Discovery Networks International has partnered with the UK’s National Film and Television School (NFTS) to launch a factual development and production course to find the generation of producers.

The international factual broadcaster has signed up Nutopia chief executive Jane Root and Chris Shaw, editorial director at indie ITN Productions and executive producer of Channel 4’s Sri Lanka’s Killing Fields, to form an advisory panel.

Julian Bellamy, head of production and development and creative director at Discovery Networks International, and Discovery Networks Western Europe’s senior vice president and head of programming Dan Korn will also be on the board alongside October Films’ Denman Rooke, Cineflix’s Rob Carey and Raw’s Dimitri Doganis.

The company will offer scholarships to the four most talented students and the best programme pitched during the course will receive a development fund of £5,000.

The 12-month part time course will be taught at Discovery House in Chiswick, West London and the deadline for applications is Nov 14.

“This course will impart expert knowledge and skills from the best in the business of factual programme making to the next generation of great producers,” said Bellamy.

“At Discovery, we are motivated by brilliant programming making so we’re excited to partner with the NFTS – recently voted the world’s best film and television school. This initiative is crafted to find the next big talent and, perhaps most excitingly, Discovery will invest in developing the best programme idea at the end of the course that could ultimately make it on air.”

Topics