Deadline: 11-Sep-2025
The Bridging the Gap is dedicated to new and emerging talent based in Scotland and Northern Ireland with an idea for a short documentary.
This flagship programme combines professional development, production funding, and international festival distribution to launch emerging careers in documentary filmmaking.
They’re seeking surprising, challenging, and moving submissions that embrace the possibilities of the documentary genre, subvert expectations in terms of form and content, and offer a thought-provoking insight into these challenging times.
Filmmakers from diverse and underrepresented backgrounds are particularly encouraged to apply for a program that seeks to push the boundaries of the documentary form with vision, urgency, curiosity, and open-mindedness. The program is looking for applicants who demonstrate a sense of vision and urgency, and curiosity and open-mindedness to actively embrace the development process, which is a crucial part of the programme.
The opportunity is open to filmmakers based in Scotland or Northern Ireland. Applicants must have completed at least one film or audiovisual work and cannot be in full-time education. Both animation and experimental projects are accepted, and hybrid projects that combine documentary and fiction will be considered on a case-by-case basis. The program is designed for projects in early development. While you may have done some initial research, contacted protagonists, or even have some footage, you must remain open to change and feedback.
The training schedule is a mandatory commitment for selected participants. It includes a Meet & Greet Session online on 16 October 2025, followed by in-person workshops in Glasgow for Project Development & Research from 17-18 October 2025 and Directing from 7-8 November 2025. A Pitch & Trailer Workshop will take place in Edinburgh from 5-6 December 2025, with the Commissioning Pitch scheduled for early January 2026 in Edinburgh. The final project delivery is set for May 2026.
Proposals should be a maximum of three pages long. They should begin with a short premise, followed by a more detailed description of the idea, including notes on research, access, characters, and visual style. You should also include brief information on potential collaborators. Strong narratives and visual ideas with cinematic scope are highly valued, with a creative approach and a feel for the story being key to a standout proposal. While distinctive and ambitious ideas are welcomed, projects must be realistic in terms of length (around 10 minutes), production limitations (shooting in early 2026 with a May 2026 delivery deadline), and financial considerations. A key image or two can be added to the proposal to enhance the idea visually.
Along with the proposal, applicants are asked to submit a visual taster. This can be a clip of your main character or location. It does not need to be edited and should help visualize the project. If you do not have any footage for the film yet, you can shoot some material to showcase your intended style. Up to 12 ideas will be pre-selected by industry professionals based on the proposal and supporting materials. The selection will also consider how beneficial the program will be to the applicant.
For more information, visit Scottish Documentary Institute.
