BFI Doc Society

NOW CLOSED

Opens 1st July

NOW CLOSED

Opens 1st July

Now Closed

BFI DOC SOCIETY FUND

The BFI Doc Society Fund supports and nurtures independent non-fiction film and immersive projects by UK filmmakers, prioritising expansive, director-led storytelling.

Talent Development Programme

Find out more about the BFI Doc Society Talent Development Programme. Learn More

News & Events

Holloway Roundtables

Filmmaker Roundtables: HOLLOWAY
5 July, 16:00 - 17:00 // Hackney Picturehouse, London
10 July, 16:30 - 17:30 // Komedia, Brighton

BFI Doc Society, in collaboration with Reclaim the Frame, are pleased to host two in-person roundtable conversations with the film team behind Holloway, to celebrate its theatrical release. This debut feature doc is directed by Sophie Compton and Daisy-May Hudson, and produced by Alice Hughes and Polly Creed.

On Saturday 5 July (London) and Thursday 10 July (Brighton) we invite documentary filmmakers of marginalised genders, interested in co-creation and trauma-informed collaborative processes, to join us for these intimate events, ahead of a screening of the film.

We will hear from the team about their processes and learnings in making the film, and invite attendees to share and reflect on their own projects and methods.

These sessions will last around one hour and capacity is limited to 10 participants to allow for meaningful exchange and conversation.

BFI Doc Society will cover the screening ticket for the 10 filmmakers attending the roundtable.

Book for the Hackney Picturehouse event.

Book for the Komedia Brighton event.

Meet our RISE 2025 cohort!

Meet our RISE Producer Programme 2025 cohort!

The BFI Doc Society RISE Producer Programme 2025 offers individually tailored guidance and training for 6 UK-based producers, aimed at breaking down socio-economic barriers of access and sustainability for emerging first time feature documentary producers.

For the second iteration of the programme, we selected participants from a UK-wide open call for applications. These producers will benefit from flexible modes of support and development sessions centred around bespoke 1-2-1 consultancies, group presentations, and market introduction.

Find out more here.

BFI Doc Society at Docs Ireland 2025

BFI Doc Society at Docs Ireland 2025
26 - 28 June // Belfast

Can’t catch us at Sheffield DocFest? Then find us in Belfast at Docs Ireland a week later! On Thursday 26 June from 13:00 - 17:00, join us for our Creative Documentary Making in Focus events at Queen’s Film Theatre. After a case study talk about the BFI Doc Society Fund with director Leo Regan (My Friend Lanre, plus an upcoming project to be announced!), there will be an extended State of the Field roundtable discussion, with representatives from across the industry - funders, broadcasters, distributors, exhibitors and producers - and an opportunity to share your thoughts and questions.

We will also be there to participate in the festival’s Marketplace and pitch activities. Get in touch with sanne@docsociety.org if you want to meet us there, and keep an eye on https://docsireland.ie/programme/whats-on/ for more info.

RAD & Features Funds Webinar

BFI Doc Society RAD & Features Funds - Webinar May 2025

Creative Non-Fiction Weekend 2025

Creative Non-Fiction Weekend 2025: The Taste of Mango
Sunday 6 July, 15:45 // The Rio Cinema, London

The Creative Non-Fiction Weekend is back for a second year and BFI Doc Society is pleased support the screening of Chloe Abraham's feature The Taste of Mango (supported through our Features Fund), accompanied by a Q&A with Chloe, moderated by Saeed Taji Farouky.

More info and tickets

Creative Non-Fiction Playlist

Interested in short creative non-fiction work? Looking for inspiration or insight into the wider short film landscape? Maybe you've applied to our Made of Truth Fund or are intending to do so in the future?

We've put together a selection of freely available, great short films that have been successful at international festivals, across forms and approaches. Worth a watch, and there are a few Made of Truth funded titles in there too!

Find them all here.

Independent Tax Credit Webinar

Independent Film Tax Credit Webinar - November 2024

In November 2024 BFI Doc Society and Documentary Film Council hosted a webinar with Chantel Burrell and Anna Mansi from the BFI Certification Unit, to shed light on the new Independent Film Tax Credit for UK film productions. The session was tailored to documentary productions and fully recorded. You can now watch it back here, and read more in this document.

1-2-1 ONLINE ADVICE SESSIONS - OPEN ACCESS

Please note that for the remainder of June we will have no new 1-2-1 slots available to accommodate the team's capacity in the run-up to and during Sheffield DocFest and Docs Ireland. We will release slots for July later this month, and will be running 1-2-1s in person at DocFest. Please keep an eye on the Events section below.
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Book your 15-minute 1-2-1 online advice session with a member of the BFI Doc Society team! Open to filmmakers and producers across the UK, this is an opportunity to discuss projects or ask advice about our funds.

Book your slot here.