Documentary Fund

Introduction

The Iris Prize Documentary Film Fund is excited to present its second iteration, aimed at promoting and supporting emerging documentary and factual film talent from Wales. This initiative is designed to nurture local talent and bring compelling UK stories to a global audience through OUTtv’s extensive network.

The first iteration of the fund has supported three projects championing underrepresented voices in the production of three 20 minute documentary films: Some Girls Hate Dresses (2022)  explores black filmmaker Mena Fombo’s experiences as a tom boy from Nigerian heritage growing up in the UK and rejecting the images of black women from the US; Bender Defenders (2023) celebrates the queer Muy-Thai club that non-binary filmmaker Ira Putliova is a member of in east London; and the third project Untitled (2024) tells the story of Jackie Forster – the founder of the lesbian magazine Sappho.

Originally a partnership between Iris Prize, OUT Media Group, Vancouver and Aberystwyth University the fund has now partnered with University of South Wales as the focus shifts to support the development of Wales-based talent.

Objective

Our goal is to provide more comprehensive support to Welsh talent, including 5 students from USW, with the aim of leveraging economic benefit from British LGBTQ+ stories. We intend to do this by building more workshops and practical sessions into the early stages of the fund’s assessment process with shortlisted applicants, ensuring they have the skills and resources needed to succeed.

Offer

The Iris Prize Documentary Film Finance Fund will award a single documentary film proposal a production grant of up to £20,000 for a 20-minute film.  The subject of the chosen film must be British and LGBTQ+. Priority will be given to stories from or about communities traditionally underrepresented in UK productions. The Iris Prize team will work with the originator of the idea to produce the film. The finished film will be premiered at the 20^th edition of the Iris Prize LGBTQ+ Film Festival in October 2026 and after a theatrical window be shown on OUTtv’s platforms worldwide.

Program Details

1. Call for Proposals:
   • Iris will manage an open call for proposals where writers, directors or producers with an idea for a documentary about a British LGBTQ+ subject are invited to submit their proposals for a single 20-minute film.
2. Workshops and Practical Sessions:
   • We will organize a series of workshops and practical sessions for shortlisted applicants. With around 40 projects expressing an interest in each of the last two rounds of the fund we expect to be able to work with 10 shortlisted applicants to develop their projects and commercial skills. These sessions will cover various aspects of documentary filmmaking, from storytelling and production techniques to distribution and marketing strategies.
   • Industry experts and experienced filmmakers drawn from Iris and our networks, including the Doc Society, will lead these sessions, providing valuable insights and mentorship to the participants.
3. Single Commission Award:
   • After the workshops, one outstanding project will go into production, to be produced by the Iris Prize and supported by 5 USW students. This commission will bring a UK story to the screen, showcasing their talent and creativity.
   • The selected project will receive full funding and support from the Iris Prize Documentary Film Fund with a £20,000 production grant, ensuring high production quality and successful completion.
   • The finished film will premiere at the Iris Prize LGBTQ+ Film Festival in October 2026 as part of Iris’ 20th  anniversary.
4. Global Distribution:
   • The completed documentary will be shared with audiences worldwide through OUTtv’s network. This partnership will provide significant exposure, reaching a diverse and international audience.

If you have any questions regarding the fund feel free to email angela@irisprize.org