Netflix Documentary Talent Fund year 3 judges Andy Mundy-Castle, Lytanna Shannon, Felicity Morris, Zainab Ali Khan, Anna Higgs, Nicky Varley, Danny Moltrasi, Kate Townsend Courtesy of Netflix Share on Facebook Share on X Google Preferred Share to Flipboard Show additional share options Share on LinkedIn Share on Pinterest Share on Reddit Share on Tumblr Share on Whats App Send an Email Print the Article Post a Comment The Netflix Documentary Talent Fund for the U.K. and Ireland is returning for its fourth year. Five filmmakers and their teams will have the chance to make a short documentary film with a budget of £30,000 ($40,187) each. The brief for these short docs is simply "CHANGE." Applications will open on Jan. 9. The shortlisted teams will be invited to a pitch day at Netflix's U.K. headquarters in London in summer 2026 where they will pitch to a panel of industry professionals led by Kate Townsend, director, Netflix original feature documentaries. Applicants must be U.K. or Ireland residents. Only one application will be accepted per person. Further details on how to apply can be found at www.netflixdocfund.co.uk. In their finished forms, each documentary must be 8-12 minutes long. Winners will live on the Netflix See What's Next YouTube Channel following festival runs. "We hope that aspiring filmmakers from across the UK and Ireland will gather their teams over the next month, ahead of applications opening in January, to come up with some amazing and surprising ideas for a short documentary," said Townsend on Tuesday. "We are looking to work with creatives who may have some experience within the industry but are looking for the next opportunity to super-charge their careers. This is a great moment for us to engage with the next generation of documentary makers and support where we can." All selected creative teams will work under the guidance of Netflix and other filmmaking professionals and will take part in workshops covering all aspects of production, including legal, creative, HR, production, and finance. The program is designed as "a stepping stone for those aspiring to take the next leap in their careers," the streamer said. Elisabeth Hopper returns as lead producer of the fund for the fourth year, alongside producers Georgie Yukiko Donovan (unit director, Heart of Invictus) and Daisy Ifama, a Netflix Doc Fund alumn 2021/2022.
The fund thus far has supported 21 films with more than 65 festival screenings. "Director of Band, Owen Tooth, was named as a BAFTA Breakthrough 2025 as well as a Broadcast Hot Shot," Netflix highlighted. "Director of The Herring Queen, Eilidh Munro, has recently received official funding from Screen Scotland to develop her debut feature documentary. The producer of the same short, Isabella Bassett, went on to work on a BFI Network short film executive-produced by Lena Dunham and was nominated for a Scottish BAFTA 2025. Ailill Martin, director of The Good Farmer and The Failed Son, has been selected to take part in the Werner Herzog filmmaking workshop 'Experience Azores.' Anna Snowball, director of Iranian Yellow Pages, was named a Screen International Star of Tomorrow 2025 and her short was nominated for a Grierson Award and Critics' Circle Award, whilst also screening at BFI London, Big Sky, and AFI Fest. Dhivya Kate Chetty is on BAFTA Elevate 2025. Jason Osborne, Tobi Kyeremateng, and Shiva Raichandani are part of the TV Collectives Breakthrough leaders 2024/25." Related Stories Movies Rotterdam Film Fest IFFR Sets Competition Lineup, Opening and Closing Films TV BBC Charter Review Launches as U.K. Government Focuses on "Bolstering Trust" and "Sustainable Financial Footing" THR Newsletters Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day Subscribe Sign Up International Film Festival Rotterdam Rotterdam Film Fest IFFR Sets Competition Lineup, Opening and Closing Films When Harry Met Sally... Rob Reiner Remembered by Owner of Katz's Deli, Setting for Iconic 'When Harry Met Sally' Scene THR's Original Podcasts 'Awards Chatter' Pod: Gus Van Sant on 'Dead Man's Wire,' Early Collabs With River Phoenix and Nicole Kidman and Almost Making 'Brokeback Mountain' When Harry Met Sally... Critic's Appreciation: Rob Reiner Was So Much More Than a Capable Company Man Heat Vision 'Beauty and the Beast' Live-Action Villain Spinoff 'Gaston' in the Works at Disney USC Scripter Awards USC Scripter Awards: 'Peter Hujar's Day' a Surprise Film Adaptation Nominee, 'Slow Horses' Lands Fourth Consecutive Nomination for TV Adaptation International Film Festival Rotterdam Rotterdam Film Fest IFFR Sets Competition Lineup, Opening and Closing Films When Harry Met Sally... Rob Reiner Remembered by Owner of Katz's Deli, Setting for Iconic 'When Harry Met Sally' Scene THR's Original Podcasts 'Awards Chatter' Pod: Gus Van Sant on 'Dead Man's Wire,' Early Collabs With River Phoenix and Nicole Kidman and Almost Making 'Brokeback Mountain' When Harry Met Sally... Critic's Appreciation: Rob Reiner Was