Sheffield DocFest has expanded its 33rd edition program just days before the festival opens in the UK, adding new talks, films, juries and a special live reading. The nonfiction event runs June 10-15 and continues to position itself as one of Britain’s major documentary showcases, with a slate that mixes industry discussions, premieres, family titles and awards competitions.
A major new industry session will feature Oscar-winning filmmaker Asif Kapadia, known for Amy and Senna, in a landmark conversation about the Up series. The long-running project began in the 1960s by following 10 boys and 4 girls from childhood into adulthood, middle age and now later life. Kapadia will appear alongside Jo Clinton Davis, Controller of Factual at ITV, and Mike Blair, Creative Director at Multistory Media, who created 70 UP, the most recent film in the series.
DocFest has also added a talk with Munya Chiwawa on his documentary Wrestling with Trump, which examines the connection between Donald Trump and wrestling. The festival said the discussion is part of its broader industry program.
Several films have joined the lineup as well. The world premiere of Obsession: The Beryl Burton Story will present an intimate portrait of one of Britain’s most celebrated cyclists, directed by Stuart Pollitt. Amir Bar-Lev’s The Last First: Winter K2 will receive its UK premiere, documenting a dangerous and ultimately unsuccessful winter attempt to climb the world’s second-highest mountain.
The festival’s new family strand, GEN DocFest, will screen two additional titles. Horrible Science: Tim Peake’s Stinky Space Special Exclusive follows astronaut Tim Peake and Pipette as they explore what life is like in space for astronauts. Toddler Kino x DocFest and CBeebies presents: Hamza Loves Animals features wildlife presenter Hamza Yassin introducing children to animals found in Africa.
DocFest also announced the juries for its 2026 competitions. The International Competition jury includes producer and broadcaster Mark Edwards, filmmaker and Chicken & Egg Films program director Kiyoko McCraea, and Watermelon Pictures head of international sales Noa Nwande. The competition features six world premieres, one international premiere and one European premiere, all eligible for an Academy Award-accredited Grand Jury Award.
The International First Feature Competition jury will be made up of filmmaker Paul Sng, producer and former DocFest trustee Darren Lawford, and DOC NYC’s Malikkha Rollins. The International Short Film Competition jury comprises Olaide Sadiq, Joe Hunting and Laura Warner. The Tim Hetherington Award jury includes Brenda Danker, Sam Holland and Andrii Kotliar, while the Youth Jury Award will be decided by five young documentary fans aged 18 to 23.
In another addition, actors Jason Done, Christine Bottomley, Carla Henry, Eva Scott and Lamin Touray will take part in a live reading of Queens of the Coal Age, written by Maxine Peake. The piece tells the true story of four miners’ wives who occupied Parkside Colliery in 1993 to protest pit closures.
