Channel 4 is to give an aspiring documentary-maker the opportunity to direct a Cutting Edge film as part of a wider training scheme launching in September.
The commercial broadcaster will provide up to eight budding directors with the chance to win a place on the initiative, which will involve workshops from Cutting Edge film-makers.
Among the speakers are Minnow Films’ Bafta-winning director Morgan Matthews and Nick Holt, who made A Very British Storm Junkie, while C4 is currently bringing other directors into the fold.
Chosen candidates will learn to hone a host of skills, including interviewing techniques, authorship and gaining access to places and institutions. Following the training, an outstanding candidate will then be selected to direct a future Cutting Edge film.
“The criteria for judging the most outstanding candidate is yet to be finalised, but they will have demonstrated a combination of good, pitchable ideas and skills they can present in the workshops,” said Emma Cooper, the Cutting Edge commissioner who is overseeing the scheme.
Cooper said that entry criteria for film-makers interested in joining the scheme had not been set in stone, but they must have directed at least one hour of documentary television in the past. She revealed that increasing diversity was a “component” of the scheme because Cutting Edge films “should reflect the diversity of the UK”.
“We’re creating this initiative to ensure that the documentary landscape has talent coming through, and in the immediate future,” Cooper added.
“I want directors hungry to make single films. Cutting Edge has always nailed something about modern Britain and I want this to continue. I want people to display curiosity and present jaw-dropping ideas.”
The training scheme, which will be formally advertised next month, is separate to C4’s existing Investigative Journalism Scheme and coincides with the 25th anniversary of Cutting Edge – a landmark that was celebrated at a Bafta event on Thursday.
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