Sheffield DocFest and Climate Spring have announced the return of the Climate Spring Pitch Competition for 2026, introducing a new digital-first format and a £10,000 production prize.
The initiative invites UK-based storytellers to create solution and community-focused content tackling the climate crisis, with applications now open until 1pm on Monday, 11 May 2026.
The competition will shortlist four ideas to be pitched live during Sheffield DocFest, which takes place in Sheffield from 10 to 15 June 2026.
One winning idea will receive £10,000 in production funding alongside expert narrative support from Climate Spring to help bring the project to screen and reach audiences.
The refreshed digital-first brief responds to changing audience habits and encourages innovative unscripted storytelling designed specifically for digital platforms.
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Eligible applicants include producers, creators, directors and production companies working across mainstream and digital media who want to develop high-impact short-form documentary concepts.
Suggested formats include visual podcasts, interview series, archive documentaries, comedy-led shows, talent-fronted projects and influencer explainers.
Proposals must align with one of two themes: Rethinking the Future, exploring how system change can improve lives, or The Power of Community, celebrating collaboration and collective action.
Mimi Poskitt, Sheffield DocFest’s Managing Director, said: “Building on the momentum of last year, our partnership with Climate Spring continues to empower filmmakers to tell bold, inventive and urgent stories. At Sheffield DocFest, we share a deep commitment to platforming work that speaks to the defining issues of our time, and to amplifying voices that challenge, provoke and inspire. We’re excited to see how this collaboration will shape the future of the industry and the stories still to come.”
David Leach, Head of Unscripted at Climate Spring, said: “We’re excited to return to Sheffield DocFest with a digital-first competition, responding to audiences’ growing appetite for content that meets them where they discover and engage with content today. At Climate Spring, we’re working to shift our cultural response to the climate crisis through film, TV and popular culture. With this year’s pitch, we encourage creatives to explore innovative and timely unscripted ideas that entertain broad digital audiences, centre the power of community, and offer visions of a future where system change is possible. We’re excited to see how creatives will rise to the challenge.”
Initial programming for Sheffield DocFest 2026 will be announced in April.
More information can be found here.
