Oscar-winner Mstyslav Chernov’s “2000 Meters To Andriivka” will compete for the Tim Hetherington Award at this year’s Sheffield Doc/Fest.
The six-day British doc festival begins on June 18 and includes a program of 116 films (82 features and 34 shorts) selected from over 2753 entries. The lineup features 51 world premieres, 16 international premieres, eight European premieres, and 39 UK premieres from 68 countries.
About a group of soldiers fighting their way through two kilometers of war-torn terrain to liberate a devastated Ukrainian village, Chernov’s “2000 Meters To Andriivka” debuted at Sundance 2025. It is one of several feature films about Ukraine heading to the 32nd Sheffield Doc/Fest, which announced its full lineup Wednesday.
Two Ukraine-based docs – Yegor Troyanovsky’s “Cuba & Alaska” and Mila Teshaieva and Marcus Lenz’s “Shards of Light” are vying for the Grand Jury prize in the Sheffield’s International Competition category. In “Cuba & Alaska,” phone and body-cam footage tell the story of two female medics in Ukraine’s army as they navigate the chaos of war with bravery, humor, and friendship. “Shards of Light” captures how war has ravaged the Ukrainian city of Bucha and affected the city’s residents. Both films will make their respective world premiere at Sheffield.
In Artem Ryzhykov and Juan Camilo Cruz’s “A Simple Soldier,” Ryzhykov, an Award-winning Ukrainian filmmaker and cinematographer, transforms into a hardened professional soldier as he navigates the confusion, chaos, heartache and reality of modern warfare. “A Simple Soldier” and Chernov’s “2000 Meters To Andriivka” are two of six films competing for the fest’s Tim Hetherington Award.
The four other films in the category are: Nayibe Tavares-Abel’s “Colossal,” about a filmmaker who investigates her grandfather’s work on the 1990 Dominican elections; Hosam Abu Dan’s “Gaza Sound Man,” about the realities of life on the ground in Palestine before and after October 7, 2023; Bao Nguyen’s “The Stringer,” a Sundance 2025 film about a whistleblower who prompts an investigation into the true history behind one of the most iconic photographs of the 20th century; and Hind Meddeb’s “Sudan, Remember Us,” a chronicle of Sudan’s youth revolution that depicts how hope was ignited though through music, murals and the unyielding power of words.
“At Sheffield DocFest, we believe in the power of storytelling to inspire change and create an alternate future,” said Mimi Poskitt, Sheffield DocFest Managing Director. “And this is what DocFest 2025’s program is all about: coming together to learn and be inspired to take action. In planning this year’s edition, we reflected deeply on where we can make a real difference — how, in an environment where filmmakers are facing ever greater challenges, our festival can be a place where documentaries thrive.”
In addition to “2000 Meters To Andriivka” and “The Stringer,” several Sundance 2025 docs have been invited to screen at the fest including: Violet Du Feng’s “The Dating Game,” Tony Benna’s “André is an Idiot,” and Kim A. Snyder’s “The Librarians.”
As previously announced, the world premiere of Kim Hopkins’ “Still Pushing Pineapples” will open Sheffield DocFest 2025. About Dene Michael, the former singer of Black Lace and pop band behind the novelty Brit party favourite “Agadoo,” the film follows the lead singer’s journey on the road with his aging mother and a partner, as he aims for a comeback.
Sheffield titles screen in three competition sections: International Competition, International First Feature Competition, and International Short Film Competition. In addition to the previously announced guests of honor program featuring Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato, the co-founders of the media company World of Wonder, the festival will present its Podcast Stories strand and previews of television series episodes in its First Impressions strand.
Out of competition films screen in six strand sections: Rhythms, Debates, People & Community, Memories, Rebellions, and Journeys.
“Sheffield DocFest is one of Sheffield’s flagship events and a key date in our cultural calendar,” said Shefflield Councillor Martin Smith. “The event proudly puts the city on the world stage.”
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the DocFest MeetMarket, with eight films in the program having participated in prior MeetMarkets.
The 32nd annual Sheffield DocFest takes place June 18-23.
Sheffield Doc/Fest 2025 Feature Comeptition lineup:
International Competition
Cuba & Alaska – Yegor Troyanovsky – Ukraine, France, Belgium, 2025 (World Premiere)
Two female medics in Ukraine’s army, whose lives are captured via phone and body-cam footage, navigate the chaos of war with bravery, humour and friendship.
Factory (Gong Chang) – Hao Zhou – Macau, 2025 (World Premiere)
Acclaimed director Hao Zhou journeys into one of China’s vast factories around the time of the pandemic to detail the impact of global supply chains and coercive business practices on workers’ lives.
The Gas Station Attendant – Karla Murthy – USA, 2025 (World Premiere)
A daughter reflects on her South Asian father’s life, his never-ending pursuit of the American dream, and the human capacity to love and survive.
North South Man Woman – Morten Traavik, Sun Kim – Norway, Latvia, South Korea, 2025 (World Premiere)
North Korean women meet South Korean men in a fascinating and often surprising look at love, business and geopolitics.
Shards of Light – Mila Teshaieva, Marcus Lenz – Germany, Ukraine, 2025 (World Premiere)
War has ravaged the Ukrainian city of Bucha, whose residents have endured unimaginable hostility and suffering. If hope remains a faint glimmer, the will to survive still shines through in this powerful and unflinching film.
Still Pushing Pineapples -Kim Hopkins – United Kingdom, 2025 (World Premiere)
A melancholic yet heartfelt story of the former singer of pop band Black Lace and his journey on the road with his aging mother and his partner, as he aims for a comeback.
Welded Together – Anastasya Mirashnichenko, Anastasiya Zinovieva – France, Netherlands, Belgium, 2025 (World Premiere)
A young welder confronts her fractured past to protect her sister, forging a future from sacrifice, resilience and the spark of second chances.
Yanuni – Richard Ladkani – Austria, Brazil, USA, Canada, Germany, 2025 (International Premiere)
In this love story and urgent call to action, an Indigenous couple risk everything to defend the Amazon and their unborn child’s future.
International First Feature Competition (supported by Netflix)
Blue Has No Borders – Jessi Gutch – United Kingdom, 2025 (World Premiere)
A young filmmaker is determined to know her neighbours in the port town of Folkestone. But in the aftermath of Brexit, building new relationships isn’t easy.
The Broken R (Rotacismo) – Ricardo Ruales Eguiguren – Ecuador, Italy, 2025 (World Premiere)
This intimate journey about self-acceptance follows Ricardo, a 24-year-old man born with Treacher Collins Syndrome, who has struggled to pronounce the letter R since birth.
Carmela and the Walkers (Carmela y los Caminantes) – Luis Herrera, Esteban Coloma – Ecuador, 2025 (World Premiere)
As the world appears increasingly intolerant of “outsiders,” an Ecuadorian woman welcoming Venezuelan migrants into her home is a moving reminder of our capacity for warmth and humanity.
Comparsa – Vickie Curtis, Doug Anderson – Guatemala, USA, 2025 (World Premiere)
In a Guatemalan town, two fiery sisters channel their grief and anger into a local street performance to protest against gender-based violence in the country.
December (Grudzień) – Grzegorz Paprzycki – Poland, Lithuania, Qatar, 2025 (World Premiere)
Amid December’s festive glow, refugees remain hidden in forests along the Poland-Belarus border. This powerful documentary gives voice to their silent cries.
A Little Gray Wolf Will Come (Dolazi mali sivi vuk) – Zhanna Agalakova – Croatia, Netherlands, France, 2025 (World Premiere)
On the eve of the war in Ukraine, a Russian journalist from pro-Kremlin TV channel brings her rebellious and Westernized teenage daughter on a journey through Putin’s Russia.
Lullaby For The Mountains (Օրոր Լեռների Համար) – Hayk Matevosyan – Armenia, USA, 2025 (World Premiere)
In this hypnotic odyssey, the ancient monasteries of Armenia’s highlands bear traces of epochs past. Landscapes give way to soundscapes, and the shadowy depths within.
Redlight to Limelight – Bipuljit Basu – India, Finland, Latvia, 2025 (World Premiere)
A high-spirited group of Indian sex workers and their families begin making short films to transform their own lives and inspire others.
Tim Hetherington Award (presented in association with Dogwoof)
Photojournalist and filmmaker Tim Hetherington was committed to humanitarian and social
concerns throughout the world. This award recognizes films that best reflect his legacy.
2000 Meters To Andriivka – Mstyslav Chernov – Ukraine, USA, 2025 (UK Premiere)
Mystyslav Chernov, the Oscar-winning director of 20 days in Mariupol, follows a young Ukrainian
platoon as they attempt to liberate a strategically vital location from Russian forces.
Colossal (Colosal) – Nayibe Tavares-Abel – Dominican Republic, 2025 (UK Premiere)
When a young filmmaker investigates her grandfather’s work on the 1990 Dominican elections,
she uncovers a web of secrets that still ensnares her family.
Gaza Sound Man (والموت الحياة صوت ..غزة (- Hosam Abu Dan, Qatar, Palestine, 2025 (World
Premiere)
Through a series of immersive soundscapes, Mohammad Yaghi captures the realities of life on
the ground in Palestine before and after 7 October 2023.
A Simple Soldier – Artem Ryzhykov, Juan Camilo Cruz – Ukraine, 2025 (World Premiere)
Award-winning Ukrainian filmmaker and cinematographer Artem Ryzhykov transforms into
a hardened professional soldier as he navigates the confusion, chaos, heartache and reality of
modern warfare.
The Stringer – Bao Nguyen – Vietnam, USA, France, 2025 (International Premiere)
A courageous whistleblower prompts an investigation into the true history behind one of the most
iconic photographs of the 20th century.
Sudan, Remember Us (Sudan Y’a Ghali) – Hind Meddeb – France, Tunisia, Qatar, 2024 (UK
Premiere)
This poetic yet urgent chronicle of Sudan’s youth revolution shows how hope was ignited though
through music, murals and the unyielding power of words.
