Unfortunately we get more projects than we are able to support. To ensure your project has the best chance of being funded here are the top 5 things to look out for on your application.
If you have further questions, please also refer to the FAQ in the OKRE Fund section.
1. Describe how your project explores our named themes and reflect this in your chosen collaborators: Carefully read the current opportunities section. We have to understand how your project explores one or more of these subjects. We don’t need it to be extremely on the nose in execution (in fact we’d rather it wasn’t!) but we have to see that the theme is clear and evidenced in your application as a topic you want to explore. We would also want to see your chosen experts (charities, lived experience, researchers) as specialists in this topic you want to explore. Even if we love your project, if it’s not clear which theme you’re exploring and which collaborators you want to work with to develop it further, we cannot fund it.
Example – funding theme is “infectious disease”
DO: Submit you zombie-themed feature, working with a infectious diseases researchers to innovate on the form.
DON’T: Submit your zombie-themed feature but not mention which theme it relates to or what experts you would want to work with.
2. Name your Collaborators: Who are you working with? Be explicit, provide links to their work, and ideally a line or two about why you want to work with them. This fund is set up to enable collaboration so we need to see you’re serious about working with your chosen partners.
DO: Tell us the collaborators name, title, bio and supply links to their work that you are specifically interested in i.e. We will work with Dr Jane Smith, Infectious Disease Researcher, Smith University (link) and John Smith, who has lived experience of a pandemic which relates to our main character and the charity Infectious Disease Charity (link).
DON’T: Name an organisation without telling us who specifically you are working with; or not include any detail whatsoever i.e. We will work with researchers in infectious diseases and charities. We will work with academics from universities like Smith University.
3. Demonstrate Feasibility: Provide evidence that your project is feasible. This could include details about your team’s qualifications, a realistic timeline, and a well-thought-out budget. Don’t just ask for the maximum amount of funding possible, be clear on why you need the funding amount you’re asking for.
DO: Provide a clear, reasoned budget, include a realistic timeline and provide links and bios about your team and any previous work. Be very specific about what each budget line is for in relation to development.
DON’T: Don’t forget this is a development fund, do not include production costs.
4. Know your audience: Who are you talking to? We don’t need you to have the broadest audience but we do need to understand your thoughts on who your project is for, and accordingly we will judge the project through this lens.
DO: Be specific i.e. The audience for my ZOMBIE MOVIE are 15-24 horror fan bracket, though we would seek primarily to appeal to a female-skewing audience who enjoyed films like MIDSOMMAR and PEARL.
DON’T: Be generic i.e. The audience are people 18-60 who enjoy horror films.
5. Highlight Innovation: emphasise any innovative aspects of your project. We are interested in supporting projects that bring new ideas, approaches, or technologies to the table. Clearly explain how your project is different from existing narratives.
DO: Be explicit about your fresh approach i.e. Through working with researchers, the modelling for the spread of the disease in my ZOMBIE MOVIE will be based in reality, offering an entirely fresh approach to the genre and offering a more grounded, and thrilling world for my film.
DON’T: Be generic i.e. Because I’m working with researchers my movie will be a fresh take on the genre.