Documentary in the Digital Age

Appendix 2 Sources of Funding for Documentaries

In the UK and Europe, most documentary films are funded by television. Filmmakers may take their ideas directly to a broadcaster's commissioning editors or, more effectively, to an independent production company that already has relationships with broadcasters. In the UK, there also exists public money, from the Film Council, Regional Screen Agencies and from National Lottery Funds. Further, money exists from the European Union in the form of MEDIA Plus, which also advises on pan-European co-productions. If your documentary might appeal to audiences in other countries, you should pursue international co-production financing. The pitching forums at IDFA (Amsterdam), HotDocs (Toronto) and Discovery ...