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.
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.
Eligible production companies must be based in NI, working with local creative talent and able to demonstrate a proven track record in programming output.
Successful indies will also receive one-on-one creative sessions with Sean Doyle, director of unscripted at Disney+ EMEA.
Doyle (picrured left) announced the funding pot during the Disney+ panel at Belfast Media Festival today (16 November).
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.”
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.
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.
Richard Williams, chief executive of NI Screen said: “Funds like this are vital to the development of our screen industry.
“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.”
This article first appeared on our sister site, Broadcast.
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