Sheffield DocFest (June 10-15) has revealed its full 2026 line-up, which opens with the world premiere of Rich Felgate’s We, The Hated, about UK climate protest movement Just Stop Oil.
Felgate’s doc asks what it really costs to take a stand in a supposedly democratic society. He followed the movement for around a decade and was arrested while filming a protest (with charges later dropped).
The selection includes 45 world premieres, 17 international premieres and five European premieres, with 64 countries featured across the line-up.
The international competition features six world premieres, including Cara Holmes’ Lesbian Lines, about a network of telephone helplines set-up by Irish lesbians in 1979, and Ose Oyamendan’s MKO, following Nigerian politician Moshood Abiola’s democratic life and unexpected death.
The international first feature competition includes the world premiere of Christian Cargill’s Wolf, in which Tilda Swinton narrates the life of cult British musician Patrick Wolf, drawing on archive and animation.
Competing for the Tim Hetherington award – which recognises the legacy of the late photojournalist and filmmaker – is the world premiere of Daniele Rugo’s Life Support, in which a group of international doctors breach the blockade of Gaza.
As previously announced, Docfest’s MeetMarket will feature Jacob Perlmutter, Manon Ouimet and Ibrahim Omar, while speakers include Maxine Peake and Andrea Arnold.
Sheffield Doc/Fest line-up
*world premiere
We, The Hated* (UK) – opening night film
Dir. Rich Felgate
International competition
Colors of White Rock (Fr-Mong)
Dir. Khoroldorj Choijoovanchig
Disciples* (India-Ger-Den-Nor-Qat)
Dir. Pankaj Johar and Sunaina Kapoor
Filthy (Sp)
Dir. Bàrbara Mestanza and Marc Pujolar
Lesbian Lines* (Ire)
Dir. Cara Holmes
MKO* (Nigeria-UK-Can-US)
Dir. Ose Oyamendan
The Archivist* (UK)
Dir. Rob Curry and Tim Plester
The Apologist* (Belg-Neth-Fr)
Dir. Kristof Bilsen
Time Machine Maidan* (Ukr-Ger)
Dirs. Roman Liubyi and Volodymyr Tykhyy
International first feature competition
A City In The Forest* (US)
Dirs. Lev Omelchenko and Nolan Huber
Hope Is A Word* (Nor-It-Nigeria)
Dir. Maria Galliani Dyrvik
Magma* (Fr-Alg-Qat)
Dir. Mia Bendrimia
Matininó (Puer Ric-Dom Rep)
Dir. Gabriela Díaz Arp
The Way You See Me* (Mex-Arg)
Dir. M Sin Título
The Wind’s Thirst* (Can-Col)
Dir. Alejandro Valbuena
The Wolf* (India-Fr)
Dirs. Wancheng Gu and Prasad Shetty
Wolf* (UK)
Dir. Christian Cargill
Tim Hetherington Award
Birds Of War (UK-Syr-Leb)
Dirs. Janay Boulos and Abd Alkader Habak
Life Support* (UK)
Dir. Daniele Rugo
The Long Cuban Night (Sp-Col-Cub)
Dir. Sergio Fernandez Borras
Saigon Story: Two Shootings in the Forest Kingdom (Can)
Dir. Kim Nguyen
TCB – The Toni Cade Bambara School of Organizing (US-UK-Can-Fr-Sene)
Dirs. Louis Massiah and Monica Henriquez
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