A new initiative to find fresh UK filmmaking talent will give a lucky creator a major hand in funding their film. Find out about Netflix Breakout here!

Netflix is set to partner with Creative UK, a merger organisation between Creative England and Creative Industries Federation, as part of a training and low-budget filmmaking initiative. Breakout will give creative teams the opportunity to develop their stories and skills, potentially premiering their project globally.

6 creative teams will be selected from an open application process. These teams will be made up of filmmakers and creatives who have already drawn some public or industry attention, but have not yet released a funded feature. Each team will receive £30,000 to develop their ideas, as well as be given intense training from industry experts. This includes workshops, mentoring, support, and input from Netflix executives, taking place over the course of a year.

After this, at least one team will be chosen to have their film project green lit for production. This winning project will be given a budget of £1.5m, as well as a global premiere on Netflix.

Projects can be focussed around any kind of genre or style, from crime thrillers to romcoms, or original horrors and family adventures. The initiative seeks to find “stories that will move, surprise, challenge and entertain, from emerging voices that need to be heard.” Creators aren’t just limited to filmmaking, either. Entrants can be from a theatre, video gaming, commercial, graphic novel, or music promo background too.

Speaking on the motivation behind the initiative, Netflix’s Manager of UK Films, Hannah Perks, said:

“Although it’s about new talent, it’s about people who are film creatives, but who might also have worked in advertising, music videos or photography, and who haven’t had a chance to make a feature film but who have ideas.”

She also went on to explain that the streaming service does not feature as many British films as the company would like.

Applications for Netflix Breakout close on the 23rd of March at midday.