Together TV launches £50k Diverse Film Fund

Broadcaster Together TV is launching the Diverse Film Fund to support the production of new, diverse short documentaries.

Each successful filmmaker will access to up to £10,000 for production plus mentoring and support throughout the process. In addition, the films will broadcast on Together TV during the Black History Month season in October 2021.

From 1st March, filmmakers will be able to submit a treatment for selection by an industry judging panel chaired by Satmohan Panesar (Commissioning Editor at ITV and Together TV trustee) and including Charlene White (Presenter, ITV News & Loose Women), Jasmine Dotiwala (broadcaster, journalist), Naked’s Managing Director Fatima Salaria, Natalie Rose (Head of Features at Naked), Cal Turner (Head of Factual Entertainment at Naked), Lynda-Louise Burrell (Creative Director at Museumand), Janet Olaofe (Head of Content and Scheduling at Together TV).

The Fund, open to all filmmakers over 18 years old resident in the UK, will open for submissions on March the 1st here: Together TV’s Diverse Film Fund

Satmohan Panesar, Chair of Together TV’s Diverse Film Fund said: “I am so pleased that Together TV is launching this initiative. We know how important it is for the TV industry to support new and diverse talent. This Fund will create a real opportunity for five filmmakers to produce their work and see it broadcast on national TV. They will also be supported and mentored, a great way to boost their professional and artistic careers.”

Janet Olaofe, Head of Content and Scheduling at Together TV said: “As the leading TV channel for inspiring positive change, we believe that our media needs to represent the diversity and creativity of Britain today in the stories we tell. We have supported emerging talent from across our communities over the years, through commissioning, collaborating, mentoring and broadcasting films as best we can. We are now formalising this into something bigger, better and longer-term through this Fund which we hope will grow and launch In the years to come.. We wouldn’t have been able to do this without the catalysing force of our Chair Caroline Diehl, and without the support of our donors and partners across the broadcast and charity sectors. We are deeply grateful to them, and thankful that we can help five new filmmakers see their work come to life.”