The annual Film & TV Funding Award is bestowed upon an emerging filmmaker worldwide who presents the most promising pitch for a director-led documentary that meets the core criteria outlined below. Featuring a grand award of £100,000 and a £20,000 development award for the runner-up, The Whickers Film & TV Funding Award stands as one of the most noteworthy documentary honors globally.
Applications for the 2024 cycle are currently open.
Key dates for the 2024 round:
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- 2nd October 2023: Applications open
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- 31st January 2024 (23:59 GMT): Deadline for applications
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- Late April 2024: Announcement of shortlisted projects
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- June 2024: Finalists present their projects at Sheffield DocFest
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- June 2024: Winner of the Film & TV Funding Award revealed at the Sheffield DocFest Awards Ceremony
WHAT WE LOOK FOR
DIRECTOR-LED STORY
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- Storyteller with demonstrably strong interviewing skills.
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- Demonstrates passion for the subject whilst retaining fair-mindedness.
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- Demonstrates a real sense of independence.
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- Personal but not partisan.
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- Wry humor welcome.
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- Strictly no ‘Whicker impersonations’.
ENGAGEMENT
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- Unique access to engaging characters in unusual or inaccessible locations.
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- Allows contributor’s story to emerge in their own words.
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- Demonstrates a flair for coaxing the human spirit into revealing itself.
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- The author demonstrates intimacy with but does not overshadow the subject.
CURIOSITY
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- Spirit of inquisitiveness that leaves viewers wanting more.
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- Tells us about something new and unexpected about the world.
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- Excites wonder.
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- Understands how wit can illuminate the toughest or most nuanced real-life drama.
ORIGINAL USE OF TECHNOLOGY
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- Playful with storytelling means – breaking new ground and/or using old ground to re-invent a new style.
NOT PARTISAN
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- No campaigning, pre-set agendas, or political theories.
CRITERIA
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- Must be the filmmaker or filmmakers’ first 50+ minute documentary film where they own the director or co-director credit.
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- Open to filmmakers from anywhere in the world. We encourage international filmmakers to apply.
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- Projects must be at the late development to early production stage at the time of applying – this is not a finishing fund.
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- 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.
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- Up to six minutes of original taster footage is required at the time of applying.
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- Must be accessible for an English-speaking audience – whether in the English language or subtitled in English.
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- Applicants must have an executive producer on board at the time of applying.
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- 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).
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- We ask that the budget for your 50+ minute documentary film does not exceed £400,000 at the time of application.
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- Applicants who, at the time of application, have other funding sources over the value of £300,000 are not eligible.
APPLICATION CHECKLIST
We recommend that, well in advance of the deadline, you go through the full application questions in order to prepare your answers according to the requested word limits, and gather the necessary links and information. 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 info@whickerawards.com 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.
Apply Here