WorldView and WaterAid are now inviting producers and filmmakers to propose ideas for films on the theme of water for opportunities to win up to £3,000 to make documentary films – in time for World Water Day 2016.

The global water crisis is one of the greatest challenges facing the world, but it’s clear there are inspirational people – innovators, scientists, campaigners – who are taking the future of water into their own hands. We want to hear and help broadcast their stories. We’re calling on content-makers to pitch their ideas to have the chance to win the grant they need to bring their idea to life.

As a follow-on from the successful sH2Orts, our content development project WorldView will provide grants of up to £3,000 for winners to produce three- to five-minute short films.

Films can be at any stage of development, and from any country

We’re looking for original ideas that engage audiences through well-crafted creative storytelling. Films and programmes can be at any stage, whether it’s an idea on paper or a project currently in development that needs fresh input. You might need the full £3,000 to take the project from start to finish, or require a crucial £500 for that final edit. Grant funding decisions will be made on the strength of the application and an assessment of the budget and project proposal.

Grantees may also be offered mentorship and support to complete their films from relevant industry experts. We also promote and offer screening opportunities for the winning films worldwide through our members.

The deadline is 18 May 2015.

An international judging panel

WorldView and WaterAid will assess the applications, and a shortlisted selection will be reviewed by a panel of judges to help us make the final decision. The expert panel ranges from Oscar nominees and Bafta winners to UN consultants and media commissioners. Judges include:

Guy Davidi, director of Oscar-nominated 5 Broken Cameras

Adam Gee, Multiplatform and Online Video Commissioning Editor for UK’s Channel 4

Moneeza Hashmi, our President and General Manager in International Relations for Hum TV Pakistan

Shekhar Kapur, Indian film director, actor and producer

Jordan McGarry, Director of Curation for Vimeo

Victoria Noble, Executive Producer and Director of Production and Development for Discovery Networks International

Charlie Phillips, Head of Documentaries at the Guardian UK and former Deputy Director of Sheffield Doc/Fest.

Our partnership with WaterAid has recently culminated in the first round of the sH2Orts competition. sH2Orts entries hailed from 33 countries, and we’re currently showcasing the 21 shortlisted films on our home page. These brilliant one-minute films allowed people of all filmmaking abilities to produce one-minute short films which highlight the diverse uses of water across the globe, in time for World Water Day 2015. The full gallery of films can be seen here.

Visit the competition site for a full details of the rules, a preview entry form and FAQs.