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Doc Society, FACT and the BFI have joined forces to launch an innovative development program for documentary filmmakers confronting the challenges of truth in the digital age. The Future Proof Development Lab will support ten ambitious non-fiction projects exploring the intersection of technology and truth-telling.
The three-month intensive program targets emerging to mid-career directors and creatives working in cinema and immersive media. Eleven creative leaders will guide the development of ten projects selected for their potential to navigate complex questions about technology’s impact on documentary storytelling.
FACT Liverpool, a multidisciplinary venue housing cinemas, galleries, and new media spaces, will serve as the program’s primary home. The lab represents a significant investment in documentary’s future at a critical moment when technological advancement is reshaping the medium.
Participants will receive comprehensive support designed to prepare their projects for financing while tackling fundamental questions about documentary practice in an era defined by artificial intelligence, big data, and virtual environments. The program directly addresses growing concerns about authenticity and truth verification in contemporary media.
“We’re in a cultural moment where the relationship between image technologies and truth are advancing beyond public understanding,” explained Luke W Moody, head of the BFI Doc Society Fund. “This lab brings together immersive artists and filmmakers to think about how we reconcile, question and play with emergent technologies to develop new stories, worlds, and trust in media.”
The program structure includes specialized technological workshops, editorial mentorship, and curated meetings with established non-fiction directors and artists. Sessions will take place across Liverpool and London in the UK, with additional activities in Copenhagen, Denmark.
The lab will culminate at CPH:Forum, a significant industry platform within the CPH:DOX film festival in March 2026, where participants will introduce their projects to potential partners, funders, and distributors from the non-fiction and immersive media sectors.
Funding for the initiative comes through the BFI Creative Challenge Fund, established in 2023 to address specific industry gaps and challenges. Mia Bays, director of the BFI Filmmaking Fund, emphasized the program’s ambition: “In line with the BFI Creative Challenge Fund’s priority to support immersive film practitioners, the programme is ambitious in its provisions, offering the editorial and technological support needed to take risks, broaden perspectives, and pursue ideas that aren’t typically backed by commercial funding.”
The selected projects represent diverse approaches to documentary storytelling. They include Alex Nevill’s “Restless Sea,” Anna Engelhardt’s “Towards Dissolution,” and Blu Smith’s “The Odyssey of Recollection.” Other participants include animator Comfort Arthur developing “Ursula,” artist Eelyn Lee with “Conjuring Acts,” and Gweni Llwyd’s “localhost.”
Additional selections feature Leo Nelki and Patricia Echeverria Liras collaborating on an untitled project exploring rivers and AI, Livi Wilmore’s “Browser History,” Oliver Bradley-Baker’s “Biome,” and Ornella Mutoni’s “The Silence We Carry.”
This initiative arrives at a pivotal moment for documentary filmmaking, as creators worldwide grapple with rapid technological change. The proliferation of AI-generated imagery, deepfakes, and synthetic media has created both new creative opportunities and profound ethical challenges for non-fiction storytellers.
The Future Proof Development Lab reflects growing industry recognition that documentary practitioners need specialized support to harness emerging technologies responsibly while maintaining the genre’s commitment to truth and authenticity. By investing in these forward-looking projects, the program aims to strengthen documentary’s resilience in an increasingly complex media landscape.
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11 Comments
The idea of preparing projects for financing while addressing fundamental questions about documentary practice in the digital age is a smart approach. It will be fascinating to see how the participants tackle these challenges.
This is an important initiative to tackle the challenges that technology and misinformation pose for documentary filmmakers. It’s crucial to support projects exploring these complex issues at a pivotal time for the medium.
Agreed. Navigating the intersection of technology, truth, and storytelling is vital for the future of documentary filmmaking.
This lab represents an important investment in the future of documentary storytelling. I’m glad to see organizations like Doc Society, FACT, and the BFI stepping up to support filmmakers navigating these complex issues.
I’m curious to see how the participants’ projects explore the intersection of technology and truth-telling. This is a vital area of inquiry for the documentary field as a whole.
Yes, the potential insights and lessons learned from this lab could have far-reaching implications for the industry.
Interesting to see the range of participants and creative leaders involved in this lab. I’m curious to learn more about the specific projects selected and the insights they uncover.
Yes, the diverse perspectives and expertise brought together here could yield valuable lessons for the industry.
With the growing impact of AI, big data, and virtual environments on the medium, this program couldn’t be more timely. I’m eager to see the innovative solutions and strategies that emerge from the participants.
Agreed. The lab’s focus on preparing projects for financing while tackling these fundamental questions is a smart and forward-thinking approach.
The program’s emphasis on supporting emerging to mid-career directors and creatives is crucial. Equipping this next generation of documentary filmmakers to navigate the evolving technological landscape is key for the medium’s future.