One World Media Global Short Docs Forum 2023


Deadline: December 13, 2022

Applications for the One World Media Global Short Docs Forum 2023 are now open. Global Short Docs Forum is a much needed and dedicated initiative to nurture new talent in documentary shorts, giving them access to the growing number of digital media platforms.

GSDF is open to applications from all parts of the world, for documentary projects up to 30 minutes, either in production or post-production, with existing footage. 16 filmmakers will be selected to attend a series of online workshops, mentoring, and one to one pitches.

In the past, GSDF has hosted some of the most established international media outlets, including: Arte France, BBC Arabic, CBC, Al Jazeera, BBC Africa, The Guardian, Coda Story and Our World.

Format

Selected filmmakers join a supportive environment of international filmmakers coming together to discuss, develop and rework their pitches, leading to one-to-one meetings with representatives from digital platforms.

The online Forum is composed of 2 x 2h sessions for 4 weeks, along with individual mentoring meetings throughout the week. By the end of the Forum, filmmakers are expected to produce a short pre-recorded pitch video, including a trailer of their project. These are shared with platform representatives, in advance of the one-to-one pitching sessions.

Benefits

  • OWM does not provide a grant or funding as part of the Forum. They do however provide training, mentoring, and workshops to improve your project proposal and pitching skills, ahead of the one-to-one meetings with representatives from online platforms. If a platform is interested in working with you on your film, you are likely to receive a fee in line with your commission, acquisition or distribution deal.

Eligibility

  • Proposals are invited from anyone, anywhere in the world.
  • The focus is on films that have a social, political or cultural narrative, take a solutions journalism approach or gives a new perspective on the changes we want to see in the world.
  • They prioritise filmmakers from areas with low production capacity or little global visibility, as well as underrepresented filmmakers in geographical areas of established media production.
  • They are especially looking for stories from Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Latin America, the Middle East, Russia or the Post-Soviet States.

Application

Click here to apply

For more information, visit Global Short Docs Forum.

By Bello

Ismail Bello is a content creator and enthusiast who is passionate about youth development.