Doc Society

❧

Wikipedia

Doc Society
TypePrivate, non-profit
PurposeNon‑fiction storytelling (television, film, audio + VR)
HeadquartersUnited Kingdom • United States • Netherlands
Region served
Global
Official language
English
Directors
Sandra Whipham, Megha Agrawal Sood, Shanida Scotland, Maxyne Franklin, Beadie Finzi
Websitehttps://docsociety.org/

Doc Society (formerly the Channel 4 BRITDOC Foundation and later the BRITDOC Foundation) is a private, non‑profit organization that funds, supports and amplifies independent documentary filmmakers and public‑interest media worldwide.

History

Doc Society was founded in 2005 in the United Kingdom by Jess Search, Maxyne Franklin, Katie Bradford and Beadie Finzi. [1] with initial backing from Channel 4 to support British documentaries that fell outside conventional broadcast commissions.

  • 2005–2009 – Operated as the Channel 4 BRITDOC Foundation.
  • 2009–2017 – Renamed the BRITDOC Foundation.

Since its inception, the organisation has grown into a federated network of legal entities in the UK, US, the Netherlands and Australia, with staff and partners across Europe, Africa, Asia, Oceania and the Americas. Governance follows a shared‑leadership model: five co‑directors jointly oversee legal, financial and strategic matters.

Core Programs

Climate Story Unit (CSU)[2][3][4].

Democracy Story Unit (DSU)[5][6][7][8]

BFI Doc Society Fund (UK)[9][10][11]

Ecosystem‑Building & Networks

  • Developing free resources – Impact Field Guide (8 languages, 100 k users); Safe + Secure guide (AI‑era updates).
  • Strengthening Community networks – Good Pitch (59 editions, > 5 500 partner organisations, US $33 M new funding)[12]; Global Impact Producers Alliance (GIPA); DISCO network[13][14][15][16][17]; Climate Storytellers Network + Climate Reframe network.

belongs on docsociety website

In 2019 Doc Society filed Doc Society v. Blinken[18], challenging U.S. export‑control regulations that threatened the ability of international documentary filmmakers to receive U.S. equipment and software. The case was covered by major outlets and analyzed by civil‑rights think‑tanks.[19][20]

References

  1. ↑ "Why convening and collaborating makes for the greatest impact". The State of SIE Report. 2019-02-14. Retrieved 2025-12-17.
  2. ↑ https://sjn-static.s3.amazonaws.com/solutions-insights-lab/Interview+with+Megha+Agrawal+Sood+(DOC+SOCIETY).pdf [bare URL PDF]
  3. ↑ Ochagavia, Ekaterina; Poulton, Lindsay (2021-06-01). "Eve: the off-grid life of a nine-year-old climate activist". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2025-12-17.
  4. ↑ "Doc Society". Climate Justice Resilience Fund. Retrieved 2025-12-17.
  5. ↑ Cunningham, Nick (2023-06-28). "Doc Society launches Democracy Story Unit, announces London and Rio Lab dates". Business Doc Europe. Retrieved 2025-12-17.
  6. ↑ "Democracy Story Labs - Democracy Story Unit". democracystoryunit.org. Retrieved 2025-12-17.
  7. ↑ "Love and Rockets: towards the independent and democratic future we all need and deserve". FIFDH. Retrieved 2025-12-17.
  8. ↑ "Democracy Network - Democracy Story Unit - Democracy Brown Bag Lunch 5". Philea. Retrieved 2025-12-17.
  9. ↑ ""The Ladder of Creative Risk": Luke Moody Discusses the BFI Doc Society Fund". International Documentary Association. Archived from the original on 2025-05-15. Retrieved 2025-12-17.
  10. ↑ "Innovate UK Immersive Tech Network → BFI Doc Society RAD Fund". iuk.immersivetechnetwork.org. Retrieved 2025-12-17.
  11. ↑ Ntim, Zac (2023-02-16). "BFI To Invest $7 Million In Doc Society". Deadline. Retrieved 2025-12-17.
  12. ↑ "Connecting new documentary filmmaking talent with BFI Doc Society". griersontrust.org. Retrieved 2025-12-17.
  13. ↑ "The Disco Network". thedisconetwork.com. Retrieved 2025-12-17.
  14. ↑ Barraclough, Leo (2024-02-14). "Alex Gibney, Johan Grimonprez, Laura Huertas Millan Join CPH:DOX Conference Lineup". Variety. Retrieved 2025-12-17.
  15. ↑ Abbatescianni, Davide (2024-03-18). "CPH:DOX news: Time to DISCO in Copenhagen". Business Doc Europe. Retrieved 2025-12-17.
  16. ↑ Carey, Matthew (2024-05-15). "Sheffield DocFest To Explore Representation Of Women In True Crime Stories, Offer Case Study On "Shocking Violence In Docs"". Deadline. Retrieved 2025-12-17.
  17. ↑ "200: Beadie Finzi & Judy Kibinge on DISCO & the Independence Project". Pure Nonfiction | Documentary Storytelling Podcast. Retrieved 2025-12-17.
  18. ↑ "Doc Society v. Rubio". Knight First Amendment Institute. Retrieved 2025-12-17.
  19. ↑ Pilkington, Ed (2019-12-05). "US government edict puts international film-makers in danger, lawsuit claims". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2025-12-17.
  20. ↑ "Doc Society v. Blinken | Brennan Center for Justice". www.brennancenter.org. Retrieved 2025-12-17.