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.
Bolton Film Festival
BFI Doc Society at Bolton Film Festival
Thursday 3 October 2024 // Bolton
Are you an emerging filmmaker based in the North of England (or even beyond!)?
Join BFI Doc Society and BFI NETWORK North at the next edition of Bolton Film Festival (2 - 6 October) for a NETWORK showcase of recent short film work, followed by an info roundtable where you can find out more about our organisations, funds and talent development activity. BFI Doc Society grantee Simisolaoluwa Akande (The Archive: Queer Nigerians) will join our Talent Support Programme Manager Sanne Jehoul to discuss her work and experience working with our fund. Both events are on the afternoon of 3 October and are free, though with limited capacity, so book your spot now!
Folkestone Documentary Festival
Folkestone Documentary Festival - Industry Day
Friday 18 October 2024, 09:45 - 18:00 // Folkestone
Filmmakers, artists, all-round doc lovers: want to find out more about the UK documentary sector, who's who, and meet with other film creatives and potential new collaborators?
Then join us at the next edition of Folkestone Documentary Festival (17 - 20 October). BFI Doc Society is happy to support the festival's free day of panels, roundtables and friendly networking. There will be a masterclass and talks with talented filmmakers, crucial insights from industry experts, and a drink to round it all off! Open to all, whatever level of experience.
LFF For Free: Gaming for Real
LFF For Free: Gaming for Real
Sunday 20 October, 14:15 - 15:30 // BFI Southbank, Reuben Library
Join us at this free event at BFI London Film Festival, where the team behind the BFI Doc Society supported feature Grand Theft Hamlet will discuss the making of the film, which stages a production of Shakespeare’s Hamlet within the Grand Theft Auto online video game world.
Sam Crane and Pinny Grylls will join Luke Moody, Head of the BFI Doc Society Fund, to discuss machinima, persona and performance in game worlds. How can we craft new stories within virtual role-play and game environments? How does the unreal reflect upon the real world? This filmmaker conversation will cover production processes, collaborative creation and the unexpected challenges of documenting in the digital realm.
Tickets are free and available to book from 3 October at 10am.
Programme Updates
Keep an eye on this pages for future training and professional development opportunities.
We're excited to introduce you to the participants on the two Producer Programmes we ran earlier in 2024. Our RISE programme is aimed at emerging feature doc producers from across the UK and runs until September 2024. You can find out more about the cohort here.
The Producing Truth programme, supported by the ScreenSkills Film Skills Fund and delivered by BFI Doc Society, Scottish Documentary Institute, Screen Alliance Wales and Docs Ireland, was aimed at mid-level feature doc producers. Meet the participants here.
In April, we were also pleased to host a virtual delegation of six UK filmmakers who identify as disabled, deaf and/or neurodivergent to IDA's Getting Real'24 conference. Find out more about them here.
