Channel 4’s First Cut Pitch will return to Sheffield Doc Fest and first-time directors will be able to apply for one of the five prestigious pitch places from Wednesday 13th March.
Hopeful candidates will need to submit their applications by Sunday 7th April, including an up-to-date CV, answer three questions about their career and their documentary influences and passions and, finally, pitch a First Cut doc idea that they could see broadcast on Channel 4.
Channel 4 will support each shortlisted director with a £600 production budget and one day with an editor at a post- house of Channel 4’s choosing to polish their films. The brief will be announced along with the finalists on Friday 12th April.
In the session at this years’ festival on Friday 14th June, the five shortlisted directors will vie to prove that they are ready to take on the challenge of an hour long, post watershed doc for Channel 4 by presenting a three-minute documentary film that answers an editorial brief set by Channel 4 for the event. These short docs will be a unique opportunity for the directors to showcase their ability to tell a captivating factual story, find and develop great contributors and work effectively in an edit.
The successful director will receive a 1x60’ First Cut commission offer in 2024/25, One month fully-paid development and mentorship with an indie (£5,000 development cash) to further develop either your own idea or the indie’s, paid for by the Channel 4, which supports new talent and creative diversity and One week’s NFTS training (plus wages for that week) paid for by the Channel 4, which supports new talent and creative diversity.
Recent winners of Channel 4’s First Cut Pitch include New Voice Award Winner and RTS West nominee Ben Cheetham (Pete Doherty, Who Killed My Son?) and Ashley Francis Roy (To Catch A Copper, Damilola: The Boy Next Door, The Real Eastenders).