About
The Radio and Audio Funding Award (RAFA) is awarded annually to an emerging audio producer based anywhere in the world to create an original radio or audio documentary of between 28-45 minutes. The application must fulfil the core criteria detailed below. A main award of up to £6,000 including mentorship from a top industry professional will be awarded to an audio documentary-maker to produce a feature-length programme. We will also be awarding £1,000 to each of our four runner-ups.
This year, ahead of deciding on our 2021 winner, we will be hosting a virtual development workshop for our finalists across the weekend of 16th – 17th October, with the support of our 2021 judges. See below for more details.
Applications for 2021 are now closed.
Criteria
Authored Story
- A story-teller with demonstrably strong interviewing skills
- Demonstrates passion for the subject whilst retaining fair-mindedness
- Demonstrates a real sense of independence
- Personal but not partisan
- Wry humour welcome
- Strictly no ‘Whicker impersonations’
Engagement
- Unique access to engaging characters in unusual or inaccessible locations
- Contributors have agency, their story emerges in their own words
- A demonstrable flair for coaxing the human spirit into revealing itself
- The author demonstrates intimacy with but does not overshadow the subject
Curiosity
- Spirit of inquisitiveness that leaves viewers wanting more
- Tells us about something new and unexpected about the world
- Excites wonder
- Understands how wit can illuminate the toughest or most nuanced real life drama
Original use of technology
- Playful with story-telling means – breaking new ground and/or using old ground to re-invent new style
Not partisan:
- No campaigning, pre-set agendas or political theories
Guidelines
- Open to audio producers from anywhere in the world, but the programme must be in the English language
- Award money will either be paid into the award-winner’s registered production company, or to an individual (if they are applying as a sole producer)
- Up to six minutes of original taster audio recording is required at the time of applying
- Applicants must have an executive producer on board at the time of applying
- If applicants reach the shortlist they must be available for a virtual workshop across the weekend of 16th – 17th October 2021, or they must be available for an informal discussion with our judges via video conference software in October 2021.
- Shortlisted applicants will be contacted by Thursday 16th September 2021 and our winner will be announced on or before Friday 22nd October 2021.
Application Checklist
We recommend that, well in advance of the deadline, you go through the full application questions in order to prepare your answers according to the requested word limits, and gather the necessary links and information. You can download a Word template of the application form from the button at the end of this section. You can expect to answer questions on the following:
Section 1: The title of your project and a two-sentence ‘hook’.
Section 2: Your name, if your application is connected to a registered audio production company or if you are applying as a sole producer, details of the production company (if applicable), your role in connection to the application.
Section 3: A link to 6 minutes of preliminary sound recording for your project (for judging purposes), confirmation that you have the right to upload this, the likelihood that your programme will be finished before the Autumn 2022 deadline.
Section 4: Up to 1500 word synopsis of your project, up to 300 words on how your project meets the criteria, an estimated budget (in GBP) of various elements in production and post-production of the programme, any existing funding or plans for future funding, details of your executive producer, confirmation that your project complies with our majority sponsor criteria (see section 4.6 in the RAFA Terms and Conditions).
Section 5: Your background in audio documentary making, 50 words on how you learnt your documentary making skills, 50 words on what inspires you to make documentaries, 50 words on how the funding will benefit your project, 50 words on why an audience would really love to hear your programme, if you are available for an informal video conference call with our judges in August 2021, your compliance with rules on transferring funds, your agreement with our terms and conditions.
To enable you to further plan your answers in advance before applying via our online portal, you can download a Word template of the application form from the button below. Alternatively, if you have any issue with the online portal you may send a completed version of this Word template directly to apply@whickerawards.com ensuring that the document and email subject are named accordingly to your programme title.
FAQs
Do I need to pay to enter?
No, all of our awards are free to enter.
Do I need to be a UK citizen to apply?
No, we accept applications worldwide.
Does my proposal have to be in English?
Yes, we will only consider proposals in English. The taster audio material and proposed programme should be in the English language, or in voiced over dubbing for audio originally recorded in languages other than English.
Is there a deadline for applying to the Radio and Audio Funding Award?
Yes. The Radio and Audio Funding Award is awarded annually, and is open for applications until Midnight BST on Wednesday 8th September 2021.
Can I submit more than one proposal per cycle?
No. We will accept one proposal, per applicant, per award, per year.
When will I find out if I have been successful?
Shortlisted applicants – five projects each year – will be contacted at the beginning of August 2019. These five finalists will be invited to pitch their projects to a judging panel at Open City Documentary Festival in the UK in early September 2019 (reasonable travel & accommodation costs covered by The Whickers). The main award-winner and runner-up will be announced at the Open City Documentary Festival award ceremony a few days later.
Can I request feedback if my project is not accepted?
Our resources for giving feedback are very limited. If your application is unsuccessful and you are prepared to wait, we can arrange for a 7 minute feedback slot by phone.
Is there an age limit for applying?
No, all of our awards are open to applicants of all ages (18+).
Whicker’s World was all about travel, so are these awards for travel programmes?
No. Whicker’s World was always more about the people rather than the places – and this legacy exists to support documentary-makers who can introduce us to wondrous ‘new worlds’, whether or not they are across the globe or across the room.
What do you mean when you say you are looking for “authored” work?
In its most literal interpretation, this would mean that the programme is narrated. However, the meaning of ‘authored’ can be stretched and expanded in this context. Above all we are looking for a story that could only be told by the applicant who is proposing the project. They will have ownership of the story, outstanding access, and a demonstrable passion for the subject at hand.
The phrase that Alan Whicker used in this regard was a ‘signed’ documentary. It meant that he stood by whatever was said or done in the programme, as such Whicker’s World programmes showed the world from Alan’s point of view as he interacted with it. This was true even when it appeared that those he met were doing all the talking and when he hardly appeared on screen. In the same spirit we are looking for your take on another world that remains truthful, professional and acknowledges other points of view. We are also looking for wit and flair in the way you script, edit, select and juxtapose your contributors and perhaps reinvent, or stretch, the grammar of the form to new heights. In other words, we are looking for a story well told. In this way a documentary with no presenter or narrator may still be considered ‘authored’.
How do I apply?
Click on ‘Apply now’ below. Please note that we can only accept applications via our comprehensive online form. Ensure that you are eligible to apply according to our criteria and terms and conditions before starting your application.
How long will the application form take me?
We cannot put a timeframe on this, but you should set aside ample time to complete the form. We recommend that you read through the application form in advance in order to fully prepare your answers and materials ahead of time. Visit our application checklist for more information.
What length should my completed radio or audio documentary be?
The usual broadcast length for audio documentary is 28 minutes long, this would be the ideal length. However, we will consider submissions for documentary proposals structured to be as long as 45 minutes.
What if I cannot attend the development workshop on 16th - 17th October 2021?
The development workshop is not compulsory, but we will try our best to accommodate each of our finalists. If you cannot attend, we will arrange a one-to-one informal meeting with our judges via video conference software on a more suitable date. It will not effect your chances in the competition.
Have a question that hasn’t been answered above? Contact us at info@whickerawards.com
Judges 2021
Ibby Caputo
Pam Fraser Solomon
Peregrine Andrews
Radio & Audio Funding Award Finalists 2021
Radio & Audio Funding Award Winners 2020
Radio & Audio Funding Award Finalists 2020
Other Funding Resources
The Whickers remains committed to enabling those who create audio and allowing great documentary ideas to flourish.