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. With a main award worth £100,000 and a development award for the runner-up of £20,000, The Whickers Film & TV Funding Award is one of the most significant documentary awards in the world.
About The Whickers
The Whickers were established in 2015 to fund and recognise original and innovative documentary. We seek to use the generous legacy of our namesake, pioneering broadcaster Alan Whicker, to support emerging film and audio documentary-makers in the funding and production of director led programmes. The Whickers are comprised of two annual awards: the Film & TV Funding Award and The Podcast Pitch Award. We also run a Bursary Scheme in four regions of the world where funding for documentary is limited for socio-political or economic reasons.... continue reading
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Film & TV Funding Award
Aim and Benefits of Film & TV Funding Award
- A main award worth £100,000 and a development award for the runner-up of £20,000 are available.
Requirements for Film & TV Funding Award Qualification
- Open to filmmakers from anywhere in the world. They encourage international filmmakers to apply;
- Must be the filmmaker or filmmakers’ first 50+ minute documentary film where they own the director or co-director credit;
- 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);
- They ask that the budget for your 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.
Interview date, Process and Venue for Film & TV Funding Award
Selection criteria:
- Director-led Story
- Storyteller with demonstrably strong interviewing skills.
- Demonstrates a passion for the subject whilst retaining fair-mindedness.
- Demonstrates a real sense of independence.
- Personal but not partisan.
- Wry humor is welcome.
- Strictly no ‘Whicker impersonations’.
- Engagement
- Unique access to engaging characters in unusual or inaccessible locations.
- Allows contributor’s stories to emerge in their own words.
- Demonstrates a flair for coaxing the human spirit into revealing itself.
- The author demonstrates intimacy with but does not overshadow the subject.
- Curiosity
- Spirit of inquisitiveness that leaves viewers wanting more.
- Tells us about something new and unexpected about the world.
- Excites wonder.
- Understands how it can illuminate the toughest or most nuanced real-life drama.
- Original Use of Technology
- Playful with storytelling means – breaking new ground and/or using old ground to re-invent new style
- Not Partisan
- No campaigning, pre-set agendas or political theories.
Timeline:
- 2nd October 2023: Applications open
- 31st January 2024 (23:59 GMT): Deadline for applications
- Late April 2024: Shortlisted projects announced
- June 2024: Finalists pitch their projects at Sheffield DocFest
- June 2024: Winner of the Film & TV Funding Award announced at Sheffield DocFest Awards Ceremony
Application Deadline
January 31, 2024
How to Apply
Interested and qualified? Go to
The Whickers on www.whickerawards.com to apply
You can download a Word template of the application form to help you to prepare your answers in advance by clicking the button link at the end of this section; email [email protected] if you have further queries. In the meantime, you can expect to answer questions on the following:
Section 1: Title; logline; up to 300 words on how your project meets the criteria
Section 2: Personal and contact details; your role in the project
Section 3: Password protected link to teaser footage; publicity and deadline agreements
Section 4: Your treatment; up to 2000 word synopsis of your project; an estimated budget (in GBP) of various elements in production and post-production of the film; any existing funding or plans for future funding; details of your production company (or project account/fiscal sponsor); details of your executive producer; confirmation that your project complies with our majority sponsor criteria (see section 4.8 in the Funding Award Terms and Conditions)
Section 5: Your background in documentary making (if any); 50 words on how you learnt your filmmaking skills; 50 words on what inspires you to make documentaries; 50 words on how the funding will benefit your project; 50 words on why an audience would really love your film; confirm that you or a member of your team will be able to attend a live pitching event in the UK in June; your compliance with rules on transferring funds; your agreement with our terms and conditions.
For more details,visit The Whickers website
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