BBC ALBA Children’s Short Documentary Commissioning Opportunity 2024

BBC ALBA is delighted to be once again partnering with the EBU (European Broadcasting Union) on a prestigious kids’ short documentary exchange. Successful companies will each make a single 15-minute documentary which will be shared and broadcast across Europe.

This is a unique creative opportunity for producers and directors. The scheme offers mentoring from leading industry figures as well as discussion, support and feedback from other European filmmakers. Films produced as part of this major international showcase regularly go on to win awards around the world.

We are now seeking proposals from companies for a kids’ short documentary for 2024.

• Theme: “I Can Do It!”
• Duration: 14’45”
• Audience: Ages 10-12, but suitable for 8-12
• Subject: A Gaelic-speaking child (no older than 12) should be at the heart of the story and should tell the story of a personal challenge in their own words with minimal contributions from grown-ups
• Style: Cinematic, observational, and shot and edited to allow for versioning into other languages

• Group production meeting online – 21 and 22 March 2024
• Production window – July/August 2024 (school holidays)
• Group rough-cut meeting in Mainz Germany – 24 and 25 September 2024
• Delivery to EBU/BBC ALBA – end of October 2024
• Screening meeting in Cyprus – 4 and 5 December 2024
• TX on BBC ALBA – Christmas 2024
• Following TX the producer will be expected to enter their film for competition on the international festival circuit (minimum ten submissions)
• Further information and examples of films from previous years are available
• The EBU requires world-wide rights and clearance for 10 years and other rights that make this a non-standard deal
• The EBU has its own Exec Producer who will be part of the initial selection process and who work alongside the successful production teams

• The successful documentary proposal will have a funding contribution from MG ALBA of £16,000
• We also expect that the successful company will make a funding application to Screen Scotland and for UK Children’s TV Programme tax credits.

Screen Scotland: https://www.screen.scot/funding-and-support/funding

Tax reliefs (via BFI tax credits certification): https://www.bfi.org.uk/supporting-uk-film/british-certification-tax-relief

• Please submit at least two story/subject ideas as part of your proposal. These should include short casting reels of the proposed subjects shot on a smart phone
• Please also include a summary of production experience and an indication of key talent
• Please note that in addition to the onscreen subjects, the producer and director attached to the proposal are also required to be a Gaelic-speakers
• Deadline for submission – 8 March 2024
• Commissioning decision – 15 March 2024
• Submissions should be sent to: bbcalbacommissioning@bbc.co.uk
• If you have any questions please contact macleod@mgalba.com