BFI Doc Society Talent Support

BFI Doc Society Fund 1-2-1 Advice Sessions

If you have read the guidelines and FAQ's for the BFI Doc Society Fund and have a question, the team will be hosting regular 15 minute 1-2-1 sessions online where you can register for a chat with us. 1-2-1's are primarily open to filmmakers who are new to the fund and are open to filmmakers at any level of experience. The next sessions can be found here.

BFI DOC SOCIETY FUND EVENTS


Filmmaker Roundtable #1: New Producers, New Narratives

Thursday 7 December 12.00pm - 1.15pm 

In the first of a series of filmmaker roundtables, BFI Doc Society (in association with DPUK) offers a supportive space to gather online for documentary producers working on or towards their first creative non fiction feature. The roundtable is primarily aimed at producers based in lesser represented areas of England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland.

Learn More


June 2023


Sunday 18 June

BFI Doc Society Filmmaker Drop-In Day @ Sheffield DocFest
10.00am - 6.00pm (Happy Hour 5.00pm-6.00pm)
Sidney & Matilda, Sheffield

May 2023


Thursday 18th May

15:30 - 17:30 + Networking Drinks

Midlands Film Club at Flatpack Film Festival, Birmingham

Join Film Hub Midlands, BFI NETWORK and BFI Doc Society to hear about BFI NETWORK short film funding opportunities across fiction and documentary (using funds from the National Lottery) - and celebrate a selection of homegrown short films from some of the exciting emerging Midlands filmmakers supported through BFI NETWORK and BFI Doc Society.

Followed by networking drinks with talent execs and fellow filmmakers, this is a great chance to see work from the feature filmmakers of tomorrow and meet new film collaborators locally.

Event schedule:

3.30pm – Funding talk with Doc Society and BFI NETWORK in the Midlands at the Mockingbird

4.00pm – Screening of short films

5.30pm – Networking drinks at the Printmakers

Visit the Flatpack Website for more information


Thursday 18 May

Film Hub North Roundtable

17:00 - 18:00

We'll be joining Film Hub North for their next Online Filmmaker Roundtable to help guide local filmmakers through funds available through BFI NETWORK including the Made of Truth: BFI Doc Society Short Film Fund. Also a great opportunity to connect with other filmmakers in a friendly, informal setting.

Sign up for the Film Hub North roundtable here


Wednesday 17 May

Filmmaker Mixer in Liverpool with Film Hub North

18:00 - 20:00

Liverpool FACT

We're joining Film Hub North for their filmmaker mixer event in Liverpool. These free and informal, conversational meetups are a great opportunity for creatives to connect with the growing community of local film and tv industry folk, share stories and meet future collaborators. Plus a chance to connect with local BFI NETWORK talent execs and BFI Doc Society representatives and to hear about funding.

Sign up for the Liverpool mixer here


Thursday 11 May

Crafting Nonfiction Shorts

14:00 - 15:30

in partnership with Ffilm Cymru Wales, BFI NETWORK Wales & Wales Documentary Support Network Online Event with BSL interpretation and live captioning

We invite all new and emerging filmmakers and artists in or from Wales to join us for a special online session on the art of crafting boundary-breaking short documentaries. We’ll be looking at ways to develop cinematic and authentic non-fiction ideas and find your team. We will be sharing guidance on the Beacons Short Film Fund and Made of Truth: BFI Doc Society Fund (opening in May), as well as hearing from the Wales Documentary Support Network on resources and friends to connect with to help you on your way.

Walking us through their own creative journey, will be alumni filmmakers Frontier Town directors Tom & Theo Tennant and producer Alice Hughes (Made of Truth) and Forest Coal Pit director Sion Marshall-Waters and exec producer Alice Lusher (Beacons).

This event is free and open to anyone born or based in Wales who is developing creative doc work.

Register for Crafting Nonfiction Shorts here

April 2023


Tuesday 11 April

6.00pm - 7.00pm GMT

BFI NETWORK Funding Webinar - online

We will be joining a funding webinar alongside BFI NETWORK regional Talent Executives and partners from Northern Ireland Screen, Short Circuit and Ffilm Cymru Wales. We’ll be discussing the funding available for all forms of short filmmaking across the UK and how to get support.

This event will have live automated captions and a BSL interpreter

Register here


Thursday 13 April

5.00pm - 6.00pm

Film Hub South West Drop In - online

BFI Doc Society will be joining colleagues at Film Hub South West for a drop in for SW based filmmakers to find out about available funding and hear from BFI NETWORK alumni.

Register here


Thursday 20 April

4.00pm - 5.30pm GMT

REAL Documentary Festival, Leicester - in person

BFI Doc Society welcomes local storytellers to hear the latest news and guidance on funding and support available for UK independent documentary filmmakers. We will also be inviting shared experience and advice from a panel of filmmakers (alumni of the fund) working across non-fiction shorts and features and how they developed their practice in this field.

Find out more here


Tuesday 25 April

1.00pm - 2.00pm GMT

BFI Doc Society Fund Webinar - Feature Documentaries - Online

Information about the new BFI Doc Society Fund, guidelines and application process + an opportunity for filmmakers to connect with the fund team and ask questions.

This event will have live automated captions and a BSL interpreter