Channel 4 Writing for Television Awards seek new television writers from the North of England
Posted by
The Channel 4 Writing for Television Awards have opened for entry until 4 June 2024.
The awards offer new television writers based in the North of England unique opportunities with independent production companies Bonafide Films (Mood; The Last Post), Rollem Productions (Love Lies & Records; Girlfriends) and Red Production Company (It’s a Sin; Happy Valley).
Red, a StudioCanal Company, joins the programme in 2024, having been one of the inaugural production company partners when the awards were launched in 2014.
Three winners will each receive a package of support including:
- a long-term placement with one of the production companies
- mentoring with an industry professional
- a £3000 bursary.
Funded by Channel 4’s 4Skills, the awards are offered as part of the Northern Writers’ Awards, New Writing North’s flagship writer development programme, which celebrates 25 years this June. Channel 4 has been a major partner in the awards since 2014, and through this programme has supported the early careers of writers including Sharma Walfall, Jayshree Patel, Taiba Ahmad, Adam Bennett-Lea, Joshua Halm, Kemi-Bo Jacobs and Samantha Neale.
In 2022, the two organisations formed the Channel 4 and New Writing North Talent Partnership, which offers a year-round programme of activities and opportunities for new and emerging television writers in the North of England, with a particular focus on those from backgrounds that are currently underrepresented in the television industry.
Applications are now also open for emerging writers to join the new Channel 4 Northern Talent Network: Script Hubs in Newcastle, Bradford and online (open to writers across the North), where they will benefit from peer support and learn from television professionals as they develop their careers.
The partnership is also running screenwriting events in Halifax (18 May) and Sheffield (8 June), which are open to all. Writers can hear from television professionals, meet their peers and learn about opportunities to develop their work.
Channel 4’s Head of 4Skills, Kevin Blacoe said: “Our partnership with New Writing North provides wonderful opportunities to aspiring writers based in the north of England, talent which otherwise might go undiscovered.
“The awards align perfectly with the ambition of 4Skills, to offer opportunities and nurture new, diverse writers and I’d urge anyone who has a passion for writing to apply as it could open the door to an amazing career.”
Will Mackie, Senior Programme Manager (Talent Development) at New Writing North said: “The Channel 4 Writing for Television Awards offer a unique opportunity for three gifted emerging screenwriters in the North to work with outstanding production companies, benefit from mentoring and network with the screenwriting community. Our partnerships with Rollem and Bonafide have supported and nurtured multiple writers as they have developed original creative material and found opportunities to develop their careers. This year, we are incredibly excited to enhance our programme even further through a fresh partnership with Red Production Company, whose work we have long admired. We’re grateful for the ongoing support of Channel 4 that allows us to sustain and grow this increasingly important programme of work, which includes further support for talented writers through our Script Development Group, Scripts Hubs and the Northern Talent Network.”
Kate Adori, Development Executive at Bonafide Films said: “Over the years Bonafide have partnered with the Channel 4 Writing for Television we’ve been consistently impressed by the wellspring of talented, brave and inventive writers that emerge. It’s more important than ever to provide avenues for writers from the North to break into the industry, and we’re very proud to be a part of this.”
Patrick Schweitzer, CEO of Red Production Company, said: “We are delighted to be partnering with New Writing North on the Channel 4 Writing for Television Awards 2024. Red have a legacy of championing Northern voices and a huge passion for fostering diverse storytelling in television drama, so we are looking forward to working with an emerging writer to nurture their development and help cultivate the next generation of remarkable northern talent.”
The Channel 4 Writing for Television Awards and Channel 4 Northern Talent Network: Script Hubs are both open for entry until 4 June 2024.
Eligible writers will be based in the North of England. For the Channel 4 Writing for Television Awards, writers should not yet have had a script professionally broadcast. Script Hubs are open to emerging writers who have some experience, though not necessarily in writing for television.
The Northern Writers’ Awards are produced by New Writing North and supported by Northumbria University, Arts Council England and a range of partners.
Find out more on our Northern Writers’ Awards page.