Sheep, Actually
Documentary | 66 Minutes
A film about wool and a sheep
named Cow.
Synopsis
It started with the first photo filmmaker Paul Wyatt ever took: a blurred sheep's nose on a school trip when he was just nine. This lifelong love of animals and a deep-seated curiosity to understand their lives drove Wyatt to make Sheep, Actually.
He opens the film with a thought-provoking proposition: "If you’re going to work with wool, get to know how a sheep lives. Take a walk and meet the sheep." In the film, Wyatt does just that, taking viewers on an insightful journey to understand the origins and creation of wool, from the lives of sheep to the work of London farmers and makers.
“I believe the lives of these remarkable animals are not as well understood as they should be,” says filmmaker Paul Wyatt. “I wanted to create a way for people to see them—and be encouraged to learn more about their lives beyond the film.” Beneath its woolly surface, “Sheep, Actually” is a surprising and deeply human look at where animals, people, and making meet.
Video
Sheep, Actually engagement
Paul Wyatt’s films have a proven track
record of bringing audiences together and “Sheep, Actually” is no exception.
His combination of storytelling with deeply relatable themes consistently sparks post-screening discussion and guarantees a memorable experience for audiences.
From major cultural institutions to local community centres, viewers are captivated by his evocative depictions of place and character-driven narratives.
“A wonderful way to spend
an evening!”
Patty Lyons, Knitting Teacher, Designer, and Author
Screening dates
The Bridge, Milford on Sea, Hampshire
Date: July 31st
Time: 6:45pm - 8:30pm
About: Bring your craft of choice, from knitting to embroidery, and work on it whilst we watch a woolly film!
Tickets: Book here
Phoenix, Leicester
Date: August 8th, 2026
Time: 5.45pm
Followed by a live Q&A session with filmmaker Paul Wyatt.
Tickets: Book here
Saffron Screen, Saffron Walden, Essex
Date: August 22nd, 2026
Time: 11am
Tickets: Book here
Farnham Maltings
Date: 9th September, 2026
Time: 11am / 3pm and 8pm
About: The 11am and 3pm screenings of Sheep Actually will be dimly lit in the auditorium, to allow audiences if they wish to bring along a crochet project, thier knitting, or any other reasonabily mess-free craft to work on while they watch the documentary!
Subject to confirmation: the 8pm screening may be followed by a discussion with filmmaker Paul Wyatt and other guests.
Tickets: Book here
Previous screenings
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Hawkers Farm, Stour Provost, Dorset.
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Leeds Industrial Museum (Woolfest 2026)
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Depot, Lewes
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Dress Devolution 4 Conference, Falmouth University
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Museum of Making, Derby
The Sheepzine -
Adventures with Wool and Sheep, Actually
Filmmaker Paul Wyatt knows what it’s like to smell
like a sheep. Or, to be precise, a sheep taking a hot bath on a London-bound commuter train while being spritzed with perfume. "The Sheepzine — Adventures with wool and sheep, actually" draws on over a decade’s worth of behind-the-lens field notes as Wyatt rewinds the tape on his own journey with fleece across time and landscapes—from farmyard ear-scratches, shearing, and fleece grading to 21st-century powerhouses washing a million kilos of raw fleece a week, and the circular design projects saving materials from landfill.
Equal parts field notes, industrial travelogue, and personal memoir, this is a filmmaker’s perspective on shaping and telling these stories—an insider look at the craft, the innovation that defines a sustainable future, and the people who bring it to life.
And, of course, it’s about the remarkable animals at the heart of it all: the sheep, actually.
Available at particpating screenings - Autumn 2026