Talent Development
BFI Doc Society Fund
1-2-1 Advice Sessions
Morning Brews with the BFI Doc Society team
Morning Brews with the BFI Doc Society team
From September 2025, the BFI Doc Society team will be hosting regular online coffee mornings. During these informal meet-ups, you can ask us questions about our funds, get advice on challenges you're dealing with, connect with other filmmakers and maybe get some peer-to-peer feedback!
We aim to host these hour-long gatherings twice per month, with a maximum capacity of 10 attendees per session. Filmmakers cannot attend more than one coffee morning per three months, as we want to provide as much access to the film fund team as possible.
These sessions will replace our 1-2-1 advice sessions for the time being.
Please note that we can not discuss any active applications to our funds. If you have access requirements to attend, please email sanne@docsociety.org.
Find available sessions here. More will be announced down the line. Make yourself a good ☕ or 🫖 and join us!
BFI DOC SOCIETY FUND
EVENTS
Bolton International Film Festival 2025
Film Hub North x BFI Doc Society at Bolton International Film Festival
Thursday 2 October, 15:00 - 18:00
In collaboration with Film Hub North, we're returning to Bolton IFF for a showcase of recently funded short films (+ Q&A) and an info roundtable where you can ask us and attending grantees anything about our funds and get general advice.
Find more info and booking links below. Please note that the roundtable is limited to 20 places and early sign-up is recommended.
Folkestone Documentary Festival 2025
Folkestone Documentary Festival - Industry Day
Friday 24 October, 10:00 - 18:00 // Quarterhouse, Folkestone
BFI Doc Society, alongside Screen South, is once again collaborating with Folkestone Documentary Festival on their Industry Day!
If you want to find out more about the documentary film industry and meet with other film creatives and potential collaborators, then this jam-packed day of panels, filmmaker conversations and networking is for you.
Tickets for the full day are only £5. You can find out about the full programme and how to book on https://www.folkestonedocumentaryfestival.co.uk/fdf-industryday-2025/
For ticket holders, there will also be limited 1-2-1 slots available to meet with members of the BFI Doc Society team and other industry experts on the Friday and Saturday mornings of the festival. Keep an eye on the link above for more info!
RAD & Features Funds Webinar
RECORDING: BFI Doc Society RAD & Features Funds - Webinar May 2025
BFI DOC SOCIETY FUND
OPPORTUNITIES
CLERMONT-FERRAND 2026 CALL-OUT
CLERMONT-FERRAND 2026 GROUP ATTENDANCE CALL-OUT
Likely dates of travel: 1 - 5 February 2026
The BFI Doc Society Fund is hosting a Group Attendance of directors and producers with an active short non-fiction project to attend Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival and Market in February 2026.
Selected filmmakers will be accredited to the festival and market, which will provide key networking and learning opportunities to maximise their project’s potential, including meeting and hearing from programmers, distributors, sales agents, buyers and other industry, as well as international peers.
Please find all information, eligibility criteria, and how to apply here.
The deadline for application is Thursday 18 September, 5pm BST.
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.
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!
