BFI National Lottery funding for documentary-making is to get a 20% boost over the next three years.
Doc Society will distribute £7.2m across the unscripted sector from 2026-29, of which £1.4m goes towards a talent support programme that includes the RISE producer programme for emerging feature documentary producers and the Matchmakers regional networking sessions.
New for this year is a Doc Dialogues strand that offers a year-round open-access series of online sessions focused on professional development needs.
Doc Society aims to address talent progression and career sustainability by offering a funding strand for emerging directors and one for mid-career-to-established filmmakers.
It has also launched an immersive fund and a dedicated development fund for feature-length documentaries.
The Made of Truth: BFI Doc Society Short Film Fund will also continue in partnership with BFI Network, to support emerging storytellers from across the UK.
The BFI Doc Society Fund will be opening for applications early in Spring 2026 with recruitment starting imminently for talent development manager and production assistant roles.
BFI Filmmaking Fund director Mia Bays described the independent UK documentary as “one of the most vital, truth-telling forces in our cultural life”.
She added: “At a time when the world is noisy, fractured and fastmoving, our filmmakers are creating work that cuts through, connects us and helps us understand who we are.
“To maximise the impact of BFI National Lottery funding for the sector, we are increasing funding for non-fiction by 20% and continuing our partnership with an organisation that brings deep, genre-specific expertise, global reach and a longstanding commitment to documentary excellence.
“Our renewed strategy sharpens our priorities for this field, and in Doc Society we have a partner whose integrity, passion and unwavering belief in the power of documentary will help strengthen, grow and champion this tenacious sector across every part of the UK.”
Doc Society has been the BFI’s delegate partner for documentary since 2018.
It recently funded the BIFA-winning documentary features Grand Theft Hamlet [pictured] and A Want in Her and upcoming releases All Rivers Spill their Stories to the Sea and Something Familiar.
