BC’s Knowledge Network is inviting mid-career and senior BC producers to submit development proposals for premium limited documentary series of 3 to 4 one-hour episodes, for broadcast on our television channel and streaming service.
We’re looking for layered and resonant BC stories (contemporary or historical) that have been hidden from view or that are being reframed with new context and insight. These stories can reach beyond BC, but they need to have a BC anchor. The series will premiere in Storyville – our flagship documentary strand that focuses on social issues.
One project will be selected for development with the goal of moving into production in 2026. Financial support will be in the form of a development license fee and potentially an allocation from Knowledge Network’s CMF Envelope. (TBD based on confirmation of our envelope amount in April 2025.)
The first project selected as part of this 3-year initiative moved into development earlier this year. Seeking Saltwater (working title) is an extensively researched three-part series that moves between past and present to tell an intimate story of Chinese-Canadians in BC. Black Rhino Creative Inc. is leading the project, with award-winning filmmaker Mina Shum (Meditation Park, The Ninth Floor) as writer and director. The producers on this series include Daniel Berish, Ryan Mah, Joanna Wong and Leah Mallen.
This is our second proposal intake round for Stories (Un)told. The third and final call for proposals will happen in October 2025.
As part of Knowledge Network’s commitment to helping redress historic inequities in the screen sector, a minimum of 2 of the 3 projects selected for production will be with BC Indigenous and BPOC majority-owned production companies (51% minimum). If you are a BC Indigenous or racialized filmmaker and do not have the specific number of credits indicated in the eligibility criteria listed below but feel your accumulated experience in other documentary roles demonstrates the requisite skills/experience to lead on a project of this scope and scale, we will consider the argument you put forward. Please include details in your submission.
Eligibility Criteria for the Applicant
This stream is intended as a unique opportunity for mid-career and senior BC documentary filmmakers to work on a larger creative canvas at the level of their ability and imagination in the service of our Knowledge Network audiences. High production values are a core expectation.
The following content is not eligible:
We will be hosting a Q&A session for producers seeking additional information about this call and working with Knowledge Network on the following date:
To register for this session please email Nikki Beesley at nikkib@knowledge.ca.
Deadline for Submissions – Friday, January 31st 2025, at 5:00 pm PST. (The application portal will be closed and proposals submitted later than 5:00 pm will not be accepted.)
The successful applicant will be determined by March 2025.
Question? Please contact Nikki Beesley at 604.431.3114 or nikkib@knowledge.ca
To request Accessibility Support please contact us no less than 4 weeks before the submission deadline.
Tell us about yourselves and your experience as filmmakers. This section is also an opportunity to let us know if you are from of a Diverse Community as defined in section 7 of the CMF Definitions and Essential Requirements: cmf-fmc.ca/document/appendix-a-definitions-and-essential-requirements/.
In your producer bio, please include an overview of the production budget levels you have previously worked with and successes you have had in accessing various Canadian and international sources of funding. We want to understand what budget levels and financing structures you have experience with.
Please include contact information.
