FAQs

The Planet Health Film Fund is open to documentary filmmakers internationally who are aged 18 or over. Applicants must have previously directed at least one completed short documentary or comparable authored non-fiction work that has screened at one or more recognised film festivals.

No. It is free to apply.

No. The fund is open to filmmakers anywhere in the world.

Yes. Applications must be submitted in English, but your proposed film can be in any language. Final films in languages other than English will need to meet the fund's agreed subtitling requirements.

Applications close at 6pm GMT, 16 November 2026. Applications received after the deadline will not be considered. We recommend submitting your application in advance of the deadline in case you experience any technical issues.

Yes. The lead applicant must be the director of the proposed film. We also accept applications from co-directors, but one director must be nominated as the lead applicant and main point of contact with Earthrise. Producers and other key collaborators can be attached to the project and included as part of the filmmaking team.

No. Each director may be involved in only one application, whether applying as a lead director or co-director.

Yes. Applicants must have an eligible production company in place at the point of application, as the £20,000 award cannot be paid directly to an individual.

No. Applications cannot be changed once they have been submitted, so please check your application carefully before submitting. If you wish to withdraw your application, please contact us at planethealth@earthrise.studio.

We are looking for bold, authored documentary storytelling that explores the relationship between personal and planetary health through real people, places and lived experience. The films should be approximately 10 minutes long and work as complete, standalone documentaries. Please read the full Creative Brief before applying.

Projects already in development are eligible to apply and may have undertaken some preliminary filming as part of the development process. However, projects that have entered production or post-production at the time of application are not eligible.

No. The film you are proposing should be conceived as a complete, standalone short documentary rather than a proof of concept, trailer or development teaser for a feature. This does not prevent the story from developing into a longer project in the future.

Yes. Applicants should be able to demonstrate appropriate access to the people, places or communities at the heart of their proposed story. We understand that access can continue to develop during production, but projects should not be dependent on entirely speculative access.

No. The £20,000 Planet Health Film Fund must cover the full cost of making and delivering the film. Projects cannot bring additional production finance into the funded project.

The award must cover the full cost of developing, producing, post-producing and delivering the film and its required supporting materials. Your budget should account for all relevant production costs, including appropriate filmmaker and crew fees, equipment, travel where required, post-production, music and archive where applicable, insurance, clearances and delivery materials. A standard budget template will be provided as part of the application.

The £20,000 award will be paid in installments against agreed production and delivery milestones. The exact payment schedule will be set out in the funding agreement for selected filmmakers.

Final films are currently scheduled for delivery in mid-May 2027, ahead of the coordinated public launch at the end of May 2027. Please see the fund timeline for the full production schedule.

Selected filmmakers will take part in a dedicated online development programme in early 2027, with workshops spanning creative craft, sustainable production, digital storytelling and impact. Earthrise will also support filmmakers throughout development, production and post-production, with regular check-ins and feedback at key stages, through to digital release and the development of an audience and impact strategy for each film. Selected filmmakers will receive full details of the programme and production process in advance.

All five selected films will be supported to work towards BAFTA Albert certification, helping filmmakers understand and reduce the environmental impact of their productions. Guidance and support will be provided as part of the programme, and filmmakers will be expected to engage with the certification process throughout production. While certification cannot be guaranteed, each team will be guided through the process and supported to meet the requirements.

If you experience a technical issue when completing or submitting your application, please contact us at planethealth@earthrise.studio and include a brief description of the problem.

Applications will first be checked for eligibility before eligible projects are assessed with the support of two independent documentary professionals. Some applicants may be invited to a short online call and/or asked to provide additional information or updated materials before the final shortlist is selected. The final shortlisted projects will then be considered by the Planet Health Film Fund jury, who will select the five projects to receive funding.

All applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application in December 2026. Applicants who progress to the final shortlist may be contacted separately during the selection process.

Due to the volume of applications we expect to receive, we are unable to provide individual feedback to all applicants. Feedback will only be provided to projects that reach the final shortlist and are considered by the jury.

You will. Copyright and ownership of the funded film will remain with the filmmaker's production company. Earthrise and Bupa will be granted agreed rights to launch, distribute and promote the film as part of the Planet Health Film Fund programme. Full details are set out in the Application Terms & Conditions.

Yes, but Planet Health Film Fund is an online-first programme. Festival submissions and screenings during the initial six-month exclusive distribution window will need to be agreed with Earthrise. After that period, filmmakers will be able to pursue their own distribution opportunities. Applicants should be aware that the initial online release may affect eligibility for festivals with premiere requirements.

We want the fund to be accessible and welcoming to filmmakers with different access needs. If you require any adjustments or support to complete your application, please contact us at access@earthrise.studio and we will work with you to understand how we can best support you.

If your question isn't answered in the Creative Brief, FAQs or Terms & Conditions, please contact planethealth@earthrise.studio. We will also hold an online information session for prospective applicants, where the Earthrise team will talk through the fund and answer questions.