Discovering, Exhibiting and Championing compelling arts and music documentaries.

The Music Documentary Festival.
13th annual edition UK-wide, showcasing national and international non-fiction arts-based docs and music films, covering all genres of arts and subcultures.

Central London, November film festival of approx 25 Premiere feature arts and music docs.
12 UK regional city editions, featuring 6 - 10 films selected from our London programme.
Plus Q&As, gigs, and DJ sets themed on the films.

We screen across Brighton, Bristol, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Manchester, Leeds, Liverpool, Nottingham, Newcastle, Sheffield and Stockport.

PAST PREMIERE HIGHLIGHTS:

2025 Opening Night: UK Premiere - I Was a Teenage Sex Pistol, plus Q&A featuring directors and Glen Matlock

2025 UK Premiere - BFI IMAX - Boy George & Culture Club, plus Q&A featuring Mikey Craig

2025 Closing Night: World Premiere - BFI Southbank - How Tanita Tikaram Became a LIAR, Q&A with Tanita and the director.

2020 Opening Night: World Premiere - Alexandra Palace Theatre - Phil Lynott: Songs For While I'm Away, Q&A with Director

2020 Opening Night: World Premiere - BFI Southbank - Kelly Jones: Don't Let The Devil Take Another Day, Q&A with KJ hosted by Fearne Cotton

2020 Closing Night: World Premiere - Genesis Cinema - The Streets: None Of Us Are Getting Out Of This Life Alive, Q&A featuring The Streets’ Mike Skinner (Cancelled due to lockdown #2)

2019 Closing Event: UK Premiere - Curzon Soho - David Crosby: Remember My Name

2019 World Premiere - Rio Cinema - Rip Up The Road: A Film About Foals, Q&A with the band

2019 Opening Night: World Premiere - Rio Cinema - Disco Confessions: John Morales A Life In The Mix live Q&A with JM

2019 Opening Night: London Premiere - Barbican - PJ Harvey: A Dog Called Money live Q&A with Dir Seamus Murphy

2018 World Premiere - Picturehouse Central - About A Badly Drawn Boy live Q&A with BDB

2018 London Premiere - Barbican - Chilly Gonzales: Shut Up and Play The Hits live Q&A with CG, plus Jarvis Cocker

2018 Opening Night: World Premiere Barbican - Slow Club: Our Most Brilliant Friends live Q&A with band

2017 Opening Night: World Premiere - Picturehouse Central - A Winding Road: A Ramble With Richard Thompson live Q&A with RT

2016 Opening Night: World Premiere - BFI Southbank - Gregory Porter: Don't Forget Your Music x 2 sold-out live Q&As with GP.

Awards & Prizes

Award - Certificate

1) Best Feature Doc, selected from a short-list of 6 films from our London festival programme of 25 premiere international feature docs.

2) Audience Award

3) Best Short

Follow this link for our 2025 Jury -https://www.docnrollfestival.com/about/festival-jury/

Rules & Terms

We only accept non-fiction ARTS-BASED DOCS OR MUSIC DOCUMENTARIES for entry!

Films cannot be available to view online or broadcast to either UK or Irish audiences prior to us screening them.

Films with UK, European, International or World Premiere status will be given preference in the selection process.

***Submission to the festival implies acceptance of all of the following regulations***

Feature Films: download links to DCPs must be supplied for screening.
Physical DCPs not accepted!

Doc'n Roll Film Festival is hereby granted the right to use a short excerpt no greater than 60 seconds in duration from any film submitted for promotional purposes, both online and in-cinema.

The individual or corporation submitting the film hereby warrants that it is authorised to commit the film for UK screenings, and understands and accepts these requirements and regulations.

THE SUBMITTER -
shall indemnify and hold harmless Doc'n Roll Film Festival and Doc'n Roll Films Ltd. from and against any and all claims, liabilities, losses, damages, and expenses (including but not limited to attorney's fees, and costs of the court) which may be incurred by reason of any claim involving copyright, trademark, credits, publicity, screening, and loss of or damage to the screening videos entered.

SELECTED FILMS
All FEATURE films selected must be submitted in DCP format.
Other screening film formats will not be accepted.

***This deadline must be respected***

DEADLINE FOR THE SCREENING COPY
The DCP screening copy of the selected film must be received by Doc'n Roll Film Festival by 1 OCTOBER 2026 at the latest.

***This deadline must be respected***

PARTICIPANTS' OBLIGATIONS
The films selected for the festival cannot be withdrawn from the Festival once confirmation of its participation in Doc'n Roll Film Festival London has been received following the official email notification of its selection.
The production company confirms that all archive material, music, audio and image rights of the persons in the film have been cleared for UK screenings.

THE ADMISSION FEES ARE NON-REFUNDABLE
19 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • michael x. ferraro

    What an outstanding experience! Vanessa, Colm and team run a very welcoming, impressive and well-curated festival. Because the films are screened not only in London, but also in Dublin and other UK cities, it is pretty far flung-- more like a rolling, month-long umbrella-ed film series than a truly communal "fest." That said, on the days surrounding the screening of "Look at My Furniture" in the shorts program at the Century Club Soho, I was able to see three great feature docs and meet those filmmakers as well, at a wide range of venues. Looking forward to coming back next year with a feature doc.

    November 2024
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  • Jason Summers

    Doc'n Roll FF are really quite amazing. They believed in our project, helped get further screenings, and understood and promoted our film beyond what we would have hoped. They are putting wind in our sails, and we really appreciate it.

    November 2024
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  • John Wood

    We were so honoured to be chosen as the opening film for Doc'n Roll 2023, and to have been nominated! Our world premiere was a total blast - truly a night to remember. And the Q&A was wonderful too. You looked after us royally! Thank you so much for giving us a platform to release The 'Session Man: Nicky Hopkins' to the world!

    November 2023
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  • aaron trinder

    An absolutely fantastic experience from start to finish with the hardest working, most creative and resourceful people behind any film festival I could imagine. It was such a pleasure to share our film across the country at so many interesting venues, with excellent Q and As, panels and hosts organised by DnR. I can only imagine the organisation that it took to pull it all off at so many different quality cinemas, and I'm very grateful that, on top of all the excellent screenings, we were also nominated for best doc, and won jury 'honourable mention' for our film Free Party: A Folk History. Congrats to everyone involved. Looking forwards to next year already.

    November 2023
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  • Ewan McPherson

    An amazingly supportive festival and a must for anyone producing a music documentary.

    November 2023
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