Some news from Sheffield’s Doc/Fest, set to run 15th and 16th June next year. Firstly, perhaps of interest to our younger and student members, applications are open for the festival’s enviable Youth Jury programme. Those selected get a full pass to the festival with access to some of the key individuals involved at a three day Directors UK event, as well as their own section to judge and prize to offer in the Youth Jury Award. Deadline is 15th Jan, so get thinking how you might separate yourself.

Second, feature doc, short or interactive project submissions are open and remain so until 7th February. Additionally, MeetMarket and Alternate Realities Market, Doc/Fest’s multi-platform pitching initiatives will open from 5th January. As a rule, the Alternate Realities Market is for digital or online projects, whereas MeetMarket is for more linear material for which TV and cinema screens is the intended route.

Thirdly, in suitably idiosyncratic fashion from a festival with a penchant for envelope-pushing, this year they are looking to connect experts in science, engineering, politics, or the arts with documentary makers and commissioners with their OnScreen Talent Market.

Doc/Fest is also accepting ideas for sessions. so if you have thoughts about a panel or discussion that would benefit the festival, then get in touch. They run over 60 of these types of panels, interviews and masterclasses, so there may be a place for the sorts of conversations you think should be happening there.

Lastly. something that has been floating around, but worth noting in case you missed it. Doc/Fest have opened a fund for short documentary filmmakers in partnership with Just So. They’re offering 12 grants of (up to) £5,000 for boundary pushing, bold or innovative short (1-5 mins) documentaries. The 12 supported projects will be showcased on their online platform, dubbed ‘Postcards’. The deadline for first round of submissions is 31st January 2016.