Doc Society

Doc Society consists of five legally separate and independent entities; Doc Society and Doc Society Charitable Trust in the UK, Doc Society Inc in the US, Stichting Doc Society in the Netherlands and Doc Society Australia Pty Ltd. These entities have identical aims and objectives and often work in close collaboration with one another. We support documentary filmmakers globally, providing them with production finance and editorial, strategic, legal, and other forms of support. We also seek to encourage new partnerships between filmmakers and NGOs, charities and other funders to provide additional financing, strategic support and distribution opportunities for documentary film projects. In 2024/25, Doc Society continued into the second year of the current three-year BFI funding cycle, with activity progressing strongly and an increase in the number of awards made compared to the previous year. The Democracy Story Unit grew in both scope and funding, and now incorporates the Queer Now strand of activity. The Climate Story Unit also continues to grow, and this year saw the largest programme of Climate Story Labs to date. Review of business BFI Doc Society Fund This fund supports and nurtures independent non-fiction film and immersive projects by UK filmmakers, prioritising expansive, director-led storytelling. Doc Society became the British Film Institute’s documentary partner in 2018, administering money raised through the UK’s National Lottery. There are three key funds, alongside a talent support programme: The Features Fund provides grants of up to £150,000 for documentaries at any stage in production. Made of Truth offers up to £25,000 to roughly 15 short-form projects per year. The newly created RAD (Research & Development) Fund, which seeks to support the perennially under-supported R&D stage of the filmmaking process. Together, these three funds are an essential component of the documentary ecosystem in the UK. For most awardees, Doc Society is their first source of funding and a major mark of legitimacy for their project. There is £2m per year available under this fund until 2026, with 43 awards made this year. Climate Story Unit Since launching the Climate Story Fund in 2020, we have been mapping hundreds of creative non-fiction climate stories. To date, we have regranted $4.8 million to 54 climate storytelling projects. We look for both creative excellence and high impact potential. Stories that elevate the lived experiences of communities who have historically been ignored, misrepresented, and marginalised by the media. Stories for romantics, comedians, and thrill seekers alike that demonstrate the richness and diversity possible in climate programming which will be necessary to engage publics over time. Meanwhile, the Climate Story Lab programme goes from strength to strength, with six Labs supported this year across Africa, Asia, South America. We have observed that the Labs are not only engaging and inspiring new communities of storytellers to lean into climate, but are also having a structural impact on our regional partners who have found in them a tool to centre climate justice as a priority for their own institutions.