Sky has picked Dare Pictures, Proper Content, Zandland and 22Summers for a six-month scheme to develop “boundary-pushing” factual ideas.
The indies are participating in the inaugural Sky Development Partnership Fund, designed to pair the broadcaster’s documentary commissioning team with diverse-led indies.
Each will receive at least £15,000 towards development work.
Dare (Diversity, Allyship, Representation and Empowermnt) was set up in 2022 by Derren Lawford and has produced BBC Storyville doc Dalton’s Dream and Channel 4/Sky Deutschland co-pro Fugitive: The Mystery of the Crypto Queen.
Proper Content, run by David DeHaney, has made docs such as C4’s Grierson winners The School That Tried to End Racism and Suicidal: In Our Own Words, plus Channel 5’s Chris Packham: Is It Time to Change the Law?.
Zandland was behind C4’s digital series Life Uncovered, in which the indie’s founder, British-Iranian filmmaker, Ben Zand immersed himself in unconventional lifestyles, as well as the broadcaster’s recent Dispatches doc Barbie’s Dirty Secrets.
Finally, 22Summers was set up this year by Idris Elba and Diene Petterle [main picture] and debuted with Nat Geo/Disney+ doc WWII Heroes of Colour.
Hayley Reynolds, acting director of documentaries & factual at Sky, said the four companies bring “a wealth of experience and formidable creative ambition”, adding: “Working together, we hope to make boundary-pushing docs that engage, challenge, and entertain our audience in new and exciting ways.”
Sky head of diversity Luke Seraphin added: “By supporting these talented production companies, we’re not just investing in powerful storytelling but also in the future of a more diverse and representative media landscape.”
