Channel 4’s Emerging Indie Fund 2023 opens to N&R based indies for applications

26 September 2023

Channel 4’s Emerging Indie Fund which aims to help Nations and Regions based indies grow their businesses has opened for a new round of applications.

The Emerging Indie Fund 2023 provides practical support and opportunities for indies to help them scale their business through a combination of commissioner support, funding and training.

Selected indies will have a direct relationship with a Commissioning Editor within their chosen genre who will meet with the indie on a regular basis to discuss their slate and they will also meet regularly with Channel 4’s Head of Indie Relations, Rebecca Thompson, who will advise them on working with Channel 4 and growing their company.

Production companies will also benefit from a series of online sessions with key departments within the channel, such as Finance, Corporate Affairs and Scheduling to get a unique insight into Channel 4.

Rebecca said: “Channel 4’s Emerging Indie Fund has a proven to be an incredibly effective mechanism for helping indies grow their companies and establish themselves as production partners. It’s vital that we continue to nurture emerging indie talent and help support the production sector in the Nations and Regions.”

Two production companies, Hill 5.14 Media and Motif Pictures, were supported by the Emerging Indie Fund in 2022.

Co-founder and Managing Director at Motif Pictures Ltd James Craggs said: “I believe that the Emerging Indie Fund was a game changing experience for us as we develop and build our company."

“It gave us vital insight into how a leading broadcaster goes about business. From there, it also allowed us to develop a relationship with a knowledgeable and experienced commissioner who gave us universal guidance, not just aimed towards what Channel 4 needs or wants so it's improved us as a business, how we will approach our evolution and also how we develop and pitch ideas."

Tobi Olujinmi, Executive Producer at Hill 5.14 Media, said “It is a really great initiative that I think will go on and help many more indies and support the UK ecosystem.”

The Emerging Indie Fund combines slate development funding with ongoing support from Channel 4 The funding can be used to bolster the indie’s development team with additional staff roles or consultants, or for other costs relating to the effective development of their slate.

Eligible indies may already have a track record with Channel 4 and should have a slate of ideas to discuss with a commissioner. The Emerging Indie Fund is seeking ideas that feature distinct voices and stories that are aligned with Channel 4’s editorial priorities and Future4 strategy https://www.channel4.com/commissioning/future4-strategy

To be eligible for the Emerging Indie Fund applicants must meet all of the following criteria:

• Primary office and more than 50% of key creative decision-makers based in the Nations and Regions
• A true indie in which no one broadcaster holds more than 25% of its shareholding
• Turnover must be below £6m according to the latest set of accounts
• Has a slate of content in development suitable for Channel 4
• Evidence of a previous TV, film or digital production credit
• No more than one previous Channel 4 linear series commissioned or recommissioned
• No previous participation in the Emerging Indie Fund as a main awardee

Applications should be made through the online application form and the deadline for is 9am on Monday 19th October 2023.

Anyone wanting to join the webinar should sign up here.

Ends

Notes to Editors

Any indies which require any support in submitting an application or if they need this information in a different format or have any other questions about the Emerging Indie Fund, should email EIFund@channel4.co.uk  to outline their access needs.

Indies are asked to select at least one genre to apply to, and to outline some details about the company and what they hope to achieve, as well as their best idea. This idea may already be under discussion or in development with a Commissioning Editor but should not yet be at editorial approval or greenlight stage.

Further detailed information about the commissioning priorities of a specific genre is available on the 4Producers site

Any ideas included in an application will be read only for the purposes of selecting the Emerging Indie Fund cohort.

An informal webinar Q&A with the Emerging Indie Fund team will be held on Wednesday 4th October 2022 at 2pm where the process will be outlined in more detail.

                     

About Channel 4

 

Channel 4 exists to create change through entertainment. Publicly owned yet commercially funded, Channel 4 generates significant and sustainable cultural, economic and social impact across the UK – at no cost to the taxpayer.

 

The broadcaster’s distinctive remit is set by Parliament, and it has a role to represent unheard voices, challenge with purpose and reinvent entertainment. For over 40 years, it has been a British success story, engaging generation after generation of young people.

 

Through a unique publisher-broadcaster model, Channel 4 commissions its content from the UK independent production sector. Working with around 300 creative companies every year, Channel 4 makes a major contribution to the local, regional and national economy, creating and supporting thousands of jobs and businesses across the country.

 

In 2020, Channel 4 launched its Future4 strategy to become a digital-first public service media company and to continue to deliver significant impact for UK audiences and investment into the UK creative economy.

 

Across its bases in London, Leeds, Manchester, Bristol and Glasgow, Channel 4 is turbocharging its efforts to find, nurture and develop talent across the UK. Through its training and development initiative 4Skills, Channel 4 is opening up opportunities in broadcasting, with a particular focus on disadvantaged young people, and addressing skills gaps across the Nations and Regions.

 

Channel 4 has the UK’s biggest free streaming service plus 11 television channels including: Channel 4, E4, E4 Extra, More4, Film4, 4Seven and The Box Plus Network. Through Film4 Productions, Channel 4 also invests in British filmmakers to huge critical acclaim, producing 37 Oscar wins and 88 BAFTA wins in its history.

 

https://www.channel4.com/