Documentary Fund

The Iris Prize LGBTQ+ Film Festival has established a fund (up to £20,000) to finance documentary films (running time: 22/25 minutes or 40 minutes) produced by emerging UK-based LGBTQ+ filmmakers. The Documentary Film Finance Fund is sponsored by OUTflix and Aberystwyth University. Find out the key dates for 2024 below:

The fund is now closed for applications!

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

THE PROCESS:

The Iris Prize will oversee the intake and shortlisting of the applications to the Fund. The Iris Prize Team will be headed by Berwyn Rowlands (Festival Director) and Angela Clarke (BAFTA nominated Documentary film maker). OUTflix shall make the final selection from the shortlist provided by the Iris Prize.

THE APPLICATION

The initial application will require the following elements:

1. Project Title
2. Sentence describing project
3. Paragraph describing project
4. Film maker statement explaining why their project should be financed
5. Examples of relevant work to support the application
6. Key talent CVs.

WHO CAN APPLY?

Individuals living in the UK can apply with stories that are set in the UK. The fund will be interested in supporting filmmakers who identify as part of communities that are underrepresented in the film industry, including, but not limited to, black, Asian, and minority ethnic people and women.

AUDIENCE – SCREENING THE COMPLETED FILM:

OUTtv Media Global Inc will make sure that the finished film is seen by securing the following rights to the Film in all media for twenty-five (25) years. This will cover:

• The exclusive Linear Broadcast Rights for Canada
• The exclusive Expanded Broadcast Rights in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, United States; and
• The non-exclusive Expanded Broadcast Rights in the rest of the world.
• The filmmaker retains all other rights.

DECISION MAKING:

The applications shall be reviewed and selected based on the following criteria, in no particular order of importance:

1. Creative elements: originality of the subject matter/point of view
2. Creativity, discoverability
3. Diversity of the creative team
4. Degree of relevance of the subject matter to the LGBTQ+ community
5. Track record of the producer/director.