5th July 2025: British Police arrest 29 protesters in Parliament Square on suspicion of terror offences after the banning of Palestine Action (image from Sky News) 

 

"Without fear or favour" means acting impartially and independently, without being influenced by intimidation or threats from powerful people or institutions. It describes making decisions based on merit, facts, or principle rather than being swayed by personal relationships, bribes, or special interests. 

 

The expression, when used in legal and journalistic settings, emphasises integrity, independence, and fairness in decision-making or reporting. It is a central tenet of functional democracies, and right now in the UK, we are ceding these principles in plain sight.

 

We could tell this story through the actions and impact of the anti-gender lobby, of the big tech lobby, of the fossil fuel lobby, to name a few. But this week it is all eyes on Palestine. Because on Wednesday, 2nd July, UK lawmakers voted to ban Palestine Action, a UK-based group that aims to disrupt the operations of weapons manufacturers supplying the Israeli government. 

 

Members of Parliament voted 382 to 26 in favour of the measure against the group, after two Palestine Action activists broke into Britain’s largest air base in central England on electric scooters and graffitied two military aircraft with red spray paint. 

 

Embarrassing for the military? For sure. But an act of terrorism on the country? This order puts the group on par with organizations such as Hamas, al Qaeda and ISIS, a move which has sparked international condemnation. Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International warned that this step undermines UK democracy by conflating civil disobedience with terrorism. “According to international standards, acts of protest that damage property but are not intended to kill or injure people, should not be treated as terrorism.” noted the office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights at the United Nations.  

 

Perhaps the second chamber would give pause for thought. No, the draft proscription order was passed by the House of Lords on Thursday, 3rd July and a legal challenge against the proscription order was dismissed in the High Courts by the end of play on Friday, 4th July. 

 

So today it is illegal under UK law to be a member of, or invite support for, Palestine Action, with a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison. Even wearing a T-shirt or badge with the group's name on attracts a maximum six-month sentence. 

 

This is the first time the UK government has moved to criminalise an activist group using the Terrorism Act of 2000 and it will have implications for protest and free speech in Britain for years to come. It will also disproportionately impact climate and pro-Palestinian activism and the stories we tell about those movements. 

 

This happened in the same week that 400+ media figures (including 111 BBC journalists) penned a letter to BBC management criticising its coverage of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine. 

 

The letter was delivered as Channel 4 aired the documentary ‘Gaza: Doctors Under Attack’, which the BBC previously commissioned but shelved as it said it “risked creating a perception of partiality”.

 

The letter expressed “concerns over opaque editorial decisions and censorship at the BBC on the reporting of Israel/Palestine” and accuses the BBC of being “crippled by the fear of being perceived as critical of the Israeli government”.

 

“As an organisation we (the BBC) have not offered any significant analysis of the UK government’s involvement in the war on Palestinians.. We call on the BBC to do better for our audiences and recommit to our values of impartiality, honesty and reporting without fear or favour.”

 

All this when a major global report by Index on Censorship, tracking the state of free expression, sees the UK ranked as only “partially open” in every key area measured in academic, digital and media freedom. As of 2025, the UK is also no longer classified as “Open” in the latest Global Expression Report. The authors, Article 19, downgraded the UK, after its rating for core expressive freedoms fell below the threshold that separates the world’s most liberal societies from the rest.

 

We could debate how we got here, the key is how we get out. How do we urgently reverse course and resist a closing public square; what a does a strategy look like to grow the UK as a vital source of plurality and independent media? We’d love to hear your thoughts. 

 

The Doc Society Directors

 

As early as this week, the US Senate may vote on a proposal which would claw back $1.1 billion in public funding which was already approved by law. Here’s why this is so important - where ITVS, CPB, PBS, NPR, and more than 1,500 community-based stations risk losing federal funding as soon as September 30, 2025.

For those based in the US, the time is now to call your representatives and urge them not to defund public media. Here's an automated form and talking points. And if social is your jam, together let's sing from the rooftops.

✨Last call folks! Sign up and join us on Wednesday, July 16th for Doc Society’s online convening, Queer Now: Story as Antidote✨

 

To build shared strategies, spark creative ideas, and amplify the bold, beautiful stories being told by and about queer communities around the world. Hear from a choir of voices including Twiggy Pucci Garçon, J. Bob Alotta, Felipe Estefan, Nim Ralph and Doc Society’s Beadie Finzi - with more to join. 

 

We’ll begin on July 16th at 9 AM Mexico City / 11 AM New York / 4 PM London / 6 PM Nairobi / 8:30 PM Delhi. Registration is required and will remain open until July 14th, 2025 at 11:59pm PST. Grab a buddy and join us for the conversation here. 

Along with Documentary Australia, we’re excited to announce the seven projects taking part in the Climate Story Lab Australia. The lab is taking place on 26–28 August 2025 on Gadigal Land / Sydney bringing together documentary makers, climate experts, First Nations leaders, strategists and funders to workshop the most strategic climate narratives for the Australian context. 

 

The selected projects include:

• Documentary podcast Connected to Country, which centres the wisdom of First Nations Elders on climate action, cultural survival and environmental stewardship;
• Feature documentary Testimony, which follows Torres Strait Islanders suing the Australian Government for failing to protect them from rising sea levels;
• Feature documentary Floodland, which centres on Lismore residents during and in the aftermath of the 2022 floods;
• Documentary series Saltwater Cowboys of Shark Bay, which follows an Indigenous enterprise restoring Guthaaguda's (Shark Bay's) ecosystem and reviving Australia’s sea cucumber trade. 
• Documentary podcast Austinmer 2515, which follows a town’s journey to electrification; 
• Feature documentary Moblands, which follows First Nations cowboys utilising traditional practices to care for Country;
• Feature documentary Confidential Gas Project, which uncovers the global supply chain and impacts of the gas industry. 

To see more about each of the seven projects head to the Climate Story Lab Australia website. 

Pasifika Film Festival has launched the first Climate Story Lab Pacific which aims to strengthen Pacific climate storytelling projects and impact campaigns, spur partnerships to mobilise strategic audiences and funding opportunities, and grow confidence in the power of social impact storytelling in the region. 

Participants will receive impact and pitch training, and will develop their pitching tools and documents with a view to presenting their pitches in Sydney in October. 

 

The selected projects include: 

• The Island Will Not Sink, which centres the island nation of Tuvalu, as one of the countries who are projected to lose their land first as global tides continue to rise;
• Waves of Knowledge: Oral Histories of Pacific Resilience, a Papua New Guinean project focused on the stories of elders, indigenous knowledge and epistemologies.
• The Plastic Pickers of Paradise, about the largely female community of plastic pickers behind Fiji’s beautiful beaches and landscapes.
• The Canoe is Our Future, Marianas documentary, follows a community’s journey of canoe building and traditional navigation. 
• Anchored in Resilience: Life on Pam Island Amid Rising Seas, follows communities in Pam Island, Papua New Guinea as they innovate their way through changing climates and tides over the years.
• Te Moana Nui a Hive, Tahiti documentary, amplifies the voice of cultural leader and activist Hinano Teavai-Murphy. 
• The Island, a six-part series developed by Aotearoa New Zealand production company Brown Sugar Apple Grunt along with CSL Pacific 2025. Also working with CSL Pacific fellows in a mentoring capacity. 

After 400 screenings in 57 countries, the call is now open for Palestine Cinema Days 2025. Join in by hosting a screening in your city on November 2nd 2025. From church halls to cinemas, libraries to community centres, everyone is welcome.  Apply now to become part of this global movement. 

Don’t Need Adult Conversations is live on Girls on Film. Directed by Vika Evdokimenko, with raw honesty and playful defiance, the film explores the awkward, sometimes hilarious space between youthful rebellion and societal expectations. Definitely check it out here.

Happy 20th Anniversary to Doc Edge Festival, happening now across New Zealand! You can catch an array of stellar films, including Doc Society-supported How to Build a Library and  Remaining Native.

What’s more beautiful than seeing a creative documentary in the open air of Prizren on a summer’s day? Catch some Doc Society supported films at DokuFest this August 1-9 including A Want In Her, Seeds and Rivers of Grass.

Our friends at BlackStar revealed their lineup, and it’s going to be yet another incredible festival. Check out the full program here, and don’t miss these Doc Society supported gems: Remaining Native, Seeds + The Shadow Scholars.

Don’t Need Adult Conversations is now live on Girls on Film. Directed by Vika Evdokimenko, with raw honesty and playful defiance, the film explores the awkward, sometimes hilarious space between youthful rebellion and societal expectations. Watch here.

Congratulations to ASOG for its international coverage! Rolling Stone Philippines called it "The Biggest Movie That The Philippines Has Never Seen," and TIME magazine featured it in their recent oceans special issue, highlighting how the film documents "a remarkable victory of society's poorest over entrenched corporate interests."

 

The docu-comedy follows residents of Sicogon Island, where 6,000 people faced displacement after Ayala Land Inc. attempted a post-storm land grab to build a luxury resort. The documentary's festival success created enough pressure that Ayala eventually agreed to pay $7 million CAD in reparations to 784 displaced families. Most of this settlement has funded 474 new storm-resistant homes close to the ocean.

 

After festival screenings in 14 countries, across 5 continents Asog is coming to Cineplex theatres across Canada for one-night-only screenings. However, these screenings will only happen if 40 tickets are reserved in advance at each location. Reserve your tickets now for screenings in: Vancouver / Toronto /Montreal / Halifax / Edmonton / Calgary / Ottawa / Saskatoon / Victoria / Winnipeg / Thunder Bay / Peterborough / Guelph / Nanaimo 

 

People, it's time to catch up on movies and while we don’t want to brag, there are some awesome Doc Soc titles available right now. 

 

Netflix - Yintah, Strike; An Uncivil War (UK & Ireland), Is There Anybody Out There (UK & Ireland), White Nanny; Black Child (UK & Ireland), Virunga, The Edge of Democracy, Apocalypse in the Tropics, Knock Down the House

 

Mubi - Grand Theft Hamlet, Against the Tide (India only)

 

BBC iPlayer - The Battle for Laikipia, Your Fat Friend, Queendom, Hollywoodgate, Against the Tide, A Bunch of Amateurs, Writing with Fire, Welcome to Chechnya, Tish, If the Streets were on Fire, Blue Bag Life 

 

Amazon Prime - Masie, Tish, The Taste of Mango

 

Apple TV - Nothing Compares

 

My4 (Channel 4) - Undercover: Exposing the far right, My Friend Lanre

 

BFI Player - Scala!!!, Name me Lawand, Red Herring (to rent), 

 

POV - unseen, Is There Anybody Out There?, and coming later in September, Driver and Black Snow, mark your calendars! 

 

Independent Lens - Greener Pastures, Razing Liberty Square

 

Disney - The Territory 

 

Kinema, you can check out the Global Climate Playlist, with titles available as VOD or to organize your own virtual or of face-to-face screening events 

 

Ah ha - maybe you’re feeling old school?? For something from the archives how about The Silence of Others available on Video On Demand or perhaps Guilty Pleasures on Apple TV?  Enjoy!

 

Are you an early career UK filmmaker working toward your debut feature? Then you might want to apply to BFI NETWORK's flagship talent development programme, BFI NETWORK@LFF, an incredibly opportunity for up to 15 UK-based screenwriters, directors, and producers working in fiction and documentary to engage in the BFI London Film Festival programme, attend industry events, and meet with leading filmmakers and professionals.

BFI Doc Society collaborates with BFI NETWORK to plan cross-discipline elements of the programme and select a small group of documentary and hybrid filmmakers to join the cohort.

This programme is designed to give you the critical insights and connections you need to propel your project—and your career—forward.

Find out more here, and please carefully read the How to Apply section.
Deadline: Friday 18 July, 11am

 

Are you a producer seeking finance for a feature film? Film London’s Production Finance Market will take place on 7-8 October, connecting experienced and emerging producers with key decision makers, funders, distributors, broadcasters and sales agents. More info here and apply by 14 July, 5pm

 

Don’t miss the chance to apply for Sundance’s Documentary Fund! “The Sundance Institute Documentary Fund supports filmmakers worldwide in the development, production, and post-production of cinematic documentaries on a wide range of contemporary topics and themes.” Applications close Monday, July 14. Learn more and apply here

 

 

“The Sandbox Fund, offers grants, engagement events, and other opportunities for independent artists seeking to explore the intrinsic link between science and culture through innovative storytelling. The program is administered by the Sundance Institute Documentary Fund, in collaboration with Sandbox Films.” Apply by July 21, 2025 and learn more here

 

Join Film Fatales on Friday, July 18 2pm PT / 5pm ET for an online candid conversation with visionary voices in trans and queer cinema including powerhouse filmmaker Lilly Wachowski (The Matrix, Cloud Atlas, Bound) and Fatales Forward fellows Gulet Isse, Hao Zhao, Helen Peña , Kyle Casey Chu, and Roberto Fatal. Moderated by StormMiguel Florez. Hear from boundary breaking creators reshaping the cinematic landscape as they discuss their craft and the power of authentic storytelling as a tool for meaningful change.  RSVP: http://ffla07182025.eventbrite.com

 

The ever-innovative folks at UnionDocs have designed an exciting new lab, the Audio & Performance Lab (APL). The APL is “an exploratory new program in which a cohort of sound-based artists from an expansive spectrum of disciplines will collaboratively develop an original collection of bold performative short works designed to be presented and experienced together with a live audience. Expanding beyond the confines of your headphones, the APL will engage a community in shared physical space, charged with generative new vibrations.” Learn more here and apply by the final deadline July 27th

 

“Introducing the FilmStream Collective Fund, a new initiative created in partnership with Tubi to empower independent filmmakers with the funding and distribution support they need to share their films with the world. Their final film will then stream on Tubi, providing guaranteed distribution and visibility on a platform where viewers watched more than 10 billion hours in 2024.

The fund is designed to support filmmakers with final or near-final cuts, helping them cover critical post-production costs such as editing, sound, marketing, and other finish expenses to prepare their films for release.” Submit your project for consideration now through August 31, 2025.

 

“Every year, the Foundation awards a grant of 10,000 Canadian dollars and a few 5,000 Canadian dollars grants to some filmmakers to assist in the production of a documentary project. The grant is aimed at young filmmakers born and living in The Global South (Africa, Asia or Latin America) who want to direct a film in the language of their choice that respects the aims of the Foundation, as explained above.”

 

Learn more and apply here

 

POV is television’s longest-running showcase for independent nonfiction films, premiering 14-16 documentary films on PBS each year. They are seeking submissions for their annual Call for Entries.

Submit by July 31st to be considered for the 2026 season! 

 

The British Independent Film Awards 2025 are open for entries! It’s that time again, BIFA 2025 is officially open for entries across both shorts and features. Whether you're a fresh voice or a seasoned filmmaker, now’s your chance to shine. They have made some updates to the rules and eligibility this year, so be sure to check out the full details here.

 

Bertha just launched applications for this year's Bertha Challenge, a 1-year fellowship open to filmmakers, activists, lawyers and investigative journalists. The theme/question this year is: "How is the collusion between governments and corporations driving the assault on the rule of law, civil rights and a free press? How do we push back to protect democratic accountability?" 

 

You can see more details on application process here

 

EAccelerate Fund 2025 - Applications are now open

 

The EAccelerate Fund 2025 is a new initiative from the East Africa Screen Collective and DW Akademie, designed to support East African filmmakers in developing and completing short films, offering up to €20,000 in funding, expert mentorship, and opportunities for regional and international visibility.

Eligible projects must be under 20 minutes, primarily filmed in East Africa, and completed by 1 December 2025. Both the director and producer must be East African and based in one of the eligible countries.

 

📅 Deadline to apply: 21 July 2025

 

Global Health Film Grant

The Pulitzer Center, Financial Times, and One World Media have launched an open call for proposals that spotlight underreported global health stories. Film proposals, up to 25 mins in length, must be from the Global South and by filmmakers working in the Global South. Further criteria and application details are available here

 

 

15 months after the Broadcast premiere of Razing Liberty Square the documentary about Climate Gentrification in Miami, the film and impact team has released their impact report: “Depth Over Distance.” From thumb drives and barber shop distribution, to a PBS broadcast and Emmy nomination, the team prioritized hyper-local partnerships in order to work alongside movement in Miami to drive concrete action and “significant wins for housing justice and tenant power.” Read more about the team’s longitudinal work in their report and watch the film on PBS. 

 

If you missed The People versus Climate Change Q&A as part of the Global Climate Playlist that we are hosting with Kinema, the recording is now available to watch.The conversation features insights from Citizens' Assembly members Sue Peachey and Marc Robson, alongside Expert Lead Lorraine Whitmarsh, moderated by the film’s Executive Producer Steve Smith. With key figures like Chancellor Rachel Reeves, who chaired one of the select committees that organized the assembly, and Darren Jones, now Chief Secretary to the Treasury, having moved into positions of power, the discussion examines how the government is performing as it tackles the UK's legally binding net zero target. 

 

The Q&A also addresses how the once broad political consensus around climate action has fractured, with net zero becoming entangled in culture wars, and explores potential strategies to counter this damaging trend and restore focus on climate solutions.

 

We’re grateful for and inspired by the folks at the Othering & Belonging Institute who have put together a resource library filled with resources to help us challenge fascism, defend our rights, and “build a world of belonging without othering”. As authoritarianism is on the rise globally, let’s learn from each other and organize together. Grab your tea and start perusing!

The News & Documentary Emmys were at the end of June, celebrating journalism and documentaries. We’re sending big congrats to The Grab team which won Outstanding Research in a Documentary; and The Holly team for their Outstanding Regional Documentary win. Lots of appreciation for all the nominees and the incredible work being made 👏👏👏

And we would be remiss not to celebrate our brilliant colleagues alongside all our grantees. This month we’re bigging up two of our US based faves who have been out in the field creating.  

Doc Society Board Chair and Executive Producer extraordinaire Anurima Bhargava is premiering her directorial debut at BlackStar Film Festival! 

 

Teaching America “explores the battle around the teaching of African American studies from inside the classroom, focusing on the transformative journeys of the Arkansas students, teachers and families who are part of the inaugural classes of students taking AP African American studies nationwide.” 

 

A real Doc Society family effort with Vince Warren, board member, composing the music. Be sure to catch it at BlackStar later this summer. Anurima has supported dozens of projects, opening doors for filmmakers at every turn. We’re thrilled to celebrate her premiere. Congrats, Anu! 

And Doc Society Film Officer Nikki Heyman is the proud producer of Big Bass, a short film which won the Desert Views Award at the Palm Springs ShortFest in June! Congrats Nikki, director Drew Dickler, and team Big Bass!

What does it mean to feel seen by others before you’re ready to see yourself? A filmmaker travels back to 1997 to revisit a dream-like memory from second grade that centers around her queer identity, her legendary PE teacher and a mysterious large plastic fish.

 

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