***APPLICATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED***
Together TV’s Diverse Film Fund for Deaf, Disabled and/or Neurodivergent Lives Today
An Easy read, a BSL version and audio version of this information are available above.
Our BAFTA-winning film fund is back to support documentaries made by and about Britain’s diverse communities.
Are you a deaf, disabled and/or neurodivergent creative working in film, TV or video and have a short documentary story that needs to be told?
We can help you bring it to screen!
This year, the Diverse Film Fund will champion deaf, disabled and/or neurodivergent communities in partnership with Whisper and British Sign Language Broadcasting Trust (BSLBT).
Two filmmakers will each be selected to receive:
- ● up to £15,000 in film funding,
- ● an expert mentor to guide your production
- ● and a raft of industry training sessions to develop your filmmaking expertise.
Our previous Diverse Film Funds have showcased Queer Lives today and stories on Black, British and Breaking Boundaries.
Together TV webinar with TripleC
We hosted a webinar on Thursday 21st March at 1pm to explain the Diverse Film Fund alongside TripleC, the industry's gateway organisation for disabled talent's access to the arts and media. It is the perfect opportunity to ask the team any burning questions you have and to hear more about the fund in a video friendly way.
What we offer
Creative Brief
Your film will need to be about one of these two topics, with a compelling narrative journey and an original creative approach:
- ● Working with Whisper, who are producing the Paralympics for Channel 4, we are looking for one film about:
- ○ the sporting values of courage, determination and equality.
- ○ The underlying theme will be ‘being active.’
- ○ It can be about celebrating a team or local community sports, etc.
- ● Working with British Sign Language Broadcasting Trust (BSLBT), we are looking for one film about:
- ○ Life beyond labels
- ○ A story of everyday adventures from the signing community.
Eligibility Criteria
- 1. Your film should express true-to-life experiences.
- 2. The film will be 10 minutes long.
- 3. The film will be a non-fiction documentary.
- 4. The film will be positive, revealing and uplifting to align with Together TV’s mission.
- 5. You should identify as deaf, disabled and/or neurodivergent and we can support disabled people with access requirements as needed.
- 6. You must be over 18.
- 7. You must live and work in the UK.
- 8. You have up to two broadcast credits as a director or producer (this is to ensure you have some filmmaking experience but it is not necessary. This fund is aimed at emerging filmmakers.)
Important Dates
Tuesday 27th February 2024 > Applications open
Tuesday 26th March 2024 > Application deadline at 12pm (midday)
Early April 2024 > Successful filmmakers contacted
April 2024 > Mentoring, training and pre-production begins
May 2024 > Production begins
June 2024 > Post-production begins
July 2024 > Delivery of your film
August 2024 > Premiere and broadcast on TV
How to Apply
Applications for the Diverse Film Fund 2024 are now closed.
If you started an application, we have a special deadline extension until midday Wednesday 26th March.
Please get in touch with us via [email protected] or by calling us 020 3169 1562 if you have any issues with submitting your application.
The shortlist will be contacted early April 2024.
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What previous filmmakers have to say
"I’d like to share my utmost thanks and gratitude to everyone for this opportunity. I can’t even begin to imagine the organisation that this took. From raising the funds, to organising the fantastic webinars and giving us access to amazing mentors. Every step of this process was simply brilliant." - Jason Osborne, 2021 Diverse Film Fund Filmmaker
“The Diverse Film Fund was a truly unique opportunity - being given the financial backing, and being trusted to create a film about a community I'm passionate about- it's hard to take stock of all the positives that have come out of it." - Tom Gaisford, 2022 Diverse Film Fund Filmmaker
“The Together TV Diverse Film Fund was an amazing opportunity for my film and for my personal development. The well-curated webinars and the incredible exposure this grant gave me was invaluable. I’m very grateful to Together TV and to my fellow grantees who continue to be a supportive network.” - BAFTA winner Alexandra Genova, 2021 Diverse Film Fund Filmmaker
“Together TV has been absolutely incredible. It's so rare that you get to collaborate with people in such a wholesome way. They gave us training sessions, brought in educators to teach us and they checked in. It can be such an isolating experience as a filmmaker, and knowing that there were people you could run to was great. I don’t think this would have happened without the resources they equipped us with." Shiva Raichandani, 2022 BAFTA nominated Diverse Film Fund Filmmaker
FAQs
If you are working in TV, film or video, and not an established filmmaker or have multiple producer or director broadcast credits, you can apply. The most broadcast credits we're accepting is two to ensure that this opportunity is reaching new filmmaking talent. It is not necessary to have a credit and if you have mutliple credits but consider yourself emerging, please feel free to apply.
As the successful applicants will be responsible for creating their documentary, some filmmaking experience is required.
You have to be residing and living primarily in the United Kingdom at the time of submission to apply.
There is no fee to apply for Together TV’s Diverse Film Fund.
The documentary should be 10 minutes long.
We are looking for factual documentaries from deaf, disabled and/or neurodivergent talent in the UK today only.
Together TV needs you to develop, produce, oversee the edit of your film and deliver your finished documentary. We will offer mentoring and industry expert workshops as part of the Diverse Film Fund, you will use the funds to hire the crew and resources you need to make your documentary.
You can read Together TV's Diverse Film Fund's full terms and conditions here.
Currently the sum of £15,000 will include the access costs during production.
The Diverse Film Fund budgets for 10 minutes have risen from £10,000 to £15,000 to accommodate inflation and any access costs.
As with the previous Diverse Film Funds, all applications are anonymised and randomised to reduce any selection biases.
Your personal data is not taken into consideration when our judges look at the submissions.
The story you have to tell is the most important thing and the basis upon which the judging panel make their decisions.
You have to have sent us your application by before midday (12pm) on Tuesday 26th March 2024. You can apply through our form, by video or over the phone. Please email us via [email protected] if you have other access requirements for applying.
