NEW 2025 Dates Added for Professional Development Programs

Stories (Un)told – Call for Development Proposals for Limited Documentary Series

BC’s Knowledge Network is inviting mid-career and senior BC producers to submit development proposals for premium limited documentary series of 3 to 4 one-hour episodes, for broadcast on our television channel and streaming service.

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Knowledge Network
} 5:00 pm
One-time
In-person & Online
TBD

Deadline: January 31st 2025, at 5:00 pm PST

Q&A virtual session November 7th at 10:00 am PST To register for this session please email Nikki Beesley at nikkib@knowledge.ca.

 

We’re looking for layered and resonant BC stories (contemporary or historical) that have been hidden from view or that are being reframed with new context and insight. These stories can reach beyond BC, but they need to have a BC anchor. The series will premiere in Storyville – our flagship documentary strand that focuses on social issues.

One project will be selected for development with the goal of moving into production in 2026. Financial support will be in the form of a development license fee and potentially an allocation from Knowledge Network’s CMF Envelope. (TBD based on confirmation of our envelope amount in April 2025.)

The first project selected as part of this 3-year initiative moved into development earlier this year. Seeking Saltwater (working title) is an extensively researched three-part series that moves between past and present to tell an intimate story of Chinese-Canadians in BC. Black Rhino Creative Inc. is leading the project, with award-winning filmmaker Mina Shum (Meditation Park, The Ninth Floor) as writer and director. The producers on this series include Daniel Berish, Ryan Mah, Joanna Wong and Leah Mallen.

This is our second proposal intake round for Stories (Un)told. The third and final call for proposals will happen in October 2025.

As part of Knowledge Network’s commitment to helping redress historic inequities in the screen sector, a minimum of 2 of the 3 projects selected for production will be with BC Indigenous and BPOC majority-owned production companies (51% minimum). If you are a BC Indigenous or racialized filmmaker and do not have the specific number of credits indicated in the eligibility criteria listed below but feel your accumulated experience in other documentary roles demonstrates the requisite skills/experience to lead on a project of this scope and scale, we will consider the argument you put forward. Please include details in your submission.

Eligibility Criteria for the Applicant

  • Must be a for-profit incorporated production company.
  • Lead production company and owners must be based in BC (51% minimum). We’re open to national or international co-productions provided the core criteria for resonant BC stories is met.
  • Director must be a BC resident.
  • Producer must have a minimum of 3 producer credits on feature length documentaries or full season of series. (Short format episodes less than 30 minutes do not meet criteria.)
  • Director must have a minimum of 3 director credits on feature length documentaries or full season of series (Short format episodes less than 30 minutes do not meet criteria.)
  • Short format online content does not meet criteria.
  • Proficiency and experience with funders and mandatory documentation. (Such as CMF, Tax Credits, CAVCO, CRTC, insurance.)

This stream is intended as a unique opportunity for mid-career and senior BC documentary filmmakers to work on a larger creative canvas at the level of their ability and imagination in the service of our Knowledge Network audiences. High production values are a core expectation.

The following content is not eligible:

  • Scripted
  • Magazine style
  • Lifestyle
  • Reality
  • Factual
  • Travel

Question? Please contact Nikki Beesley at 604.431.3114 or nikkib@knowledge.ca

To request Accessibility Support please contact us no less than 4 weeks before the submission deadline.

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