Yorkshire's budding documentary makers can pitch BBC Three idea at Sheffield Doc Fest

Aspiring Yorkshire filmmakers are being invited to pitch documentaries in a competition which could win them the chance to develop their idea for BBC Three.

Five application finalists, who must be from the north of England or the Midlands, will present their ideas to a panel of BBC commissioners in front of an audience on Monday June 8 at Sheffield Doc/Fest.

The panel will decide who has the most promising idea - which itself be connected to the north - with a subject and approach that will work for the 16 to 24 aged BBC Three audience and award the prize at the end of the session.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The BBC Three Docs Sheffield Pitch 2020 winner will be offered the opportunity to make the idea into a film for the channel, with production support from an independent production company based in the north of England.

The Sheffield skyline.The Sheffield skyline.
The Sheffield skyline.

Organisers of the event say that BBC Three is passionate about "identifying and championing emerging filmmaking talent in the North", "bringing new voices to the channel" and "compelling content and stories rooted in the North".

Read More
Malton's Wesley Centre gifted organ that Hull's blind virtuoso Alfred Hollins le...

As well as targeting directors, the broadcaster is opening up this year’s pitch to include new talent who are keen to break into the industry.

The successful candidate will be housed by a production company and will work on the film "at a level which enhances their experience of documentary making for television", say organisers.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

For those who are not ready to produce and direct the commissioned film themselves, the BBC says it will ensure that a team is built around them to help produce the film to the standards required for broadcast.

Once applicants from the open call have been narrowed down to the shortlisted five, a BBC commissioner will give all of them one-to-one advice on their pitch beforehand.

Applicants must be available to attend the pitch event on Monday June 8 as part of Sheffield Doc/Fest, and all five finalists will be offered a Festival Day Pass, which will give access to all Doc/Fest films, events and sessions on the day.

Those applying must currently live in Yorkshire, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear, Cumbria, County Durham, Lancashire, Merseyside, Greater Manchester, Cheshire, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire, Staffordshire or Leicestershire.

To apply, people need to submit an up-to-date CV and a one-page summary of their project to the Sheffield Doc/Fest Marketplace team at [email protected] by 5pm on Friday May 1.