Disney+ launches NI development fund

Disney+ UK has partnered with Northern Ireland (NI) Screen to establish a development fund for NI indies to source a female-skewing single doc.
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Pitches must be factual and cover Northern Irish, Irish or British subject matter. Funding will be awarded to up to five indies and the development period will last 12 months.
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Eligible production companies must be based in NI, working with local creative talent and able to demonstrate a proven track record in programming output.
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Successful indies will also receive one-on-one creative sessions with Sean Doyle, director of unscripted at Disney+ EMEA.
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Doyle (picrured left) announced the funding pot during the Disney+ panel at Belfast Media Festival today (16 November).
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He said: “This is an exciting opportunity, not only for the globally recognised creative talent coming out of Northern Ireland, but also for Disney+ to continue developing bold, local stories across unscripted with outstanding creators and producers in local markets.”
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The collaboration between the streamer and NI Screen is intended to create more opportunities for established and emerging talent in the nation, as well as fostering stronger links between Disney+’s commissioning team and the NI production community.
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When commissioned, the final film will join Disney+ UK’s catalogue of unscripted originals, which includes Coleen Rooney: The Real Wagatha Story, Finding Michael and Save Our Squad with David Beckham.
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Richard Williams, chief executive of NI Screen said: “Funds like this are vital to the development of our screen industry.
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“NI boasts an abundance of creative talent, and this initiative not only aims to strengthen the bonds between NI indies and Disney+ commissioners but also promises to yield some brilliant new content. Ultimately, it’s the viewers across the UK who will reap the benefits.”
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This article first appeared on our sister site, Broadcast.Â
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