Sheffield Doc/Fest has unveiled a bespoke training and mentoring programme to help grow emerging talent in the UK.

Doc/Next is a year-long training initiative open to documentary and all other non-fiction directors, producers, line producers, editors and DOPs across all platforms.

The programme is specifically aimed at UK professionals with their first handful of credits who have been in the industry for 18 months to five years, and are ambitious to move up to the next rung of the ladder.

Doc/Next will provide group training in Sheffield including: bespoke training, masterclasses; business development; peer-to-peer learning; networking; mentoring; placements; and delegate attendance at Sheffield Doc/Fest 2017,

The deadline for applications is July 28 2016, ahead of the start of the programme in September.

Liz McIntyre, CEO and festival director of Doc/Fest, said: “We have listened to emerging talent, who, having secured their first few credits, articulate the difficulty of jumping to the next rung. 

“Having identified a serious gap in the market, we have created a programme to nurture the best of that emerging talent, and help them build sustainable filmmaking careers and businesses, for the benefit of our industry as a whole.

“Doc/Next is a unique programme that responds to important industry demand in a range of disciplines.”

The programme will be led by Donna Taberer, who said: “Our industry is vibrant and world class. But it can be notoriously tough for a freelancer finding their ‘next steps’ feet. This programme will provide invaluable support, training and networks and help diverse talent with the very best potential to breakthrough and move up to the next level.”

The training programme is a key strand in the Yorkshire Screen Hub project, led by Screen Yorkshire, with funding from regional partners and the BFI’s Creative Cluster Challenge Fund.

More details at https://sheffdocfest.com/