions and talks and sessions. We can’t wait to bring everyone back together again at this year’s festival.”

Share this with others on...
News

Desert dogs Zeshaan Younus and Renee Gagner on I’ve Seen All I Need To See

Inviting curiosity Ildikó Enyedi on the value of science, perception, discovery and Silent Friend

Streaming Spotlight: the rites of Spring We shine our Beltane spotlight on films in which the old ways linger

Fighting fit for a debut feature Valéry Carnoy talks toxic masculinity, memory, confidence and Belgian 'soft-power'

Collective power We look ahead at the programme of this year's Folk Film Gathering

First wave of titles announced for Fantasia 2026 Sensory strangeness, queer vampires, sinister shopping and more lined up for Montreal.

More news and features

We're bringing you news and reviews from the San Francisco Independent Film Festival and Queer East.



We're looking forward to Cannes.



We've recently brought you coverage of Visions du Réel, Fantaspoa, Overlook, BFI Flare and SXSW, the Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival, the NY Rendezvous with French Cinema, the Glasgow Film Festival, the Berlinale, Sundance and Palm Springs.



Read our full for more.


Visit our festivals section.

Interact

Don't forget that you can follow us on YouTube for trailers of festival films and more. You can also find us on Mastodon and Bluesky.


It's a busy time for festivals and here's the latest from the spring events:


Cannes 16 titles added to line-up


Cannes Announces full jury


Cannes Directors' Fortnight selection


Cannes Payal Kapadia heads Critics' Week jury