Sheffield DocFest 2021 is now live

Archive footage from Yorkshire Screen Archive

Summer of Soul by Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson will inspire the 10 days of our programme through its testimony of a unique moment in history, the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival, and the transformative power of culture and music.

Cinema tickets are SOLD OUT in Sheffield.

But you can buy tickets to watch it online on our Selects platform, and the film is screening in cinemas across the UK. 

Book Now

Delphine’s Prayers is the story of Delphine – a young Cameroonian woman – and her life in Belgium. Through a series of confessions from Delphine, a powerful portrait emerges of a generation of women lost to the dream of a better world in Europe. Through her courage, Delphine exposes the patterns of domination that continue to oppress some African women.

Delphine's Prayers will be followed by a live online Q&A with Rosine Mbakam which will be live-streamed from the cinema to Selects.

Book Now

What can a home be? From a dense and complex space of existence to a kind place of acceptance and open conversation, these films share unique notions of home.

Golden Flask – A single night in a small apartment in which the same four people have lived together for many years. Nothing changes here. People’s hearts may not age, but their minds, worn by the ravages of time, cannot function clearly anymore. They talk about God, dreams, and their growing beer bellies. Time seems circular; life is a waiting room.

Golden Flask will be followed by a live online Q&A with Jurgis Matulevicius and Paulius Anicas which will be live-streamed from the cinema to Selects.

The Year of the White Moon – In the intimacy of a muted, deserted living room, a series of telephone conversations take place between a superstitious mother living in the Russian provinces and her gay son, who moved to the capital. The Year of the White Moon is a tragicomedy about a conversation between two people who hear each other, but are not able to listen.

The Year of the White Moon will be followed by a Q&A with Maxim Pechersky which will be shown after the screening and be available on Selects.

Book Now

Join Sheffield DocFest as we launch our 2021 Arts Programme, taking place at venues in Sheffield and online. A live discussion between curators Herb Shellenberger and Soukaina Aboulaoula, producer Hannah Campbell and festival director Cíntia Gil will explore the artists, exhibitions and events in this year’s programme, illuminating the many curatorial themes that connect them.

Book Now

Whether we view the earth from outer space, or through the lens of a microscope, we will discover diverse, interconnected, and interdependent life. This year’s DocFest Exchange challenges the ways in which we see the world, and invites us to inhabit perspectives beyond our own. Can we imagine the world through the eyes of an animal? Can we shift our perspective to the scale of a microbe? Can we understand life as a planetary-level phenomenon? Join us in Sheffield and online for the films, talks and workshops in this year’s DocFest Exchange. 

Sheffield DocFest Selects is our video on demand online festival which offers you a curated programme of films from all over the world, from our Official Selection 2021, across our competitions and strands which include: Opening and Closing Films, International Competition, UK Competition, Special Screenings, Into the World, Rebellions, Rhyme & Rhythm, Ghosts & Apparitions, Northern Focus, Retrospective and DocFest Exchange.

Selects is available for booking for UK-based audiences until 13 June, with most films becoming available to watch for a 72 hour window between 4 - 13 June, or until capacity is reached. Films will be released on the same schedule as their cinema screening in Sheffield.

Find out more

For all our in-person screenings and events in Sheffield, we've been working very closely with our partner venues and Sheffield City Council to make sure your festival experience is as safe and enjoyable as possible.

Our venues are operating at reduced capacities, with social distancing measures in place. We ask that face coverings are worn at all times indoors, unless exempt. All visitors must check in to venues on arrival using the NHS Test & Trace QR code or provide their details to a member of staff. Booking for all events is required, and we advise that you book ahead.

We ask that you please take note of the measures in place at each of our venues, in order to keep our volunteers and your fellow festival goers safe. Details on each of our partner venues is available on our website.

Read more

Archive footage from Yorkshire Screen Archive

Summer of Soul by Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson will inspire the 10 days of our programme through its testimony of a unique moment in history, the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival, and the transformative power of culture and music.

Cinema tickets are SOLD OUT in Sheffield.

But you can buy tickets to watch it online on our Selects platform, and the film is screening in cinemas across the UK. 

Book Now

Delphine’s Prayers is the story of Delphine – a young Cameroonian woman – and her life in Belgium. Through a series of confessions from Delphine, a powerful portrait emerges of a generation of women lost to the dream of a better world in Europe. Through her courage, Delphine exposes the patterns of domination that continue to oppress some African women.

Delphine's Prayers will be followed by a live online Q&A with Rosine Mbakam which will be live-streamed from the cinema to Selects.

Book Now

What can a home be? From a dense and complex space of existence to a kind place of acceptance and open conversation, these films share unique notions of home.

Golden Flask – A single night in a small apartment in which the same four people have lived together for many years. Nothing changes here. People’s hearts may not age, but their minds, worn by the ravages of time, cannot function clearly anymore. They talk about God, dreams, and their growing beer bellies. Time seems circular; life is a waiting room.

Golden Flask will be followed by a live online Q&A with Jurgis Matulevicius and Paulius Anicas which will be live-streamed from the cinema to Selects.

The Year of the White Moon – In the intimacy of a muted, deserted living room, a series of telephone conversations take place between a superstitious mother living in the Russian provinces and her gay son, who moved to the capital. The Year of the White Moon is a tragicomedy about a conversation between two people who hear each other, but are not able to listen.

The Year of the White Moon will be followed by a Q&A with Maxim Pechersky which will be shown after the screening and be available on Selects.

Book Now

Join Sheffield DocFest as we launch our 2021 Arts Programme, taking place at venues in Sheffield and online. A live discussion between curators Herb Shellenberger and Soukaina Aboulaoula, producer Hannah Campbell and festival director Cíntia Gil will explore the artists, exhibitions and events in this year’s programme, illuminating the many curatorial themes that connect them.

Book Now

Whether we view the earth from outer space, or through the lens of a microscope, we will discover diverse, interconnected, and interdependent life. This year’s DocFest Exchange challenges the ways in which we see the world, and invites us to inhabit perspectives beyond our own. Can we imagine the world through the eyes of an animal? Can we shift our perspective to the scale of a microbe? Can we understand life as a planetary-level phenomenon? Join us in Sheffield and online for the films, talks and workshops in this year’s DocFest Exchange. 

Sheffield DocFest Selects is our video on demand online festival which offers you a curated programme of films from all over the world, from our Official Selection 2021, across our competitions and strands which include: Opening and Closing Films, International Competition, UK Competition, Special Screenings, Into the World, Rebellions, Rhyme & Rhythm, Ghosts & Apparitions, Northern Focus, Retrospective and DocFest Exchange.

Selects is available for booking for UK-based audiences until 13 June, with most films becoming available to watch for a 72 hour window between 4 - 13 June, or until capacity is reached. Films will be released on the same schedule as their cinema screening in Sheffield.

Find out more

For all our in-person screenings and events in Sheffield, we've been working very closely with our partner venues and Sheffield City Council to make sure your festival experience is as safe and enjoyable as possible.

Our venues are operating at reduced capacities, with social distancing measures in place. We ask that face coverings are worn at all times indoors, unless exempt. All visitors must check in to venues on arrival using the NHS Test & Trace QR code or provide their details to a member of staff. Booking for all events is required, and we advise that you book ahead.

We ask that you please take note of the measures in place at each of our venues, in order to keep our volunteers and your fellow festival goers safe. Details on each of our partner venues is available on our website.

Read more