12/09/2008

The search is again on for the country’s most promising documentary talent, with young filmmakers set the task of coming up with an idea around the theme of ‘future’.

The UK-wide Bridging the Gap documentary competition is notable for comprising part cash and part mentoring by industry veterans. This is the sixth year of the scheme, which is run by the Edinburgh-based Scottish Documentary Institute.

But ideas have to be with the organisers by the third of next month.

In December, seven, ten-minute documentaries with a budget of £16,000 each (£8000 cash, £8000 in-kind) will be commissioned.

This year, at the Edinburgh International Film Festival, Bridging the Gap ‘graduate’, Conor McCormick, won the best short Scottish Documentary award, with ‘Christmas with Dad’.

Says Noe Mendelle, director of Scottish Documentary Institute: “We pride ourselves in offering filmmakers a safe and experimental space to explore the traditional boundaries of documentary and we continue to be delighted with the results.

“Our film festival awards and screenings across the world in over 30 countries are testimony to the quality of the films produced under Bridging the Gap.”

Visit www.docscene.org

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