Democracy at Stake in Europe

Democracy at Stake in Europe is sponsored by The Guardian Documentaries and ARTE. Funding for a short documentary exploring democracy in Europe, with a maximum runtime of 20 minutes.

Democracy at Stake in Europe: the new initiative from Guardian Documentaries and arte. tv | | The Guardian Guardian Documentaries x arte. tv announce partnership Composite: Guardian Documentaries Guardian Documentaries x arte.

tv announce partnership Composite: Guardian Documentaries This article is more than 2 months old Democracy at Stake in Europe: the new initiative from Guardian Documentaries and arte. tv This article is more than 2 months old Information for filmmakers pitching short documentaries A new storytelling partnership with Guardian Documentaries and arte.

tv , invites filmmakers to pitch short documentaries on the theme of democracy in Europe today. In an era of increased pressures facing democratic systems, institutions, and societies across the continent — from the rise of authoritarian movements, the threats to press freedom and the erosion of civil rights, this initiative looks to bear witness and provoke debate amongst global online audiences.

We’re looking for short documentaries with deeply human stories and creative approaches that reveal how political shifts are lived, felt, resisted, defended, or exploited in everyday life. Through closely observed personal journeys, these films should illuminate the larger forces shaping democratic life - erosion and renewal, apathy and activism, fear and hope.

We’re looking for projects that will bear witness, provoke debate and sustain an informed public - the lifeblood of democratic life We are looking for short films with a maximum running time of 20 mins. We will consider projects at any stage of production or post production that will be completed by or before spring 2027.

We won’t consider feature-length films or series We commission films in any language but the pitch must be written in English Pitching is open from 11th June and the deadline for submissions is 14th September 2026 . The winning project will be announced at DOK Leipzig, in October 2026 You will receive an automatic confirmation of receipt email after you have submitted your pitching form below.

If you do not receive this, please contact pitches. documentaries@theguardian. com (Please refrain from submitting your pitch multiple times.)

One winning submission will be selected to receive up to £10,000 / €11,500 funding, along with editorial support, marketing and distribution on Guardian Documentaries and arte. tv digital networks. Please complete as much of the form below as you can, detailing your access, the story, characters, and filmmaking approach in your pitch and always include sample material with your proposed contributor(s).

You are able to upload materials directly into this form. Your responses are secure and confidential as the form is encrypted and only the Guardian and Arte have access to your contributions. You can send your pitch using this form.

Your responses, which can be anonymous, are secure as the form is encrypted and only the Guardian has access to your contributions. We will only use the data you provide us for the purpose of the feature and we will delete any personal data when we no longer require it for this purpose. For alternative ways to get in touch securely please see our tips guide .

Your contact details are helpful so we can contact you for more information. They will only be seen by the Guardian. Your contact details are helpful so we can contact you for more information.

They will only be seen by the Guardian.

Logline (approx 25 words) Synopsis (approx 300 words) Briefly outline the story Visual approach (approx 200 words) Briefly describe how this will be realised on screen Key access (approx 200 words) Optional Describe any access that you have secured Country of production Optional I.e. sample footage, trailer or finished film (we suggest password protected Vimeo link or similar) Password if needed Optional Attach a file (optional) - This may take a while to upload, so please don't resubmit Optional Please note, the maximum file size is 5.

7 MB . Attach a file (optional) - This may take a while to upload, so please don't resubmit Optional Please note, the maximum file size is 5. 7 MB .

Director bio (200 words) Optional Please include links to previous work if available What is your budget? Optional What financing (if any) have you already secured? If you have secured financing, please note the funding source(s) Optional What is your proposed schedule?

Optional How do you think this film connects to Guardian journalism Optional Please include links to previous work if available By submitting your response, you are agreeing to share your details with us for this feature. Explore more on these topics Guardian Documentaries update