Sheffield, Eng.: While it becomes harder for new filmmakers to break into the documentary market, the British are opening up initiatives and documentary strands aimed at giving new British filmmakers a chance to make documentaries. Recently, at the Sheffield International Documentary Festival in England, commissioning editors from Britain’s main networks presented information on their series aimed at airing documentaries by new filmmakers.

The bbc runs two strands comprised entirely of documentaries from young Brits, while Carlton tv, Channel 4, Anglia tv and others each run one documentary strand for new filmmakers.

Remarkably, commissioning editors do not expect the filmmakers to have any experience beyond film school. The information sheet from the bbc series Picture This goes as far to say, ‘Our priority will always be those with less experience, so never let a lack of credits put you off applying.’ This statement would be unheard of in some countries where a lack of experience is the second largest deterrent for new filmmakers next to not having connections.

Not knowing people in high places also works well in Britain, as the commissioning editors acknowledge that the majority of the time they have never met the filmmaker, preferring instead to find them via ulterior routes.

One bbc commissioning editor found several documentary makers by contacting film schools and asking for the names of their most talented students. Other commissioning editors place advertisements in local papers inviting submissions from new documentarians.

Once the filmmaker’s idea is accepted, all costs of production are paid along with the producer’s fee. The filmmakers have to work within a constrained budget but do not have to search for further financing.

In Channel 4’s case, the network further helps the filmmaker by paying for them to take weekend seminars in documentary making. Other networks go to the trouble of teaming up the new filmmaker with more experienced production houses.

Surprisingly, the documentaries made by these new filmmakers are fresher and strike a more raw nerve than some documentaries made by seasoned veterans.

Because the filmmaker has more time to devote to the project, and is not as concerned with crew costs (the filmmaker is sometimes the only crew member), the documentaries tend to be fly-on-the-wall studies of fascinating people or subjects.

Some of the young filmmakers presenting their docs at the festival were unemployed, barely surviving, but making films with such conviction that the viewer couldn’t help but be drawn into the subject.

Sean McAllister made an outstanding doc about a fellow who has been living on the dole for 18 years and does not want a job.

Franny Armstrong made a riveting documentary about the famous McDonald’s libel case against two British activists who dared challenge the fast-food giant’s environmental and nutritional practices.

Armstrong is a good example of the new British documentarian. Possessing no formal training, she pursued the story for two years using borrowed equipment and free labor. She successfully made the documentary even though no commissioning editor has agreed to air the film for fear of McDonald’s reprisals.

Audiences could benefit from having broadcasters take chances with new documentarians as the British have done. Not to be ignored either are the benefits to the broadcasters. The British channels are enjoying ratings successes with the new series. It seems to be a winning proposition on both sides.

Felice Gorica is a Toronto-based independent producer and business affairs consultant.