netflix documentary talent fund
Calling all documentary filmmakers! We are pleased to announce that the Netflix Documentary Talent Fund is back. We are looking for the best and brightest documentary talent from across the UK and Ireland. There are five funds of £30,000.00 up for grabs, so whether you’ve applied before or this is the first you’ve heard of us, we would love to hear from you…
The brief for this year's fully funded short documentaries is “You’re never gonna believe this…”
During the first two years of this programme we have supported 15 films made by filmmakers from a variety of backgrounds. Some have been first time filmmakers; some have been creatives working in the industry who have been unable to make the leap to directing, and some have been directors looking to make the most of this high-profile opportunity to boost their careers. Our teams were selected from thousands of applicants to form our Netflix Documentary Talent cohort. As well as being available to audiences on the Netflix Still Watching Channel, the films have all been screened at industry events across the UK and Ireland and have all had successful festival runs.
We’re looking for directors and producers who are committed to working in the documentary field. The opportunity will give five filmmakers and their teams the chance to make a short documentary film with the provided budget. All teams will be under the guidance of Netflix and other filmmaking professionals, to ensure that the final films are the best they can possibly be, and in a bid to open doors to those under-represented in the industry.
In their finished forms, each documentary must be between 8-12 minutes long and will live on Netflix UK’s social channels, with the potential for further development in the future. The final docs will be launched in mid 2025, and we will showcase them at an event attended by industry figures to help our talent expand their networks and advance their careers. Each team will own and retain their own copyright throughout the process.
Netflix gives creative freedom to writers and directors to tell the stories they want to tell, unrestricted by time and form. We believe that great stories can come from anyone, anywhere - and that viewers want to see their lives reflected on screen.
We want to encourage anyone with a great story to tell, to go for it. We are on the hunt for the bravest, wittiest, most surprising stories out there and we can’t wait to see what you’ve got!