Join our Local Advisory Group

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Live in South Yorkshire or North Derbyshire and want to attend Sheffield DocFest? Are you interested in shaping the future of the festival and having your say?

 

Our Local Advisory Group

The Sheffield DocFest Local Advisory Group, now in its third year running, is open for applications for the next cohort for the 2025 and 2026 festival editions.

As part of our on-going mission to make our festival welcoming, accessible and enjoyable to all, our Local Advisory Group scheme invites people from across South Yorkshire and North Derbyshire to attend the festival in June. As part of the Local Advisors' attendance at the festival, we ask that you attend as many screenings, talks and events as you can fit into 6 days. And after the festival, provide feedback on your experience that we can use to shape and inform decisions for the following year’s festival and beyond!

Six applicants will be invited to attend the festival (taking place 18-23 June 2025) with a complimentary festival pass, plus 4 in person meetings in May/June 2025, July/August 2025, September 2025 and January 2026 (dates tbc).

We aim to continue this scheme for future editions and wish to welcome this year’s successful applicants to take part in the 2025 and 2026 festival, as we believe impact and change can only be achieved gradually and over time.

 

What is Included?

  • A complimentary festival pass, which will give you access to our full festival programme of film screenings, exhibitions, talks and panels, live pitches, industry sessions, networking events and parties
  • Invite to our Public Programme Launch (May 2025), and Opening Night on 18 June 2025
  • Travel expenses to and from the festival in June and to the Advisory meetings 
  • Discount code for film screenings during the festival, to share amongst your friends, family and network
  • Attend a pre-festival briefing with our team (May/June 2025)
  • Attend a post-festival debrief to share your experiences and feedback on the event ( July/August 2025)
  • Meet with our team before festival planning days (taking place September 2025) to feed into planning for our 2026 festival
  • Final meeting with the team in preparation for the festival 2026 (January 2026)

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Who is Eligible?

  • You must be aged 18+ 
  • Open to anyone living across the South Yorkshire region (Sheffield, Doncaster, Barnsley or Rotherham) and North Derbyshire.
  • No prior experience, specific skills or knowledge are required to take part
  • We are particularly keen to receive applications from underrepresented and marginalised groups including those from the Global South, Indigenous backgrounds, Migrants, LGBTQIA+ people, those who identify as disabled and neurodiverse and those from low-income and working class backgrounds. 

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How to Apply?

To apply, please send us either a video (no more than 3 minutes long) or a written statement, responding to the following questions:

  1. Tell us a little bit about yourself, who you are and where you’re from, your interests, and why you are applying to be part of the Sheffield DocFest Local Advisory Group
  2. Describe an arts organisation, venue, or local event that you love and why.

Please email your application to: community@sheffdocfest.com, with the subject line: Local Advisory Group Application.

Applications will close 14th March, 17:00 BST.

We monitor the diversity of people engaging in all our programmes and initiatives and for the purposes of reporting to our key funders we ask that you help us by clicking on the link below to complete an anonymous questionnaire. 

https://bit.ly/3ZwGlN2 

 

Support and Adjustments

We aim to ensure all disabled and neurodiverse applicants have equitable access to our application process. If you need an adjustment for this process, please just let us know. 

If you have any questions, or require further information (including requests for printed forms/access support), please email us at: community@sheffdocfest.com 

Or call us on +44 (0) 114 276 5141 - our office hours are 9:30am - 5:30pm Monday to Friday

 

 

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