We are pleased to be running a second season of the international mentorship scheme, Connecting Stories, organised with the support of British Council and in collaboration with In-Docs.

Aiming to support underrepresented creative voices, Connecting Stories is a year-long programme for documentary filmmakers developing their first or second feature film, from Africa, Asia and the Middle East.

It combines seminars exploring various aspects of the industry, including the development and the production of feature films, individual mentorship sessions, and masterclasses with international key players in the current documentary landscape. It also includes a filmmaker’s grant of £1,000 for each selected participant.

Having delivered our Stories workshops over 10 years, working with over 180 participants, from 10 countries, we have developed Connecting Stories as an opportunity to help Stories alumni and others to take their documentary practice to a new level. In the process we establish and host a peer-network of participants and our international speakers and mentors, bringing documentary filmmakers from across the world, with diverse experience, to share and learn from each other.

Selected participants take part in various online activities (group seminars, individual mentorship, industry events) designed to help them grow their knowledge of the industry, their confidence to navigate the international scene, to work with co-producers and to put together the right material to pitch their projects and apply for funding.

You can read out more about our Connecting Stories 2021 participants and their mentors here.

And if you have any questions, please get in touch with us at stories@scottishdocinstitute.com