Sheep, Actually
Documentary | 63 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.
Sheep, Actually: A film about wool and a sheep named Cow.
Sheep Actually Tom Davis and Majeda Clarke © Paul Wyatt Films 2025
"Sheep, Actually" Social Media 1
Sheep Actually Remiiya Badru © Paul Wyatt Films 2025
"Sheep, Actually" Social Media 2
Video
Sold-Out Premiere: The Cutty Sark Takeover
Filmmaker Paul Wyatt brought the world-famous Cutty Sark's lesser-known legacy as a historic wool transporter out of mothballs by creating and co-producing a sold-out experiential and film premiere event, “The Cutty Sark Wool Experience,” with Royal Museums Greenwich, held at the ship in Greenwich, London, on October 9th.
The event brought people together through history, wool, film, and live music. Attendees explored the ship, listened to short talks on its wool history, and enjoyed a makers' village with weaving demonstrations. Headlining the evening was the premiere of Wyatt’s documentary, “Sheep, Actually,” which was screened under the suspended hull of the ship.
The film received an enthusiastic reception from a capacity audience, followed by a Q&A with contributors. In attendance and featured in “Sheep, Actually” were: Claire Ellis-Elson, Remiiya Badru, Majeda Clarke, Justine Lee, Tom Davis, David Jones, Emma Harrison, Andrew Kite and Allison Thistlewood. The audience included senior figures from the fashion, creative, and agricultural communities.
Screenings:“Sheep, Actually”
Come and learn more about sheep! Here are dates for venue screenings of Sheep, Actually. The venues choose the film, so if your favourite isn't listed, please ask them to get in touch and book the film.
Support the film and its exhibition by picking up a copy of The Sheepzine at participating venues. The zine features content from and inspired by the film.
Depot, Lewes
Date: Saturday 20th June 2026
Time: 2:00 pm
About: A special, knit-friendly KnitFlicks event. Bring your projects and knit along while you watch
Sheep, Actually.
Tickets: Book here
Dress Devolution 4 Conference, Falmouth University (Penryn Campus)
Date: Monday, 6th July 2026
Time: Check venue schedule for exact screening times
About: Screening as part of the Dress Devolution 4 conference that brings together international research to rethink the future of sustainable textiles. Includes an introduction to the film by director Paul Wyatt.
Tickets: Book here
Museum of Making, Derby
Date: Saturday 18th July 2026
Time: 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm
About: A special Museum Lates event on the site of the world's first factory. The screening is followed by a live Q&A session with filmmaker Paul Wyatt and fashion designer Justine Lee, creator of London Wool and featured alongside Wyatt in Sheep, Actually.
Tickets: Book here
Surrey Docks Farm, London
Date: 9th July, 2026
Time: 6:30 pm – 9:00 pm (Doors open at 6:00 pm on the Thames Path)
About: An immersive fundraising experience at the home of the star of the show, Cow the sheep! The evening begins with a farm tour to meet the sheep and Farmer Claire Elson, followed by light refreshments and the film screening in the River Room (7:40 pm – 8:40 pm). Stay for a post-film "meet and mingle" with the human stars and filmmaker Paul Wyatt.
Tickets: Book here
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
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
Hawkers Farm, Stour Provost, Dorset.
Leeds Industrial Museum (Woolfest 2026)
Screen Sheep, Actually At Your Venue
Licensing is available for cinemas, museums, art centres, educational institutions, and cultural festivals (including art, yarn, and creative events) for exclusive, in-person presentations.
Sheep, Actually is a grassroots-distributed documentary designed to inform and educate about agriculture, urban farming, and sustainable textile craft.
Film Specifications for Venue Licensing:
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Classification: Educational, instructional, and informational.
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BBFC Status: Uncertificated.
Content & Advisory: The film contains a brief, non-graphic scene of a sheep giving birth in a natural, educational farming context. There is no violence or swearing. Parental discretion is advised only for very young or sensitive viewers.