The Whickers 2024 Cost of Docs survey of documentary makers launched at AJD industry September 16 in partnership with Al Jazeera Documentary channel.
“The survey was created [in 1918] to ensure The Whickers’ £100,000 top prize for first-time documentary makers is still the game changer it needs to be,” The Whickers writes. “It has now evolved into an important tool to help the documentary industry track trends in funding.”
“Thanks to the input and social media networks of our partner at Sheffield DocFest and others it has grown year by year,” the organisation continues. “Al Jazeera Documentary Channel has become a partner in this the seventh edition. They will translate the survey into Arabic to help distribute and increase the range of respondents.”
Speaking at the launch in Sarajevo The Whickers Editorial Consultant Jane Mote commented: “This is such an important benchmark tool for our industry and the results will help many lobby for more funding for documentary. We are so pleased that Al Jazeera Documentary Channel and AJB DOC have agreed to create an Arabic version, and we hope this will help to ensure the diversity of documentary makers responding to the survey.”
Adel Ksiksi, Head of AJD Industry Days added: “We are pleased to be helping The Whickers to make this important survey more accessible to documentary film makers everywhere. If we understand their needs and pressures better Al Jazeera, along with the whole industry, will be able to continue giving them the right support.”
The survey identifies emerging trends and provides data about the effect of major events such as COVID-19 and the cost-of-living crisis, and this year will ask about mental wellness and safety. It is used by academics and documentary organisations across the globe.
All survey respondents are automatically entered into a draw to win two complementary Full Industry passes for Sheffield Documentary Festival.
The survey can be accessed at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/COfD24 and is is now live on The Whickers social media @whickerawards. Click here to see the results of previous surveys.
