Channel 4 Launches New Development Fund for Unscripted Content

Art Sejdiu and Vivienne Molokwu to Oversee Extra £300k–£500k In Proof-of-Concept Investment

Channel 4 today announces a new proof-of-concept development fund designed to back big, original British unscripted formats building on the channel’s recent run of bold, returnable series including Handcuffed: Last Pair Standing, Virgin Island and Secret Genius.

The fund will greenlight three to five concepts, offering £100,000 each to provide substantial development support to indies to ensure ambitious ideas are properly tested and refined. Channel 4 will be looking for big, broad, returnable formats, with the ambition of taking at least one of the projects to full series commission.

Art Sejdiu, Channel 4’s Head of Commissioning Development said, “Big ideas need big development, and Channel 4 wants to support the independent production sector to develop the best ideas. This fund is about giving British indies the space and backing to really kick the tyres on ambitious new formats. I hope it’ll help the next wave of original British unscripted IP break through.”

Vivienne Molokwu, senior commissioning editor at Channel 4 said, “Well-funded proof of concepts can transform our understanding of an idea and offer invaluable insights. With this new fund, Channel 4 is strengthening its partnership with the UK’s independent production community by investing in and supporting great ideas early on to help create the next generation of standout, returnable formats.

Ideas should be submitted via Channel 4’s unscripted genre teams: Documentaries & Factual Entertainment; Lifestyle; Reality & Entertainment; and Specialist Factual via  4ideas, Channel 4’s new platform for indies to manage their company data, maintain their contact details, and submit and track ideas. Please state clearly in your submission that you would like it to be considered as part of the Proof of Concept Fund. The deadline for initial submissions is the end of July, with Proof of Concepts expected to be greenlit in early Autumn. 

Art Sejdiu and Vivienne Molokwu will oversee the process, working alongside commissioners from the genre teams to develop and shape the selected projects. All ideas taken to series will be funded by Motion Entertainment, a WPP Media Company. For more information please visit https://channel4.com/4producers/unscripted-proof-concept-fund’.

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