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Our New Documentary Directors’ Initiative nurtures and champions new factual talent, offering aspiring film makers the opportunity to make their first longform documentary film for the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ.

The completed films are shown on ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Three and iPlayer, with many also receiving a broadcast on our TV channels.

Each director on the scheme is housed in a production company who will support them to make their film and are partnered with an executive producer who will act as a mentor throughout the process. The directors also receive a series of masterclasses from experienced industry professionals.

Alumni from the initiative have moved on to direct on flagship ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ documentary series such Ambulance and Hospital or on powerful one-off films like The Case of Sally Challen, Hunting the Essex Lorry Killers and premium boxsets like House of Maxwell and The Elon Musk Show.

Films created by directors on the initiative include Our War, 10 Years On directed by Sian McIlwaine, Defending Digga D, which won director Marian Mohamed the BAFTA for Emerging Factual Talent, Bad Love: Why Did Fri Kill Kyle by Danielle Spears, Wagspiracy: Vardy v Rooney by Caroline Sciama, Scars: Surviving a Stabbing by Aodh Breathnach, Sudden Death: My Sister’s Silent Killer from Lindsay Konieczny, Manchester Bomb: Our Story by Lizzie Kempton, Abused By My Girlfriend by Niamh Kennedy and Ziyaad Desai’s Bad Influencer: The Great Insta Con.

We want ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Three’s and iPlayer’s output to reflect and understand the diverse audiences we serve and therefore when running the initiative actively seek individuals with the skills and experiences to support this. This includes people from different geographical regions of the UK and those from underrepresented groups such as people from Black, Asian or minority ethnic backgrounds, deaf, disabled and/or neurodivergent individuals, those from working-class backgrounds, and those within the LGBTQ+ community.

The current new directors films are in production so this initiative is not presently taking new applications

For other ways to grow your career in broadcast, check out the skills and training area.