Funded by the Art and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) between 2018-2021, the UK Feature Docs team worked with industry stakeholders to develop proposals for a new policy framework for the documentary sector. This research was published in two policy reports. The first, Keeping it Real: Towards a Documentary Film Policy for the UK, presents the results of the largest ever survey of UK nonfiction producers and directors and makes preliminary recommendations for a fairer and more sustainable industry. The second, Making It Real: A Policy Programme for UK Documentary Film, is based on the extensive consultation that followed the first report and sets out a comprehensive set of sector-endorsed proposals for the UK documentary film industry.
Keeping it Real: Towards A Documentary Film Policy for the UK is based on the findings of a survey of over 200 UK feature documentary producers and directors. The survey covers diversity and inclusion – including age, class, disability, ethnicity, sexuality, gender and caring responsibilities – geography, income, financing and training. It reveals a chronic lack of funding, support and coordination at the heart of the UK’s feature documentary film sector.
