Championing working‑class film makers: Doc North opens the 2026 Northern Doc Fund.

After a successful run of three years under Northern Heart Films, founders Natasha Hawthornthwaite and Scott Bradley have set up a new home for the Northern Doc Fund called​ Doc North, and it's just reopened for entries.

Round 4 Applications for the Doc North Fund are now open until 17th August 2026.

Five shortlisted film makers will have the opportunity to pitch their documentary idea at BIFA and BAFTA qualifying Bolton Film Festival in front of a live audience and industry judges. Festival Director, Adrian Barber, comments: “Bolton Film Festival is delighted to host this year's Northern Doc Fund pitch. This initiative is about much more than prize money. It's an investment in people, providing mentoring, industry guidance and practical support to help emerging filmmakers develop their craft and build sustainable careers”.

Alongside the cash bursary and mentorship, the two winners will receive post production support from Sticks & Glass, a 2027 Sheffield DocFest delegate pass, therapeutic advice from Film in Mind, and a premiere cinema screening of their finished film at the Leigh Film Factory.

This is the fourth year of the Northern Doc Fund. After a successful run of three years under Northern Heart Films, founders Natasha Hawthornthwaite and Scott Bradley have set up a new home for the Northern Doc Fund - Doc North. As a not for profit company, Doc North is solely dedicated to empowering working‑class documentary filmmakers and amplifying northern stories. 

The Northern Doc Fund theme for 2026 is "Recovery".

Two emerging filmmakers will receive £3,000 grant, mentoring, and wrap around support to make a short (up to 10 minute) documentary. 

The deadline to apply is midnight, Monday 17th August 2026.

CEO Natasha Hawthornthwaite commented: “In an industry where only 8% of people are working class, there’s never been more of a need for schemes like the Northern Doc Fund, creating opportunity and visibility for regional talent and providing structured support and mentorship too”.

Lisa Nandy, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, has publicly backed Doc North’s mission, stating: “I fully support Doc North's commitment to increase inclusiveness in the industry for communities like ours. I look forward to seeing what Doc North will accomplish.”

The scheme has had great success to date with alumni gaining work within the film and television industry. 

In their recent impact film, Ed Matthews-Gentle from Creative Lancashire stressed the importance of schemes like the Northern Doc Fund: “Talent is everywhere but opportunity isn’t. I think it’s increasingly important that projects like the Northern Doc Fund are actually there, that they're supported, that they’re sustained”. 

The UK documentary sector remains one of the least socially mobile creative industries, with working‑class voices significantly under-represented. Doc North directly addresses this gap by investing time and money in regional talent and hosting networking events. 

Northern Doc Fund alumni, Edie Barnabas says the scheme “goes out of its way the put the money and influence and expertise in the hands of people who live in diverse places across the north, the impact of that is huge.”

The Northern Doc Fund is made possible through the support of funding partners Wigan Council, Iambic Dream Films, and Creative Lancashire; as well as in-kind support from Sticks and Glass, Sheffield DocFest, Bolton Film Festival, Olympic Studios, Leigh Film Factory and Film in Mind. 

For press enquiries or to request interviews: hello@docnorth.org.uk