4Docs is the new home of short British documentaries bought to you by the Channel 4 BRITDOC Foundation, powered by Channel 4 and hosted by Shooting People.

Channel 4 BRITDOC Foundation

The Channel 4 BRITDOC Foundation was spun out of Channel 4’s documentary department in 2005 as a stand alone non-profit foundation with a remit to create new funding and distribution models for British-made documentary films.

As well as funding groundbreaking social-issue films (such as Bafta winner Chosen, double Sundance winner Afghan Star, Warners cinema release Sounds Like Teen Spirit and Tribeca winner We Are Together), the Foundation brokers relationships between filmmakers and the NGO, Foundation and brand sectors in the UK to create better, more effective films. Channel 4 BRITDOC Foundation films are widely available: at cinemas, on DVD, on Channel 4 and online.

The Foundation works with creative individuals with something to say about the world, nurturing independent voices. Any British dicrector, or director based in Britain is eligible to apply for a grant from the Foundation via the website: www.britdoc.org.

Channel 4

Channel 4 is a UK public service broadcaster funded solely from commercial revenues. In March 2008, Channel 4 committed to fulfil its public role on the core channel, across its portfolio of digital TV channels and across digital media – becoming a “public service network”. Investment in 4docs reflects part of the commitment to invest in digital products, services and content. For more information on these commitments, please visit the Next on 4 website.

Shooting People

Shooting People is the world’s biggest networking organisation dedicated to the support and promotion of independent filmmaking. Over 35,000 members in the UK and the US share tips, recommendations and news, and cast and crew their films using the website and the nine Daily Bulletins.

Over 300 films are cast and crewed each week using the services. Members create their own unique profiles, and upload their work to be exhibited to their peers, the industry and the world.

Shooting People’s Film of the Month recognises the very best independent films made and uploaded to the Site. Each month, Shooting People Members view and rate their peers’ film, creating a shortlist of three. These are then sent to one of Shooting People’s high-profile patrons, who give a personal review of each of the three, and choose the Film of the Month. These are then promoted heavily on shootingpeople.org, and through their partner organisations globally. This extended network reaches some two million people. The judges so far have been Mike Figgis, Morgan Spurlock, Stuart Beattie, Martha Feinnes, Michael Nyman, Larry Clark, Werner Herzog, Sally Potter and Andrew Kotting.

The Co-operative

The Co-operative is owned by its 5 million members, and has a unique 165-year history of campaigning for change. Our campaigns tackle important, but sometimes difficult, issues (Human Rights, Trade Justice, Environmental issues). We believe that film can bring these campaigns to life in a way that other marketing channels perhaps can not – film can motivate people to take action and drive change, and we hope that the films we support will help mobilise our members and the general public on these issues.

Earlier this year, The Co-operative entered a unique  partnership with UK distributor Dogwoof  to jointly finance the marketing and distribution costs associated with campaigning films. In July, it released the award-winning Burma VJ, with a prestigious event at the BAFTA, satellite-broadcast live to 40 cinemas across the country. In October it is releasing Vanishing of the Bees. Our involvement with Britdoc is very exciting for us and we are looking forward to viewing entries in the competition.