Deadline: 08-Jun-2026
The Teledoc Campus Programme supports emerging documentary filmmakers in the Netherlands by providing funding, mentorship, and production opportunities for cinematic and unconventional short documentaries. Selected projects can receive up to €11,000 for development and up to €75,000 for production, helping directors and producers gain professional experience within television and cinema while advancing their documentary careers.
About the Programme
Teledoc Campus is a documentary talent development programme designed to nurture emerging directors and producers working in documentary filmmaking.
The programme supports the creation of innovative, cinematic, and narrative-driven documentaries that explore contemporary stories from a Dutch perspective. Through development funding, production financing, professional guidance, and collaboration with broadcasters and film institutions, participants gain valuable industry experience and opportunities for career progression.
The programme is supported by the Netherlands Film Fund, the NPO Fund, NPO, public broadcasters, and CoBO.
Program Objectives
The programme aims to:
- Support emerging documentary filmmakers.
- Develop new documentary talent in the Netherlands.
- Encourage cinematic storytelling techniques.
- Promote unconventional and innovative documentary formats.
- Strengthen professional skills among directors and producers.
- Support research, scriptwriting, and project development.
- Facilitate the production of high-quality short documentaries.
- Create pathways toward feature-length documentary filmmaking.
- Foster collaboration between filmmakers, broadcasters, and industry professionals.
Focus Areas
Projects should contribute to:
- Documentary talent development.
- Cinematic documentary storytelling.
- Narrative documentary filmmaking.
- Innovative documentary formats.
- Contemporary social and cultural themes.
- Television and cinema documentary production.
- Research-based storytelling.
- Creative nonfiction filmmaking.
- Audience engagement through accessible storytelling.
Funding Information
Development Funding
Projects selected for development may receive:
- Up to €11,000 in development funding.
- Up to €1,000 for producer guidance.
- Optional contribution of up to €750 for an independent script coach.
Development funding may be used for:
- Research activities.
- Test footage and pilot filming.
- Documentary script development.
- Project preparation and refinement.
Realization Funding
Projects selected after the second assessment phase may receive:
- Up to €75,000 in realization funding.
Production funding supports the completion of the documentary project.
Documentary Requirements
Supported documentaries must:
- Have a final duration of approximately 25 minutes.
- Be documentary projects with a strong cinematic approach.
- Present contemporary stories set in the present day.
- Include a clear Dutch perspective or context.
- Demonstrate originality and creative ambition.
- Use an accessible and engaging storytelling style.
References to historical events are permitted, but projects focused primarily on historical subjects are not eligible.
Preferred Storytelling Approach
The programme encourages documentaries that:
- Explore boundaries and experiment with form.
- Demonstrate personal involvement from the filmmaker.
- Present authentic and engaging narratives.
- Use strong visual and cinematic design.
- Maintain a curious and open perspective.
- Avoid moralistic or overly didactic storytelling.
- Offer fresh viewpoints on contemporary issues.
Who Is Eligible?
Applicants must:
- Reside in the Netherlands.
- Apply through an independent documentary producer or production company.
- Submit applications jointly as a director-producer team.
- Ensure the director and producer are different individuals.
Both parties must meet programme eligibility requirements.
Director Eligibility Requirements
Directors must meet at least one of the following criteria:
- Have completed an audiovisual education programme and produced a graduation film.
- Have created at least one short documentary demonstrating talent and ambition.
The documentary must have been:
- Broadcast on national television.
- Broadcast on regional television.
- Screened at a recognised national film festival.
- Released theatrically.
Additional director requirements include:
- A maximum of three previously produced short documentaries.
- Educational productions and talent programme works do not count toward this limit.
- Participation in only one Teledoc Campus project at a time.
- Preferably not participating in another talent development programme simultaneously.
Producer Eligibility Requirements
Producers must:
- Apply through an independent production company or documentary production entity.
- Participate jointly with an eligible director.
Programme participation limits include:
- Maximum of two projects in development simultaneously.
- Maximum of two projects in realization simultaneously.
Eligible Project Characteristics
Successful projects should demonstrate:
- A strong documentary concept.
- Clear narrative structure.
- Contemporary relevance.
- Cinematic ambition.
- Personal engagement from the filmmaker.
- Creative visual storytelling.
- Audience accessibility.
- Potential for professional development.
Ineligible Projects
The programme does not support:
- Historical documentaries as the primary subject.
- Projects lacking a Dutch perspective.
- Projects that do not meet documentary format requirements.
- Applications submitted by directors and producers who are the same person.
- Projects that fail to meet eligibility criteria.
How the Programme Works
- Form a director-producer team.
- Develop a documentary concept with a clear Dutch context.
- Prepare and submit the application through an eligible producer or production company.
- Applications undergo initial assessment.
- Selected projects receive development funding.
- Conduct research and produce test footage.
- Develop and complete the documentary script.
- Submit the completed script for second-round evaluation.
- Selected projects receive realization funding.
- Produce the documentary.
- Complete and deliver the final 25-minute documentary.
Selection Criteria
Applications are assessed based on:
- Artistic quality.
- Cinematic potential.
- Originality and creativity.
- Narrative strength.
- Documentary concept quality.
- Feasibility of production.
- Professional development potential.
- Relevance of the subject matter.
- Quality of the director-producer collaboration.
Why This Programme Matters
Emerging documentary filmmakers often face challenges accessing funding, industry networks, and production opportunities.
Teledoc Campus helps:
- Develop the next generation of documentary filmmakers.
- Encourage innovation within documentary storytelling.
- Build professional experience in television and cinema.
- Strengthen documentary production skills.
- Increase opportunities for career advancement.
- Support high-quality Dutch documentary filmmaking.
- Create pathways toward feature-length productions.
Tips for a Strong Application
- Focus on a compelling contemporary story.
- Demonstrate a strong Dutch perspective.
- Develop a clear narrative structure.
- Highlight cinematic and visual storytelling elements.
- Show personal engagement with the subject matter.
- Explain the project’s originality and relevance.
- Present a realistic development and production plan.
- Build a strong collaboration between director and producer.
Common Application Mistakes
- Proposing historical documentaries as the main subject.
- Submitting projects without a clear Dutch context.
- Providing weak narrative concepts.
- Overlooking cinematic storytelling elements.
- Failing to demonstrate personal involvement.
- Applying as the same person for both director and producer roles.
- Submitting incomplete development plans.
- Ignoring programme participation limits.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is Teledoc Campus?
Teledoc Campus is a documentary talent development programme that supports emerging documentary filmmakers in the Netherlands through development funding, production support, and professional guidance.
How much development funding is available?
Selected projects can receive up to €11,000 for development activities, including research, test footage, and scriptwriting.
How much production funding is available?
Projects selected after the development phase may receive up to €75,000 in realization funding.
Who can apply?
Applications must be submitted jointly by an eligible director and an independent documentary producer or production company based in the Netherlands.
What length should the documentary be?
Supported documentaries should have a final duration of approximately 25 minutes.
Are historical documentaries eligible?
No. While references to past events are allowed, documentaries primarily focused on historical subjects are not eligible.
What type of stories does the programme prefer?
The programme prioritises contemporary, cinematic, narrative-driven documentaries with strong personal engagement, creative storytelling, and a clear Dutch context.
Conclusion
The Teledoc Campus Programme provides emerging documentary filmmakers in the Netherlands with valuable opportunities to develop, finance, and produce high-quality short documentaries. Through funding, mentorship, and industry collaboration, the programme helps directors and producers strengthen their professional skills, create innovative documentary work, and advance their careers within television and cinema.
For more information, visit Netherlands Film Fund.
