Ambitious and dedicated producers wanted!
Do you want to make new connections and spark collaborations with documentary professionals from around the world? Would you like a Doc/Fest delegate pass that comes with 6 months of mentoring and training?
PMA WorldView is delighted to partner once again with Sheffield Doc/Fest & Bungalow Town Productions to offer an amazing opportunity for future producers; a six-month training initiative in which ambitious and dedicated producers receive mentoring and training from key industry producers in the doc industry today.
Image: Sheffield Doc/Fest
This training is heavily subsidised and numbers are limited. Successful applicants are likely to have some existing producing credentials and be seeking to move into the international feature documentary stage.
With support from the Creative Skillset Film Skills Fund, the programme begins with a three-day residential workshop where you are trained by international executive producers, experts and mentors. You will then receive bespoke and one-to-one mentoring sessions in the lead up to Sheffield Doc/Fest in June 2016. You will take this forward to one of the world’s leading documentary marketplaces – Sheffield Doc/Fest – where you will be given access to Decision Makers in specifically designed matchmade one-to-one meetings sessions.
The primary outcome of Future Producer School is to provide training and real market expertise to producers that have limited experience in the industry, but have the ambition to become leaders in delivering international feature documentary films. The course also responds to a desperate need in the UK documentary industry for more international feature documentary producers.
Future Producer School 2016 is now open for applications (deadline 17:00 (GMT) 9 November 2015)
What is the Future Producer School?
– Returning for its third year, the Future Producer School programme aims to:
– Give producers the training they need to take their careers to the international documentary industry
– Prepare producers to work internationally with directors, funders, distributors and festivals
– Prepare producers to access and capitalise on international festivals and markets
– Build alliances and spark collaborations between documentary professionals across the world
– Increase the number of highly trained producers in the documentary industry and create a self sustaining peer-to-peer network of ‘Future Producers’
The Future Producer School programme is comprised of three distinct stages:
STAGE 1 // The programme begins with a three-day residential workshop in Norwich where you are trained by executive producers, experts and mentors from all over the world
STAGE 2 // March to June the participants will be provided with bespoke one-to-one mentoring with industry experts.
STAGE 3 // The producers then take their learning to one of the world’s leading documentary marketplaces – Sheffield Doc Fest
Who is this for?
– You should want to develop feature documentaries with the ultimate goal of multi-platform releases in several international markets.
– You will have some professional experience behind you – this programme is not an entry-level talent programme.
– You should be working and living in the UK
– You will have some experience of reaching audiences already (whether online, on TV, at festivals, on DVD or elsewhere) and will be aspiring to make the step up to making a feature and reaching broader audiences.
– You should be motivated to join a network of committed and mutually supportive filmmaking peers.
– We are looking for producers from across the UK and welcome applications from any gender and ethnicity.
– You should be working on or have an idea for a feature documentary project that you would like to develop through the course.
How to Apply
Applications for Future Producer School 2016 are now open!
You will need to complete an application form, please click here to download the form. Please send your completed form and any queries to Becky Webb.
Applications close on Monday 9th November 2015 at 5pm UK time.
If you are selected for Future Producer School, you will be required to pay a fee of £550+VAT for the full programme, this includes a complimentary pass for Sheffield Doc/Fest 2016 with access to all film screenings, marketplace sessions, the industry conference programme, the Videotheque, networking receptions and parties. *Note. If you have already purchased a pass to the festival we will be unable to refund this. The pass is a complimentary bonus and the price outlined is the course fee, which is itself highly subsidised. The opportunity to pay in instalments is available. If you need to discuss your financial needs please email Becky Webb
What does the course fee cover?
For the March Residential, accommodation and lunch is included in the fee however, travel to the venue is not included. Participants will be required to cover their own travel and accommodation for festival attendance.
Accolades
Future Producer was a truly great experience – offering an invaluable insight into the world of feature documentaries, brilliant advice and a wealth of networking opportunities. Rachel Wexler, and the other speakers who helped on the course, gave generously of their time and experience to give us their inside knowledge of the industry and to help us move our own projects forward
– Bianca Barker, Future Producer School 2014
The Future Producer School was a real kick-start to my first feature film. The networking opportunities, workshops and mentoring were really excellent and I feel in a far stronger position having been part of the programme. Thank you!
– Jon Mcintosh, Future Producer School 2015
The course is a fantastic opportunity to build a network with key people in the industry, such as funders, producers and directors.
– Rosie Tate, Future Producer School 2015
Sheffield Doc/Fest brings the international documentary family together to celebrate the art and business of documentary making for six intense days in June. Doc/Fest 2016 will run June 10-15 2016. The full programme of films, sessions, market opportunities and events will be launched in spring 2016.
Bungalow Town Productions are Emmy Award winning producers of unique documentaries for worldwide audiences.
This scheme is supported by the Creative Skillset Film Skills Fund, which is funded by the National Lottery via the BFI, and through the Skills Investment Fund (SIF).