Future Producer School, aimed at ambitious feature documentary producers, is in addition to the record number of pitch opportunities at the festival.

Sheffield Doc/Fest has launched a new training initiative, aimed at ambitious feature documentary producers.

Devised and led by Rachel Wexler and taking place in May and June, Future Producer School will see 12 emerging documentary producers take part in an intensive three-day workshop in Norwich.

Participants will then be invited to Doc/Fest to take part in match-made meetings, before receiving one-on-one mentoring from Wexler after the festival.

Future Producer School is run in partnership with Creative Skillset and WorldView. Deadline for applications is April 4.

The new scheme is in addition to the year-round training events and the record number of pitch opportunities at Doc/Fest. This year sees the first ever BBC Fresh Pitch - Talent Search (April 14 deadline) and the return of the Channel 4 First Cut Pitch (April 6 deadline).

Other opportunities include the inaugural Soundology Breakthrough Pitch (April 7 deadline), the New York Times Op-Doc Pitch (April 4 deadline), the Ramilllas Sheffield Interactive Fun and the BFI Film Fund Pitch.

Charlie Phillips, deputy director, commented: “Our year-round training is also designed to offer docmakers complete preparation to succeed, not just at MeetMarket and the brilliant pitch opportunities offered during the festival, but also to understand how to fund, distribute, market and exhibit factual media in new ways.”

For more information, visit Doc/Fest’s website. Doc/Fest runs June 7-12.