Hello podcast colleagues! Exciting news for non-fiction creators: SheffDocFest is looking for podcast project pitches. Selected projects will be eligible for a cash prize from the
Whicker Foundation
In an effort to include yet another realm of the artistic world of documentary, Sheffield DocFest will for the first time present a Podcast Industry programme. Seeing the steady growth in both podcast production and listenership over the past few years, we are eager to venture into new artistic audio directions. We cordially invite you to send in your in progress projects for the Podcast Pitch forum as soon as possible.
The guidelines state the deadline was yesterday, though we are still taking submissions. We’re happy to announce the Whicker foundation will be awarding a £5000 prize for the first place and £2500 for the second place Pitch award winners.
Sheffield DocFest is the UK’s leading documentary festival and one of the world’s most influential markets for documentary projects. We champion and present the breadth of documentary form – film, television, immersive and art – in the vibrant city of Sheffield each June. We offer makers and audiences a place for inspiration, debate, development, learning and challenge. Our programming represents our core values – creativity, empathy, freedom, inclusivity and internationalism.
In 2022, Sheffield DocFest welcomed 2,188 industry delegates from 69 countries across the world. We intend that Sheffield DocFest’s 30th edition will take place in-person, bringing documentary makers, professionals and audiences to Sheffield between 14 - 19 June 2023.
A central part of the Podcast Industry Programme is the Podcast Pitch forum. On Saturday The Podcast Pitch session on Saturday 17 June, where 5 new and unfinished podcast projects will be presented by their creators and discussed on stage by a panel of commissioners, artists, and other podcast experts. One project will receive an award – more information on this will be provided later. The Pitch Session will be followed up by networking opportunities to meet with fellow pitch participants and panellists.
In the afternoon, industry sessions open to all delegates will take place. Alongside the Podcast Pitch forum, the programme will also include several live podcast listening events.
We are aware you are working on a new promising podcast and are happy to consider your project for Sheffield DocFest. Please create a DocFest account and fill in the basic information on the project, and provide three minutes of (subtitled) audio through this link before April 12. Entrants will be informed by the end of April on the decision of the DocFest selection committee.
Entries can be submitted through this online form after creating an account. Please read the Guidelines before preparing your submission.
Any questions can be emailed to lieven.heeremans@sheffdocfest.com
We’re also eager to hear about nearly finished podcast projects that are looking to connect to the DocFest audience in June. Please let us know if you have anything coming up we could take into consideration.
Sincerely on behalf of the Programming team at Sheffield DocFest,
Lieven Heeremans
SheffDocFest Industry Programme Podcast Producer 2023
he/him