Deadline: 05-Oct-2026
Teledoc Campus is a Dutch documentary development and production subsidy programme offered by the Netherlands Film Fund, NPO, CoBO, and NPO Fund to support emerging directors and producers. The programme provides up to €11,000 for documentary development and up to €75,000 for realization, helping new filmmaking teams develop cinematic, unconventional documentaries for television and cinema.
What Is Teledoc Campus?
Teledoc Campus is a documentary talent development programme in the Netherlands designed to help beginning directors and producers gain professional experience in documentary filmmaking.
The programme supports documentary projects with a high-quality, cinematic, and unconventional character.
It creates a pathway for emerging filmmaking teams to develop their skills and potentially progress from shorter documentary projects to longer productions.
Who Runs Teledoc Campus?
The programme is offered through a collaboration between:
- Netherlands Film Fund
- NPO
- CoBO
- NPO Fund
These organisations work together to identify and support promising documentary projects and emerging filmmaking talent.
What Does Teledoc Campus Support?
Teledoc Campus supports teams working on documentary film plans that have strong creative and cinematic potential.
The programme can support:
- Documentary research
- Test recordings
- Script development
- Documentary production
- Development of emerging directors
- Development of emerging producers
- Professional experience in television and cinema
The supported documentaries have a final length of 25 minutes.
Funding Available
Teledoc Campus provides funding in two main stages.
Development Funding
The maximum development budget is:
€11,000
This development budget includes:
- Up to €1,000 for producer guidance
- Optional €750 fee for a script coach
Development funding can be used for activities such as:
- Research
- Test recordings
- Writing the documentary script
- Developing the creative concept
Realization Funding
The maximum realization budget is:
€75,000
Realization funding supports the production of selected documentaries following the development and selection process.
Who Is Eligible?
The opportunity is intended for teams of emerging directors and producers developing documentary film plans.
The programme is particularly relevant to beginning filmmakers who want to:
- Gain professional documentary experience
- Develop a strong cinematic project
- Work within the television and cinema sectors
- Improve their directing and producing skills
- Develop a documentary for professional production
- Build a pathway toward longer productions
What Type of Documentary Projects Are Supported?
Projects should have a:
- High-quality documentary concept
- Cinematic character
- Unconventional approach
- Strong creative identity
- Potential to engage audiences
The project should be presented as a clear documentary film plan rather than simply a general idea.
How Does Teledoc Campus Work?
The programme follows a development-to-realization model.
Stage 1: Documentary Film Plan
Emerging directors and producers develop a documentary concept and submit their film plan.
Stage 2: Development Selection
Public broadcasters and the Film Fund select projects for development support.
Selected projects can receive funding for:
- Research
- Test recordings
- Script writing
- Creative development
Stage 3: Script Development
The selected filmmaking team develops the documentary script and strengthens the project’s creative and production approach.
Stage 4: Realization Selection
After script development, projects may undergo another selection process by the public broadcasters and the Film Fund.
Projects selected for realization can receive production funding of up to €75,000.
Stage 5: Documentary Production
The supported documentary is produced as a 25-minute film.
How Many Projects Are Supported?
Teledoc Campus provides annually:
- Up to 18 development contributions
- Up to 9 realization contributions
The number of awards is therefore limited, making the selection process competitive.
Application Rounds
The programme normally has three submission rounds each year:
- February
- June
- October
A possible additional submission round may take place in December, depending on the number of awards already granted.
Applications must be submitted to CoBO before 17:00 on the applicable deadline.
How to Apply
Applicants should prepare their documentary proposal carefully before submission.
Step 1: Develop the Documentary Concept
Create a clear documentary idea with a strong central subject, story, and cinematic approach.
Step 2: Build the Team
The project should be developed by an emerging director and producer working together.
Step 3: Prepare the Film Plan
Clearly explain:
- The documentary subject
- The central story
- The creative approach
- The cinematic style
- The intended audience
- The development requirements
Step 4: Prepare the Development Plan
Explain how the development funding will be used for:
- Research
- Test recordings
- Script development
- Producer guidance
- Optional script coaching
Step 5: Submit to CoBO
Submit the application through the required CoBO procedure before 17:00 on the applicable submission deadline.
Step 6: Selection and Development
If selected, the team receives development support and works on strengthening the documentary project.
Step 7: Apply for Realization
Following script development, the project may be considered for the realization stage by the public broadcasters and the Film Fund.
What Makes a Strong Application?
A strong Teledoc Campus proposal should clearly demonstrate:
- A compelling documentary subject
- A distinctive cinematic approach
- Originality
- Strong storytelling potential
- A clear development plan
- A capable emerging director-producer team
- Potential for professional television or cinema audiences
The proposal should explain not only what the documentary is about, but also why the story needs to be told through this particular cinematic approach.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Applicants should avoid:
- Submitting an unclear documentary concept
- Providing insufficient information about the story
- Failing to explain the cinematic approach
- Treating the proposal as only a general idea
- Ignoring the development stage
- Providing an unrealistic production plan
- Missing the 17:00 submission deadline
- Failing to follow CoBO’s application requirements
Why Teledoc Campus Matters
Teledoc Campus provides an important development pathway for emerging documentary filmmakers in the Netherlands.
Instead of focusing only on production funding, the programme helps beginning directors and producers develop their projects through research, test recordings, script development, professional guidance, and collaboration with public broadcasters.
The programme can therefore help emerging filmmakers build practical experience while developing projects that may eventually lead to larger documentary productions.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is Teledoc Campus?
Teledoc Campus is a Dutch documentary talent development and subsidy programme supporting emerging directors and producers developing high-quality, cinematic, and unconventional documentaries.
How much development funding is available?
The maximum development budget is €11,000, including a €1,000 producer guidance fee and an optional €750 script coach fee.
How much realization funding can a project receive?
A selected project can receive up to €75,000 for realization.
Who can apply for Teledoc Campus?
The programme is intended for teams of emerging directors and producers working on documentary film plans.
What length are Teledoc Campus documentaries?
Documentaries supported through the programme have a final length of 25 minutes.
How many projects are selected each year?
A maximum of 18 development contributions and 9 realization contributions are awarded annually.
When can applications be submitted?
There are normally three application rounds each year in February, June, and October, with a possible additional December round depending on the number of awards already granted. Applications must be submitted to CoBO before 17:00.
Conclusion
Teledoc Campus provides emerging Dutch documentary directors and producers with a structured opportunity to develop cinematic and unconventional documentary projects for television and cinema. With up to €11,000 in development funding and €75,000 for realization, the programme supports the complete pathway from research and test recordings to script development and professional documentary production. Applicants should focus on a strong original concept, clear cinematic vision, capable director-producer collaboration, and a realistic development plan while carefully following the CoBO submission requirements and deadlines.
For more information, visit Netherlands Film Fund.
