Black Britain Unspoken

Black Britain Unspoken has evolved over the past three years into a transformative development programme, offering professional training, funding, and mentorship to participants.

Applications for Black Britain Unspoken are currently closed. 

If you’d like to register your interest for any future programmes click the link below, or contact underrepresentedtalent@mediatrust.org.

Through Black Britain Unspoken, three filmmakers were selected and supported to produce a short-form documentary (max. 5-7 mins), which went on to air on discovery+ during Black History Month (October 2024).

The three filmmakers chosen for 2024 were Lauren Gee who directed Dancing on Road, Joladé Olusanya who directed mandem, and Donell Atkinson-Johnson, who directed Lloyd the Instructor. 

All submissions were looked at by an appointed industry panel and a shortlist of 10 were invited to a pitch day at Warner Bros. Discovery’s London offices. Three projects were be greenlit and provided with a production budget of up to £15,000 as well as production management support and editorial guidance from Warner Bros. Discovery Commissioning team and Wall to Wall Productions. Alongside this, each filmmaker will benefit from a bespoke professional development curriculum delivered by Media Trust and one-to-one mentoring through our partners’ Bounce Cinema.

Last year’s film pitches explored narratives highlighting moments of joy, celebratory occasions, and even the expressive nature of fashion within the context of the Black community. This year we want to continue to look for unique stories that shine a new lens on the Black British experience.

BBU forms part of the Warner Bros. Discovery Access, a creative talent development programme that champions under-represented voices.

To be eligible for the project, the filmmakers have to:

• Identify as Black (or of Black Heritage) and British
• Be aged 18 or older
• Have the right to work in the UK
• Have no more than three broadcast credits as a director or writer [credits on shorts or other work that have not been broadcast on televisual platforms are permitted]
• Not have written or directed a feature length film or documentary
• Have some prior experience working on a film or some form of visual media (e.g. student film, short film, music video, television etc.)
• Be available to take part in the programme schedule which is detailed below

Find out more on the Warner Bros. Discovery Access site.

Full terms and conditions can be read here.

If you’d like to know more about Black Britain Unspoken you can contact access.international@wbd.com.

If you’re a broadcaster, production company or corporate partner, and wondering how to get involved with initiatives like this, you can email louised@mediatrust.org

Applications closed on Monday 8 April 2024 at 11.59pm