Guardian Documentaries is a home for independent filmmaking talent, commissioning and supporting creatives to tell the untold stories of real people from all over the world. Projects include Ed Perkins’ Oscar-Nominated Black Sheep and Roxy Rezvany’s Little Pyongyang. The commission looks for filmmakers with bold, daring and innovative ideas for access driven stories.

BBC Film is at the forefront of independent filmmaking in the UK, developing feature-length productions. Committed to developing new talent, it collaborates with the foremost writers and directors, with new releases including Ken Loach’s Sorry We Missed You and Joanna Hogg’s The Souvenir. BBC Film was awarded the BAFTA for Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema.

First Flights is an incubator for first time feature film directors and producers, supporting individuals to create financially successful films and launch their international profiles. The First Flights team is adept at spotting emerging creative talent, working with individuals to produce first features. Goldfinch has worked with Gary Oldman, Anjelica Houston, Bill Nighy & Sam Riley.

Film4 is Channel 4 Television’s feature film division, developing and co-financing projects from distinctive talents in UK and international filmmaking. Academy Award-winners include Martin McDonagh’s Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, Steve McQueen’s 12 Years a Slave and Danny Boyle’s Slumdog Millionaire. Recent releases include Andrea Arnold’s American Honey.

The Talent Decade is a joint pitching opportunity devised between Sheffield Hallam University and Aesthetica Short Film Festival and is launching for the first time at this year’s 2021 festival! This initiative will involve young people (16-25) who are eligible to apply for a grant of £500 towards a VR project. There will be live pitch sessions that will take place in order to choose the best project.

Scottish Documentary Institute specialises in documentary training, production and distribution, supporting filmmakers through its diverse programme of high quality training. It has produced over 100 films, screening in 60 countries, garnering recognition as being at the cutting edge of the documentary sector. Bridging art and industry, it is committed to film driven by emotion.

Jessica Loveland is Head of New Writing at BBC, overseeing all talent writing initiatives. As an experienced development executive and project manager, she has an interest in finding and nurturing exciting new and emerging writers, directors and producers. Loveland has great deal of experience working with writers, developing short and feature projects and delivering training.

STUDIOCANAL is Europe’s leader in production, distribution and international sales of feature films and TV series. STUDIOCANAL has fully financed box office hits Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy, Paddington 1 and 2, and Shaun the Sheep Movie. Upcoming films include Will Sharpe’s The Electrical Life of Louis Wain, starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Claire Foy, and A Boy called Christmas. 

The BFI Doc Society Fund works to support and develop UK storytellers, backing feature and short creative documentaries with bold cultural and social ambitions. Founded in 2005, it is committed to enabling great documentary films and connecting them to audiences globally. Hannah Bush Bailey works across the funds feature slate and Made of Truth Short Scheme.