At SDI we are dedicated to nurturing filmmakers and supporting your projects. If you have the passion and commitment to tell powerful stories in an innovative way, we are here to help develop your idea and share the expertise and contacts we have to bring your project to life. 

What We Offer

Throughout the year, we are able to offer professional consultancies for filmmakers based in Scotland, encompassing projects in various stages of development, production, or distribution, including both shorts and features. Our team of consultants comprises SDI core members as well as seasoned industry practitioners worldwide.

Our consultancies are delivered as one-on-one short online meeting sessions discussing your project and giving advice that best supports you at the stage you are at. This can come in the form of guidance on pitching and suggesting funding opportunities; we may be able to facilitate introductions to industry contacts who can help, or we may form a direct collaboration. Book a consultancy to open up a dialogue with us, receive support, and obtain knowledge from successful practitioners.

How to Book

Consultancies Days will take place every month and a half, throughout the year. The next sessions are scheduled for January 2025 and slots will be available to book closer to the date. To secure a consultancy with an SDI team member, choose the area where you require support:

• Budgeting (shorts & features)
• Festival strategy (shorts & features)
• Forum/market applications (features)
• Funding applications (shorts)
• Funding applications (features)
• Funding strategy (shorts)
• Funding strategy (features)
• Pitching & trailer (shorts & features)
• Story development (shorts)
• Story development (features)
• Synopsis & proposals (shorts)
• Synopsis & proposals (features)

SDI can not provide feedback on rough-cuts, and will only be able to look at video footage of up to 10 minutes.

To ensure fairness and availability for all, we kindly ask filmmakers who have previously booked a consultancy in the last three months and wish to follow up to consider skipping a slot.

Scottish Documentary Institute is committed to offering clear and accessible information and advice to everyone. On request, this information is available in alternative formats. We offer access support to disabled consultees, tailored to individual requests.