Terms & Conditions

1.1The Planet Health Film Fund (the “Fund”) is an international short documentary fund delivered by Earthrise Studio LTD (“Earthrise”) in partnership with Bupa.

1.2The Fund will support five filmmakers to create original short documentaries exploring the connections between personal and planetary health.

1.3Each selected project will receive a non-recoupable award of £20,000 (the “Award”) to make and deliver an approximately 10-minute documentary and accompanying social content, subject to these Terms & Conditions and a separate funding agreement entered into with the selected filmmaker’s production company (the “Production Company”).

1.4The films are intended to be standalone, authored documentaries rather than branded content. Filmmaker authorship, creative ambition and meaningful editorial independence are central to the Fund.

1.5By submitting an application to the Fund, applicants confirm that they have read and agree to be bound by these Terms & Conditions.

2.1Applications are open internationally to documentary directors aged 18 or over at the application deadline. The lead applicant must be the director of the proposed film. Applications from co-directors are permitted, provided that one director is nominated as the lead applicant and primary point of contact with Earthrise.

2.2Applicants 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.

2.3Applications must be made in English. Final films may be made in any language, provided that they meet the Fund’s agreed English-language subtitling and delivery requirements.

2.4Only one application may be submitted per individual, whether as a lead director or co-director. Multiple or repeat applications involving the same director will not be considered.

2.5Applicants must demonstrate appropriate access to their proposed story and, where relevant, principal contributors.

2.6Applicants must be available to participate in the Fund’s required online development programme, editorial process and agreed production schedule. Dates and expected time commitments will be communicated in advance wherever possible.

2.7Applicants must have an eligible Production Company in place at the point of application. If selected, the Award will be contracted and paid through the Production Company and cannot be paid directly to an individual.

2.8The applicant and Production Company are responsible for ensuring that they are legally able to participate in the Fund and receive funding in the relevant country or territory.

2.9Individuals directly involved in the administration, assessment or selection of the Fund, including members of the Planet Health Film Fund jury, are not eligible to apply. Applicants must disclose any personal, professional or financial relationship with an individual involved in the assessment or selection process that could reasonably give rise to a conflict of interest. Earthrise reserves the right to determine how any such conflict should be managed.

3.1Projects must be documentary or authored non-fiction and must be conceived as complete, standalone works rather than proofs of concept, trailers, teasers or development pieces for feature-length projects.

3.2The final film should be approximately 10 minutes in duration.

3.3Projects may be in development and may have undertaken preliminary filming as part of development, but must not have entered production or post-production at the time of application.

3.4Projects must be realistically achievable within the £20,000 Award and the agreed production and delivery schedule.

3.5The Award must cover the full cost of developing, producing, post-producing and delivering the film and its required associated materials. No additional production finance may be brought into the project.

3.6Projects must comply with the Planet Health Film Fund creative brief and the creative, editorial and production requirements set out in these Terms & Conditions.

4.1Applications must be submitted through the designated Planet Health Film Fund application platform by the published deadline and must include all information and supporting materials requested in the application form.

4.2Applicants must submit their proposed production budget using the Planet Health Film Fund budget template.

4.3Applicants are responsible for ensuring that all information supplied in their application is complete, accurate and not misleading, and that creative materials presented as their own work are original to them or their identified collaborators and do not infringe third-party rights.

4.4Generative AI must not be used to create application materials presented as the applicant’s creative work or other audience-facing creative materials submitted as part of the application.

4.5Earthrise may contact an applicant to request clarification or further information where reasonably required to assess an application. Such contact does not constitute an offer or indication of funding.

4.6Late, incomplete or ineligible applications may not be considered.

4.7Applications cannot be amended once submitted. Applicants may withdraw their application at any time before selection by contacting planethealth@earthrise.studio.

5.1Eligible applications will initially be assessed with the support of independent international documentary professionals appointed by Earthrise, against the published creative brief and selection criteria.

5.2As part of the shortlisting process, Earthrise may invite some applicants to a short online call to discuss their project, clarify information and/or undertake further due diligence. Being invited to a call does not guarantee progression to the jury stage.

5.3Following the initial assessment process, Earthrise and Bupa will review a longlist of projects and agree the final shortlist to progress to the Planet Health Film Fund jury.

5.4A shortlist will be considered by the Planet Health Film Fund jury. The themes in the creative brief are areas for exploration rather than separate funding categories, and the five selected films will not be chosen to fulfil predetermined thematic quotas.

5.5The jury will select five projects to receive funding and may identify one or more reserve projects.

5.6Final selection will be subject to satisfactory due diligence, and confirmation that the applicant, Production Company and project can meet the Fund’s legal, financial, production and delivery requirements.

5.7Relevant conflicts of interest among reviewers, jury members and programme partners will be declared and appropriately managed. Selection decisions are final.

5.8Selection does not constitute a binding offer of funding until required due diligence has been completed and a funding agreement has been executed.

5.9All 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.

6.1Each selected project will receive a non-recoupable Award of £20,000. VAT will be payable in addition where applicable. The selected filmmaker and Production Company are responsible for their own tax obligations.

6.2The Award will be paid to the Production Company in installments against agreed production milestones. The payment schedule will be set out in the funding agreement.

6.3The Award must be used solely towards the development, production, post-production and delivery of the funded project in accordance with the approved budget. Material changes to the approved budget must be agreed with Earthrise in advance.

6.4The final instalment may be conditional on satisfactory delivery of the required materials, submission of a final cost report and fulfilment of material obligations under the funding agreement.

6.5The funding agreement will set out the detailed treatment of underspend and the circumstances in which funding may be withheld, suspended or terminated, including material delay, non-delivery, misuse of funds or material breach. Where reasonably possible, filmmakers will be given an opportunity to remedy a breach.

6.6Participation in the Planet Health Film Fund filmmaker development programme is a condition of receiving the Award. Selected filmmakers will be required to attend specified online workshops, mentorship sessions and production check-ins and to engage with the BAFTA albert certification process throughout production. Dates and expected time commitments will be communicated before contracting wherever possible, with reasonable consideration for international time zones.

7.1Filmmaker authorship is at the heart of the Planet Health Film Fund. Selected filmmakers are expected to bring their own point of view, storytelling approach and creative vision to their films and will retain meaningful creative and editorial independence within the agreed project.

7.2Earthrise recognises that documentary stories evolve. Filmmakers will not be required to adhere rigidly to their original proposal where events, contributors or discoveries during production lead the film in an unexpected direction. Material changes to the film’s central subject, principal contributors, editorial premise, location or production approach must nevertheless be discussed with Earthrise in advance wherever reasonably possible.

7.3Earthrise will act as the filmmaker’s primary editorial and production contact and will coordinate and consolidate feedback at agreed stages of development, production and post-production.

7.4Bupa will not be the subject of the films and there is no requirement for Bupa products, services, facilities or representatives to feature within them.

7.5Bupa will review each film at two pre-agreed stages before release: rough cut and fine cut. Bupa’s review is limited to health and medical claims; the use of Bupa’s name, branding or intellectual property; references to Bupa, its products or services, or those of its competitors; and material legal, regulatory or reputational risks arising directly from Bupa’s association with the Fund or film. Earthrise will remain the filmmaker’s primary point of contact for editorial feedback and decisions.

7.6Filmmakers will be expected to consider and respond constructively to editorial feedback but will retain creative discretion over feedback relating solely to creative preference. Earthrise may require changes where there is a substantive issue concerning factual accuracy, legal or regulatory compliance, safeguarding, contributor welfare, unsupported health or environmental claims, third-party rights, the specific brand or commercial requirements set out in these Terms & Conditions, or a material departure from the agreed project.

7.7Where an editorial disagreement arises, Earthrise and the filmmaker will seek to resolve it in good faith and, wherever reasonably possible, in a way that preserves the filmmaker’s creative intention. The detailed editorial and approval process, including stages and response periods, will be set out in the funding agreement.

8.1Filmmakers must take reasonable steps to ensure that factual information is accurate, appropriately supported and represented fairly and in context. Where a film makes material factual claims relating to health, science or the environment, Earthrise may ask for reasonable supporting sources or evidence. Personal testimony, lived experience and individual perspectives may be presented as such.

8.2Editing and creative documentary techniques, including reconstruction, archive and animation, must not deliberately distort meaning, materially misrepresent events or intentionally mislead audiences about the nature or provenance of what they are seeing. Fabricated situations must not be presented as documentary actuality.

8.3Filmmakers are responsible for obtaining appropriate informed consent and considering contributor welfare throughout development, production, release and distribution. Particular care must be taken where films involve children, vulnerable adults, sensitive health information, trauma or other potentially harmful or exposing subject matter. Contributors should understand, as far as reasonably possible, the nature of the film and that it is intended for public and online distribution.

8.4Generative AI may not be used to create audience-facing imagery, video, voice, music or other creative content for the funded film or associated deliverables, and AI must not be used to fabricate documentary evidence, contributors, events or testimony. Material digital manipulation that could affect an audience’s understanding of what occurred must be disclosed to Earthrise.

8.5AI or machine-learning tools may be used for routine production and post-production processes, including transcription, subtitling, noise reduction and similar technical or administrative tasks, provided their use does not generate or materially alter the creative or factual content of the film.

9.1There is no requirement for Bupa products, services or facilities to appear within the films. Third-party brands and products may appear incidentally where they form a natural part of documentary reality.

9.2Where a competitor brand, commercial organisation or commercial relationship is materially relevant to the story, the filmmaker must notify Earthrise as early as reasonably possible.

9.3No undisclosed paid product placement, sponsorship or commercial integration may be included within a funded film.

10.1The selected filmmaker and Production Company will be responsible for the safe, lawful and professional production and delivery of the film, including appropriate production insurance, contributor and location releases, archive and music clearances, copyright permissions, filming permits, risk assessments, safeguarding and other permissions required for production and exploitation.

10.2Filmmakers must comply with applicable laws and regulations in each territory in which production takes place and ensure that third-party material incorporated into the film is appropriately cleared for the uses contemplated by these Terms & Conditions and the funding agreement.

10.3The detailed production, insurance, clearance, safeguarding and delivery requirements will be set out in the funding agreement.

11.1The principal deliverable will be an approximately 10-minute horizontal master film.

11.2The filmmaker will also be required to deliver a 2-minute landscape social edit and a 2-minute portrait or vertical social edit.

11.3Additional materials will include English subtitle/SRT files; original-language subtitle or transcript files where applicable; 10 high-resolution film stills; 10 behind-the-scenes images; a filmmaker biography and headshot; a film synopsis; and agreed promotional materials.

11.4Full technical specifications and final delivery requirements will be set out in the funding agreement.

12.1Copyright and all other rights in the funded film will remain with the Production Company. The Award does not transfer ownership of the film, or of any underlying rights, to Earthrise or to any Planet Health Film Fund partner, including Bupa.

12.2The Production Company will grant Earthrise a worldwide, perpetual, irrevocable licence to host, reproduce, distribute, exhibit, communicate to the public, subtitle, publicise and promote the film, the social edits and associated materials as part of the Planet Health Film Fund, in all media. The licence will be exclusive during the six-month Exclusive Distribution Window described in clause 13 and non-exclusive after it.

12.3Earthrise may sub-license these rights to Bupa so that Bupa can publicise and promote the Planet Health Film Fund and the funded films, including through paid media under clause 14. Earthrise may also allow platforms and service providers acting on its behalf to use the materials for these purposes.

12.4Filmmakers will not enter into a separate agreement with Bupa in connection with the Fund. Bupa’s use of the film will be under Earthrise’s licence.

12.5The funding agreement will set out the detailed mechanics of the licence, but will not materially expand the rights described in these Terms & Conditions without the Production Company’s agreement.

13.1Earthrise and Bupa will have an exclusive worldwide distribution window for six months beginning on the date of the film’s first public launch as part of the Planet Health Film Fund (the “Exclusive Distribution Window”).

13.2During the Exclusive Distribution Window, the filmmaker may not publicly release, distribute, exhibit, screen or otherwise make the film available without Earthrise’s prior written approval. This includes festival submissions, screenings and exhibitions.

13.3The Planet Health Film Fund is an online-first programme. Applicants acknowledge that the initial public online release may affect eligibility for festivals that impose premiere requirements.

13.4After the Exclusive Distribution Window, the filmmaker will be free to pursue festival, theatrical, educational, broadcast, digital and commercial distribution opportunities, subject to Earthrise’s continuing non-exclusive licence under clause 12.

13.5Earthrise and Bupa will not recoup the Award from subsequent income generated by the film and will not be entitled to a share of subsequent profits or revenues.

13.6After the Exclusive Distribution Window, Earthrise’s licence will continue on a non-exclusive basis so that Earthrise, and Bupa through Earthrise, may continue to host, exhibit, share and promote the film and associated materials as part of the Planet Health Film Fund. The filmmaker may license the film to others, but any later distribution agreement must allow this continuing use.

13.7Filmmakers will be expected to keep Earthrise reasonably informed of subsequent festival selections, screenings, distribution agreements, awards and other significant exploitation of the film.

14.1Earthrise may use the film, social edits and approved extracts, stills, trailers and other promotional materials to publicise the Planet Health Film Fund and the funded film, and may sub-license this use to Bupa.

14.2This includes organic posts and paid media, including boosted or sponsored posts and advertising, on the channels of Earthrise, Alice Aedy and Bupa and on other platforms where the Planet Health Film Fund is promoted, worldwide and for the duration of the licence. No additional fee will be payable for this use.

14.3Paid media may carry Earthrise, the Planet Health Film Fund and Bupa branding and any disclosure required by advertising rules. It will not present the filmmaker, contributors or film as endorsing Bupa’s products or services.

14.4Earthrise will agree in advance with the filmmaker which extracts and cut-downs are used and will not make, or consent to Bupa making, any material re-edit or reversioning without the filmmaker’s approval. Resizing, reformatting, captions, subtitles and approved end cards will not be treated as material re-editing.

14.5Filmmakers must ensure that contributor releases cover use of the film and extracts in publicity and paid media by Earthrise and Bupa. Detailed approval and delivery mechanics will be set out in the funding agreement.

15.1The Production Company will retain ownership of the film and any underlying rights, subject to the licences expressly granted under these Terms & Conditions and the funding agreement.

15.2If the filmmaker wishes to develop the funded project into a feature-length documentary or other substantial derivative project, Earthrise will have a first right to negotiate in good faith regarding Earthrise’s potential involvement. The negotiation period and process will be set out in the funding agreement.

15.3The filmmaker will not be obliged to reach agreement with Earthrise. If the parties do not agree terms within the negotiation period, the filmmaker will be free to pursue the project elsewhere.

15.4Neither Earthrise nor Bupa will automatically acquire ownership of or financial participation in any future feature-length or derivative project by virtue of the Award. Any subsequent involvement by Earthrise will be subject to a separate agreement negotiated between the parties.

16.1The funded films will carry agreed credits acknowledging the Planet Health Film Fund, Earthrise and Bupa. The Earthrise production team may receive agreed Producer and/or Executive Producer credits reflecting Earthrise’s role in developing and producing the Fund. Exact wording, positioning, logos and end cards will be set out in the funding agreement and/or delivery specifications.

16.2Selected filmmakers will be expected to participate in reasonable publicity and promotional activity connected with the Planet Health Film Fund, including the programme showcase, interviews, press activity and social promotion. Earthrise will provide reasonable advance notice.

16.3Earthrise and Bupa may use the selected filmmaker’s name, approved biography, image, project title, synopsis and approved film stills for reasonable publicity relating to the Planet Health Film Fund.

16.4Where publicity could reasonably create a safeguarding, contributor-welfare or project-security concern, the filmmaker should notify Earthrise as early as possible so that appropriate arrangements can be considered.

17.1Earthrise welcomes applications from filmmakers with access requirements and will seek to provide reasonable adjustments to enable participation in the application process and Fund.

17.2Selected filmmakers should notify Earthrise of relevant access requirements as early as reasonably possible by emailing access@earthrise.studio.

17.3Final films must meet the Fund’s agreed accessibility and subtitling requirements, which will be set out in the funding agreement.

18.1Earthrise may disqualify an application where the applicant does not meet the eligibility requirements, has supplied materially false or misleading information, has submitted material that materially infringes third-party rights, or has otherwise materially breached these Terms & Conditions.

18.2If a selected filmmaker withdraws or is unable to enter into the required funding agreement, Earthrise may offer the Award to a reserve project.

18.3Payment of the Award will be subject to satisfactory due diligence, agreement of the final project specification, budget and production schedule, and execution of a separate funding agreement between Earthrise and the Production Company.

18.4The funding agreement will set out detailed provisions governing payment milestones, production and editorial processes, approvals, technical delivery, insurance and clearances, reporting, licence mechanics, publicity, breach and termination. The material commercial and editorial terms that applicants need to understand before applying are set out in these Terms & Conditions.

18.5In the event of any inconsistency between these Terms & Conditions and the funding agreement, the funding agreement will take precedence in relation to that funded project.

19.1Personal information submitted in connection with the Fund will be processed in accordance with applicable data protection law and the relevant Planet Health Film Fund privacy notice, which will be made available at the point of application.

19.2Information may be shared confidentially with individuals or organisations reasonably required to administer, assess or deliver the Fund, including independent reviewers and jury members, in accordance with the Privacy Notice.

19.3Equal opportunities monitoring information will be collected separately from the creative application and will not be made available to reviewers or jury members assessing the creative merits of an application.

20.1Earthrise reserves the right to make reasonable changes to the Fund timetable, selection process, workshops, showcase or other programme arrangements where reasonably necessary, and may suspend, postpone or cancel the Fund where circumstances outside its reasonable control make this necessary.

20.2Where a material change affects applicants or selected filmmakers, Earthrise will communicate the change as soon as reasonably practicable.

21.1These Terms & Conditions are governed by the laws of England and Wales.

21.2The parties submit to the jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.