The Whickers Film & TV Funding Award

The Film & TV Funding Award is awarded to an emerging filmmaker from anywhere in the world with the most promising pitch for a director-led documentary.

The Whickers Film & TV Funding Award is one of the most significant documentary awards in the world.

Prize Information

• Award worth £100,000 and a runner-up contribution of £20,000.

What they look for?

• Director-Led Story
  • Storyteller with demonstrably strong interviewing skills.
  • Demonstrates passion for the subject whilst retaining fair-mindedness.
  • Demonstrates a real sense of independence.
  • Personal but not partisan.
  • Wry humour welcome.
  • Strictly no ‘Whicker impersonations’.
• Engagement
  • Unique access to engaging characters in unusual or inaccessible locations.
  • Allows contributor’s story to emerge in their own words.
  • Demonstrates a flair for coaxing the human spirit into revealing itself.
  • The author demonstrates intimacy with but does not overshadow the subject.
• Curiosity
  • Spirit of inquisitiveness that leaves viewers wanting more.
  • Tells them about something new and unexpected about the world.
  • Excites wonder.
  • Understands how wit can illuminate the toughest or most nuanced real life drama.
• Original Use of Technology
  • Playful with storytelling means – breaking new ground and/or using old ground to re-invent new style.
• Not Partisan
  • No campaigning, pre-set agendas or political theories.

Eligibility Criteria

• Must be the filmmaker or filmmakers’ first 50+ minute documentary film where they own the director or co-director credit.
• Open to filmmakers from anywhere in the world. They encourage international filmmakers to apply.
• Projects must be at the late development to early production stage at the time of applying – this is not a finishing fund.
• Award money cannot be paid to an individual. Therefore applicants must either: provide proof of company viability; have a fiscal sponsor on board; have a nominated production company on board to create a dedicated project account for their film; or confirm that they are willing to set up a limited company and dedicated project account if shortlisted.
• Up to six minutes of original taster footage is required at the time of applying.
• Must be accessible for an English-speaking audience – whether in the English language, or subtitled in English.
• Applicants must have an executive producer on board at the time of applying.
• Should they be shortlisted, applicants must be available to travel to the UK in June to pitch their project at Sheffield DocFest (reasonable travel and accommodation covered by The Whickers).
• They ask that the budget for your 50+ minute documentary films does not exceed £400,000 at the time of application.
• Applicants who at the time of application have other funding sources over the value of £300,000 are not eligible.

For more information, visit The Whickers.