What We Do
Sheffield DocFest is the UK’s leading documentary festival and one of the world’s most important meeting places for documentary storytelling.
Every June, the festival brings together filmmakers, artists, journalists and audiences in Sheffield to experience powerful real-life stories across film, television, podcasts, immersive media and art. It’s a place for inspiration, discussion and discovery - where stories from around the world are shared and new ideas take shape.
At the heart of Sheffield DocFest is a simple belief: documentaries are for everyone.
Through our Participation and Engagement programme, we work to make the festival accessible to as many people as possible. We provide flexible ticketing, inclusive events and tailored support so that people from all backgrounds can experience documentary storytelling and feel welcome at the festival.
Learn more about our Participation and Engagement work:
From Door to Doc
From Door to Doc is a community initiative designed to create accessible pathways to Sheffield DocFest for people who might not otherwise be able to attend.
For many people, barriers such as travel costs, ticket prices, or simply feeling that cultural events aren’t “for them” can make festivals inaccessible. From Door to Doc helps to remove those barriers.
Through this fundraising programme, we will provide free cinema tickets to festival screenings and tours of our Alternate Realities exhibition, as well as transport to and from participants’ homes or community centres, plus refreshments.
This programme is open to everyone based across South Yorkshire and North Derbyshire. We particularly want to connect with communities across the region who may face barriers to accessing arts and cultural events.
With your support, we hope to welcome up to 200 participants to the festival through the From Door to Doc initiative. Many participants will be attending Sheffield DocFest for the first time - building confidence and aspiration, discovering powerful stories, creating conversations and meeting new people.
We work closely with trusted community partners to reach people who would benefit most from the programme.
Budget Goal
£5,000 would support 200 participants, and £2,500 would support 100 participants. The budget covers ticket costs, the Alternate Realities Exhibition Tour, travel to and from the festival and refreshments.
How Your Donation Helps
Your donation will help us make From Door to Doc possible by funding:
- Festival tickets for participants
- Bespoke Alternate Realities Exhibition Tour - our immersive storytelling strand
- Transport to and from the festival
- Refreshments and hospitality to make the experience welcoming
- Participation & Engagement in cultural events, creating a space for confidence and aspiration, conversation and debate.
Every contribution helps us open the doors of the festival to people who might otherwise miss out.
Even a small donation can help someone experience the power of documentary storytelling for the first time.
When It Happens
April 2026 – We begin planning with our team and Local Advisory Group to coordinate outreach and delivery.
May 2026 – Recruitment for the From Door to Doc participants begins through community partners, and transport arrangements are confirmed.
End of May 2026 – Final outreach visits to community groups and partner organisations.
June 2026 – From Door to Doc participants attend screenings and events at Sheffield DocFest from 10th to 15th June 2026.
Help Us Open the Door
Your support will help ensure that Sheffield DocFest continues to be a festival for the whole city.
By donating, you are helping people experience new stories, new perspectives and a cultural event that belongs to everyone.
Together, we can open the door to documentary storytelling.
Organizer
Phoebe Hickson
Organizer
I
INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FESTIVAL SHEFFIELD
Beneficiary