Tag Archives: Film Makers

THE WHICKERS FILM & TV FUNDING AWARD 

Application Deadline: 31 Janary, 2024

LOCATION: United Kingdom

The Film & TV Funding Award is awarded annually to an emerging filmmaker from anywhere in the world with the most promising pitch for a director-led documentary which fulfils the core criteria detailed below.  The Whickers Film & TV Funding Award is one of the most significant documentary awards in the world.

ELIGIBILITY:

All awards are free to enter

Must be the filmmaker or filmmakers’ first 50+ minute documentary film where they own the director or co-director credit

Open to filmmakers from anywhere in the world. We encourage international filmmakers to apply

Projects must be at the late development to early production stage at the time of applying – this is not a finishing fund

Award money cannot be paid to an individual. Therefore applicants must either: provide proof of company viability; have a fiscal sponsor on board; have a nominated production company on board to create a dedicated project account for their film; or confirm that they are willing to set up a limited company and dedicated project account if shortlisted.

Up to six minutes of original taster footage is required at the time of applying

Must be accessible for an English-speaking audience – whether in the English language or subtitled in English

Applicants must have an executive producer on board at the time of applying.

Should they be shortlisted, applicants must be available to travel to the UK in June to pitch their project at Sheffield DocFest (reasonable travel and accommodation covered by The Whickers)

The budget for 50+ minute documentary film does not exceed £400,000 at the time of application

Applicants who at the time of application have other funding sources over the value of £300,000 are not eligible.

BENEFIT:

A main award worth £100,000 and a development award for the runner-up of £20,000

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HOT DOCS-BLUE ICE DOCS FUND

Application Deadline: January 5, 5pm ET.

LOCATION: Africa

The Hot Docs-Blue Ice Docs Fund (HDBID) is a fund for filmmakers who live and work on the African continent. The Fund offers grants in Development and Production for feature or broadcast-length documentaries. Approximately 4 to 10 projects are awarded each year. All successful applications will also be considered for a mentorship program. Applications are now open!

ELIGIBILITY:

The applicant must:

Be the producer and primary rights holder of the project

Have a registered production company that is associated with the project in a country on the African continent listed in our FAQ section

In all cases both the director and producer must:

Hold citizenship, or have legal permanent residency, and primarily live and work in Africa. A complete list of funded countries can be found in the FAQ section

Have at least one previous professional credit to their name

Be in good standing with Hot Docs by application date

The project must:

Be produced and shot in Africa

Be either a high-quality feature or broadcast-hour length documentary to audiences both locally and internationally (school work, series, and fiction pieces are not eligible)

Be in development, production or post-production as of April 2024. The Fund will not consider projects that will be completed by Hot Docs 2024.

Eligibility for re-application:

A project can submit to the Development Fund and, then submit to the Production Fund at a later deadline, whether or not the Development Fund application was successful.

Submitted projects that do not receive funding may submit a maximum of one additional time only in another stream within the fund. Requests for resubmission must be received in writing to funds@hotdocs.ca. In some instances, the selection committee may invite a project to resubmit and they will be notified directly.

Please note:

Applicants who have misrepresented their primary residency on the application and/or in written or verbal correspondence with Hot Docs will not be considered for the grant selection and may have their grants revoked.

BENEFIT:

 FEATURE OR BROADCAST-LENGTH PRODUCTION
Development GrantUp to $10,000
Grant can reflect up to 100% of the development budget.
Production GrantUp to $40,000
Grant can reflect up to 50% of the production budget.
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