Sheffield DocFest Reveals Juries, Kapadia Talk

Sheffield DocFest has unveiled the jury members for its five competition categories and added new films and talks to its upcoming program. The 33rd edition of the UK’s leading nonfiction festival takes place in Sheffield from June 10-15, 2026 [1, 2]. New industry program additions include a "landmark conversation" with Oscar-winning director Asif Kapadia regarding the influential Up documentary series [1, 2].

Key takeaways

• The 33rd Sheffield DocFest runs June 10-15, 2026, with 37 films competing across five categories [1].
• Oscar winner Asif Kapadia will join the industry program to discuss the Up series with creators of 70 UP [1, 2].
• New film premieres include Obsession: The Beryl Burton Story and The Last First: Winter K2 [1, 2].
• Juries for the International, First Feature, Short, and Tim Hetherington competitions include figures like Mark Edwards and Paul Sng [1, 2].

Jury Panels and Competition Categories

The festival announced jurors for five categories: the International Competition, International First Feature Competition, International Short Film Competition, the Tim Hetherington Award, and the International Alternate Realities Competition [1]. The International Competition jury includes producer and broadcaster Mark Edwards, Kiyoko McCrae of Chicken & Egg Films, and Noa Nwande of Watermelon Pictures [1, 2]. This category features eight films, including six world premieres, competing for the Academy Award accredited Grand Jury Award [2].

The International First Feature Competition jury features filmmaker Paul Sng, producer Darren Lawford, and Malikkha Rollins of DOC NYC [1, 2]. This category highlights eight debut works, seven of which are world premieres, and is supported by Netflix [2]. Additionally, a Youth Jury comprising five enthusiasts aged 18-23 will consider a selection of six films described as a diverse collection engaging with urgent contemporary issues [1, 2].

New Talks and Film Premieres

The Talks Programme now features a discussion with Asif Kapadia, Jo Clinton Davis of ITV, and Mike Blair of Multistory Media about the final chapter