The Grierson Awards employ a two-stage judging process. Every entry, other than for the Grierson:Sheffield Youth Jury Award, will be reviewed by a minimum of two members of, or advisors to, The Grierson Trust. From the whole entry a shortlist of around eight films from each category will be drawn up. These shortlisted films will then be judged by juries comprising five people, mainly drawn from documentary makers, broadcasters, critics and subject experts. They will decide on the final four nominations, including the winner, in each category.

Entrants who are shortlisted or nominated for a Grierson award will be informed by email. Shortlisted entrants will be asked to provide additional viewing copies and nominated entrants will be required to give The Grierson Trust access to the master tape.
See Terms and Conditions for more information.

The full shortlist will be published on the website of The Grierson Trust by 28 August 2008; the nominations by 6 October 2008; and the winners will be announced at the awards ceremonies for the Grierson:Sheffields and Grierson 2008 on 7 and 20 November respectively.

The entries for The Youth Jury Award will be selected from the 2008 Sheffield Doc/Fest programme and will be judged by a jury of young people, aged 16 – 18 years, chaired by a Grierson Trustee. The Grierson Trust chooses the recipient of the Trustees’ Award at its discretion.