Bridging the Gap is one of the leading documentary new talent initiatives in the UK, offering development training, a cash budget, and one year of international festival distribution to emerging filmmakers based in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Bridging the Gap was designed to offer emerging filmmakers a stimulating, supportive, and collaborative space to explore the medium of creative documentary and get the opportunity to have their idea commissioned for the big screen. Offering such a space felt much needed at the time. It feels urgent and indispensable today, in the dizzying times we found ourselves in.
Up to 12 ideas will be short-listed based on the proposal and supporting visual materials submitted. The projects will be developed and honed further through in-person workshops run by international filmmakers and leading industry professionals. The 12 filmmakers will then pitch to a panel of industry representatives, who will commission up to 6 films in January 2024.
As well as a cash budget of £8,500 (plus in-kind production and distribution support) the selected filmmakers will receive further mentoring over six months to create vibrant, intimate and thought-provoking contemporary stories. The films will be delivered by June 2024 and are intended for distribution in cinemas and at festivals.
You can join the Scottish Documentary Institute online (Monday 4th September) for an inspiration workshop to learn more about how to apply to Bridging the Gap. In this session, the Scottish Documentary Institute will run through the application guidelines, give you some pointers on developing your short documentary narrative, creating a story from an idea, and how to put this on paper.
