Ultimate Thunder, directed by Ben Brown and produced by Lia Brown and Stuart Ramsay, was announced June 15 as winner of Sheffield DocFest’s Audience Award. The film, which world-premiered in Sheffield, concerns a punk band whose members, who have learning disabilities and Down syndrome, fight to reach a bigger stage as funding cuts, health scares and setbacks close in.
“This is exactly why we made the film: for audiences to see it, for everyday people to fall in love with the band as we filmmakers have, and for people with learning disabilities, autism and Down syndrome to take centre stage in an authentic way,” comments director Brown. “Thanks to everyone who came to see the film and voted for it. It really means a lot.”
The other Award winners were announced June 14 at a ceremony held at Sheffield’s Crucible Playhouse. Thirty-seven films competed this year across the five competition categories.
This year’s festival, which ran 10-15 June was curated from over 2,900 submissions and includes 45 World Premieres, 17 International Premieres, 5 European Premieres, and 35 UK Premieres from 64 Countries.
Raul Niño Zambrano, Creative Director of Sheffield DocFest commented: “After six inspiring days of talks, film screenings, performances, industry pitches, and vital discussions, this edition of Sheffield DocFest has come to an end. But more than the packed schedule, what truly matters is what we’ve witnessed: Sheffield DocFest continues to be a nurturing space for encounters, for building networks, for dialogue and above all, for friendship. All the films we’ve shared this week have found new audiences and we simply hope that the platform we’ve humbly provided helps those stories go even further.”
Mimi Poskitt, Managing Director of Sheffield DocFest added: “From World Premieres to live podcasts, live music to national treasures – and even some sword dancing and a city map of Sheffield constructed in Minecraft: the sheer range of this year’s festival has been a delight.
“We’ve also been thrilled to bring the love of non-fiction storytelling to younger audiences, with the launch of GEN DocFest our new children, young people and family strand.
“Over the last 6 days we have welcomed thousands of people to the city. At a time when so much of our national dialogue is so polarised, it has been heartening to see the ever larger and more engaged audiences – and a sizeable number of standing ovations. We close the festival with gratitude to all the people who took part and excitement for the next chapter.”
INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION (Supported by Apple TV)
The Jury Members for the International Competition were: producer and broadcaster Mark Edwards, Kiyoko McCraea filmmaker and Program Director at Chicken & Egg Films, and Noa Nwande, Head of International Sales at Watermelon Pictures.
- The Grand Jury Award for the International Competition was awarded to Filthy (Sucia – Per què no vas fer res?) directed by Bàrbara Mestanza and Marc Pujolar. The Award is Academy Award® accredited and honours films that best display strong artistic vision and courageous storytelling. This award is supported by Apple TV. Jury citation: “Through courageous storytelling and remarkable creative vision, this film transforms personal trauma into a collective reckoning. While rooted in the singularity of the filmmaker’s personal story, the film opens outward, asking larger questions about guilt, shame, power, performance, and the systems that shape our complicity in violence. Its disciplined and compelling editing weaves together years of artistic creation and legal pursuit, creating a gripping journey that challenges audiences to look inward and examine their own narratives. For its bold artistry, precision of its inquiry, and extraordinary commitment over time, the jury awards Filthy, directed by Barbara Mestanza and Marc Pujolar.”
- Special Mention: Time Machine Maidan (Машина Часу Майдан) directed by Roman Liubyi, and Volodymyr Tykhyy. Jury citation: “Through its inventive and immersive approach, this film brings the recent past vividly to life, illuminating the enduring courage and resilience of ordinary people. Both a testament and a warning, it shows us that history’s most consequential turning points are made of individual acts of commitment and sacrifice that must be recognized and confronted in the present moment. In doing so, the film invites us to reckon with our own responsibility in the ongoing struggle for freedom. For its extraordinary vision, masterful use of collective archival footage, and profound exploration of resistance at a defining historical moment, the jury is honored to award a Special Mention to Time Machine Maidan, directed by Roman Liubyi and Volodymyr Tykhyy.”
INTERNATIONAL FIRST FEATURE COMPETITION (Supported by Netflix)
The International First Feature Competition jury members were: award-winning filmmaker Paul Sng, Darren Lawford (producer and former trustee of Sheffield DocFest), and Malikkha Rollins (producer and Director of Industry and Education for DOC NYC).
- The Grand Jury Award for the International First Feature Competition was awarded to Magma directed by Mia Bendrimia. This competition honours the future of non-fiction film and celebrates promising new talent and is supported by Netflix. Jury citation: “This film is a bold personal-political documentary exploring generational trauma resulting from the wounds of colonialism. We were unanimous in our decision to award this film for its intimate access and a creative and courageous act of storytelling from the filmmaker. The Grand Jury Award for the International First Feature Competition goes to Magma.”
- Special Mention: A City in the Forest directed by Lev Omelchenko and Nolan Huber.
INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM COMPETITION
The International Short Film Competition jury members were: double BAFTA award-winning director Olaide Sadiq (Grenfell: Uncovered winner of Sheffield DocFest Audience Award 2025), Joe Hunting (Creative Director at Painting Clouds), and filmmaker Laura Warner (The Cranes Call, A Last Big Story).
- The Grand Jury Award for the International Short Film Competition was awarded to Maybe Tomorrow directed by Waad Al-Kateab and Wafa Mustafa. This Academy Award®, BAFTA and BIFA accredited award honours the best creative approaches in documentaries under 40 minutes. Jury citation (in part): “Being present with Mustafa during this urgent time of resistance through the grounded lens she co-directed offers a vital and emotive watch that expands beyond her intimate family case, representing this large-scale crisis and its social impact.nNuanced, impactful and the story went beyond to tell the bigger picture excellently. The relationship between the filmmaker and subject was precious too.”
- Special Mention: The Anatomy of a Portrait directed by Juan Felipe León. Jury citation: “We thought this film was beautifully provoking in its artful image making, exploring its themes of age, death and art with sensitivity and poetry. Captivating and cinematic in equal measure, this was a rich, visually impressive and thoughtful piece. The Special Mention goes to The Anatomy of a Portrait.”
TIM HETHERINGTON AWARD (presented in association with Dogwoof)
Jurors for the Tim Hetherington Award were: Brenda Danker (Malaysia Freedom Film Network co-founder), Sam Holland (ex-director of Migration Matters festival in Sheffield) and Andrii Kotliar (Ukrainian producer/filmmaker part of the #babylon 13 collective).
- The Tim Hetherington Award was presented to The Long Cuban Night directed by Sergio Fernandez Borras. The award recognises a film and filmmaker that best reflects the legacy of photojournalist and filmmaker Tim Hetherington and is presented in association with Dogwoof. Jury citation: “The film we selected is incendiary, raw, and defiant in the face of oppression. It demonstrates the power of documentary, and the tool ordinary citizens have when a government tries to silence and censor its people, even if that tool is simply a camera phone and a livestream. The film demonstrates a community’s bravery and commitment to a cause that is so unwavering, that they risk their lives for it. It is a documentary that we feel truly honours Tim’s legacy.”
- Special Mention: Birds of War directed by Janay Boulos and Abd Alkader Habak.
YOUTH JURY AWARD
The Youth Jury were: Julianne Gazzingan, Sadie Coll, Jagraj Singh, Clementine Cunningham and Shae Beckford. They curated a selection of six films considered in a mentored deliberation.
- The Youth Jury Award was presented to Crocodile directed by The Critics and Pietra Brettkelly. Jury citation: As the youth jury, we feel that as young people growing up today under the pressures of technology, climate change and political violence, a great deal of the future feels shrouded in gloom. Yet the sense of resilience, passion and momentum that shines throughout our winning film ignites us with a newfound sense of hope and agency, and that is why we have chosen Crocodile as our winner.”
- Special Mention: All Rivers Spill Their Stories to the Sea directed by Jeanie Finlay.
SHINE GLOBAL CHILDREN’S RESILIENCE AWARD FOR DOCUMENTARY
- The Shine Global Children’s Resilience Award for Documentary was presented to Itab Azzam and Jack MacInnes for One In A Million. The Award recognises storytelling that expands understanding of children’s experiences around the world and the courage they show in confronting extraordinary challenges. Alexandra Blaney, Co-CEO and Creative Director of Shine Global said: “One In a Million is an incredible feat of documentary filmmaking. Through Isra’a’s decade-long journey, the film allows us to look beyond headlines and statistics and witness the long-term emotional realities of displacement. We are honored to recognize Itab Azzam, Jack MacInnes, and the entire filmmaking team for a work that so powerfully reflects the spirit of the Children’s Resilience Award.”
SHEFFIELD DOCFEST FOOTBALL DOCUMENTARY AWARD
- The Sheffield DocFest Football Documentary Award was presented to David Tryhorn and Ben Nicholas for Cantona. Raul Niño Zambrano said: “We are incredibly proud to award the Sheffield DocFest Football Documentary Award to CANTONA. This standout documentary captivated our team with its unique creative direction and unprecedented access to one of football’s most magnetic and enigmatic figures. Told largely in his own words, the film charts Eric Cantona’s historic rise from a volatile French prodigy to an iconic Manchester United legend. Utilizing a brilliant array of archive and deeply personal interviews with Cantona, Alex Ferguson, and David Beckham, the film expertly explores the fine line between brilliance and controversy, proving exactly why Cantona’s legacy still echoes today.”
