Format
International documentary / human stories
Length
25–50 min
Timeslot
Various, Al Jazeera English (global)
Exposé length
2–5 pages
Human, independent, Global South perspectives. Al Jazeera Witness shows documentaries that tell stories the Western mainstream ignores. Tone is empathetic and respectful — protagonists tell their own story, not the story the West wants to tell about them. Witness shows the world from the perspective of those affected, not those in power. Films are personal, often intimate — they trust the strength of the human story. No voiceover lecturing, no western gaze. Filmmakers from the Global South preferred. Storytelling is cinematically ambitious — Witness accepts auteur-film quality alongside journalistic formats.
Cinematically ambitious, but authentic. Witness accepts different visual styles — from intimate handheld camera to cinematic auteur film. Authenticity matters more than perfection. Camera is close to protagonists. Natural light and real situations preferred. Interviews in natural environment. Visual language must preserve the dignity of protagonists — no poverty porn. Archive material, if available and relevant. Look may be raw if the story demands it.
Editorial notes
Al Jazeera Witness is one of the most important windows for international documentaries from the Global South. Al Jazeera English reaches a global audience in over 100 countries. Witness shows both short formats (25 min) and long formats (50 min). The strand prefers filmmakers from the regions they report on — local perspectives have priority. Al Jazeera invests in documentary development and offers filmmakers from the Global South mentoring and financing. Budgets per film: 30,000–150,000 USD depending on scope and length. Al Jazeera has its own film competition and documentary festival. Co-productions with international partners and funding institutions are common. [TO CHECK] Current commissioning contacts and submission routes.