About the Independent Fund.

No news programme in the UK commissions more independent filmmakers than Channel 4 News.

Through the Channel 4 News Independent Fund, both lone film-makers and larger production companies have an opportunity to showcase their work on either Channel 4 News or More 4 News.

In 2008 alone, the Fund commissioned in excess of 60 films.

Since 2006 films made by the Channel 4 News Independent Fund have won RTS, Amnesty and Rory Peck awards as well as being named film of the year at the Business Journalism awards. These are in addition to the many nominations we receive each year across the board.

We want stories that make headlines and set the news agenda. They may be domestic or international. The films range in length from five to fifteen minutes.

Watch some of our films

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2008

Afghanistan:
Rory Peck nominee, Mehran Bozorgnia travelled to Afghanistant to see a country in crisis, where people sell their children to get money to eat through the winter and kidnappers in Kabul operate seemingly without fear of arrest.
Watch the report

Young people and alcohol:
Film-maker, Kate Taunton of Minnow Films revealed the extent of alcohol abuse among the young, including the story of a 24 year-old woman whose life was ended by liver disease. As a result of her work on Channel 4 News in 2008, Kate was nominated by the RTS as Young Journalist of the Year.
Watch the report

2007

The surge:
Guardian Films' Sean Smith travelled to Iraq to cover the was the US surge was working. It depicted the toll the fighting was taking on both the soldiers and the Iraqi people. This film won the RTS award for Foreign News Story of the Year.

7/7 survey:
This film, made by Tony Stark, for Moonstone Films, revealed that according to a Channel 4 News survey of 500 British Muslims, nearly a quarter didn't believe the four men identified as the London bombers were responsible for the attacks amd a similar number said that the government or the security services were involved.

2006

Tesco in Bangladesh:
This undercover investigation, made by Jane Fellner of Evolve Television, found children aged as young as twelve working for two of Tesco's suppliers in Bangladesh. Shortlisted for 'Best Broadcast feature' Business Journalist of the Year Awards 2007.

2005

Congo: Inside the Heart of Darkness: Free Radical Films
Film maker Elizabeth Jones trekked three days through the jungle with Channel 4 News correspondent Jonathan Miller to track down evidence of forced labour in tin mines. They found thousands of miners forced at gun point to dig for tin ore that is destined for electronics industry. This film won the RTS for Foreign News as well as helping reporter Jonathan Miller win RTS Specialist of the Year.
Watch the report

Courts pension investigation: Old Street Films
This three month investigation into a failed pension scheme revealed a £30m black hole in Courts the furniture stores company pension scheme which left workers facing retirement with an uncertain future. This film won Best Broadcast Story of the year at the Business Journalist of the Year Awards.
Watch the report

Who are we?

Mike Radford is the Independent Fund's Commissioning Editor.

Iain Overton is the Executive Producer for More4 News.

What we want

You should provide us with a short synopsis that explains your story. You can email this to Mike at c4indyfund@itn.co.uk. In particular you should be aware of what is already in the public domain - and make clear to us what elements of your story are new.

We are looking for investigations, exclusives, unique access. Remember that Channel 4 News has a large internal newsgathering operation so don't offer stories likely to be covered better or quicker by our in house teams. More4 news is interested in important under-reported stories and differing viewpoints on important issues.

You should explain to us why your story will make news. A few paragraphs may be all you need to test our initial interest.

We will reply to you by email in a matter of days with our thoughts and any follow up questions.

In addition to original proposals, the Independent Fund will also buy-in exclusive pre shot material that can be edited by in house staff or attract additional funds for further production.

How we work

Once we are interested in your story we will arrange a meeting face to face. For this we will ask you to prepare a budget. It is a simple list of direct costs involved in getting the film made. We can assist in finding crews, post production facilities and key personnel.

More often than not we will attach a Channel 4 News reporter who is skilled at tailoring a piece to the needs of a programme. Your profit is in the minutage fee we pay ie: you will receive a fee for each minute or part thereof broadcast.

We pay half the agreed budget up front and the balance upon transmission.

Contact the Indpendent Fund team:

Mike Radford, Commissioning Editor, Independent Fund
Mike.Radford@itn.co.uk

Iain Overton, Executive Producer, More4 News
Iain.Overton@itn.co.uk

Please send all proposals to c4indyfund@itn.co.uk