Sheffield Doc/Fest brings the international documentary family together to celebrate the art and business of documentary making for five intense days in November. Doc/Fest is a film festival, industry session programme and market place, offering pitching opportunities, controversial discussion panels and in-depth filmmaker masterclasses, as well as a wealth of inspirational documentary films from across the globe.

Doc/Fest is the only place in the world where you will meet sectors of the whole of the British documentary industry under one roof. Each year, the industry conference attracts the leading names of British documentary makers and executives in British television. The delegate mix of around 1200 includes documentary and factual producers, directors, buyers, commissioners and distributors. It is the perfect place to launch your latest documentary, pitch new ideas, meet future co-production partners and get insider tips from some of the world’s best documentary makers. It is a relaxed and friendly place to hold meetings with producers, commissioners and distributors, learn about the latest trends in production and discover new innovations and emerging talent.

The 15th Doc/Fest will be held in Sheffield from 5-9 November 2008. To coincide with the result of the U.S. presidential elections that should be announced during the festival, Sheffield Doc/Fest will present a number of films and panels around the theme of Regime Change. We’ll be looking at the consequences of changes in government – from the democratic and highly media savvy process that takes place in America – to those countries that live under dictatorships and to whom ‘regime change’ may mean suffering a military coup or civil war. Public and industry can get involved by entering a film, applying to the MeetMarket, Submitting a Session Idea, entering one of the pitching competitions and, of course, simply attending the festival! Delegates can register for the whole festival or for selected days such as DFG Newcomers Day or DocDay Afternoon.

In 2007, the festival attracted record delegate numbers and passes sold out, so for 2008 there will be a registration deadline.