LumoTV announces open Drama Commissioning Brief for 2026/27

LumoTV, the world’s leading sign-presented programming commissioner and streaming platform, announces its new 2026 Drama Commissioning Brief and opens its pitching round. The commissioning round invites submissions of bold, brave and ground-breaking drama ideas with deaf-centred storytelling and characters at their core.

The commissioning round opens from 5th October 2026 with submissions to close by 13th November.

The LumoTV brief looks for stories that champion deaf representation both onscreen and off,  celebrating and representing a diverse array of talent. This year there is a particular focus on stories about the nations and regions, and content that has the potential to attract additional screen agency, climate or co-funding opportunities. Stories must be built to entertain and engage deaf viewers but also work on a universal level for all audiences to be compelled, entertained and moved, for both UK and global and multi-lingual audiences.

Specific invitations in the brief this year include:

Fresh takes on pre-established IP now in the public domain, including but not limited to Dickens, Holmes, Shakespeare, with an original and compelling reason to revisit that world through a ‘deaf gaze’

Stories set in the nations and regions, in particular the North of England and Wales
Comedy and comedy skewing stories or sitcoms
Ambitious action-led stories from adult-skewing revenge thrillers to more mainstream, family friendly-facing and co-viewing content

Short film projects for LumoTV’s next Step-Up short film scheme, designed as a training pathway for emerging writers, directors and DOPs
Microdrama and vertical drama with the ambition of making the UK’s first deaf vertical drama of any genre

The brief invites ideas from creatives and producers with any level of experience, as long as the stories are deaf led (i.e.: a deaf creative is attached at the heart of the project as either writer, co-writer, director etc.) and deaf-facing in their onscreen representation and storytelling.  Whilst the majority of LumoTV’s onscreen language will always be BSL and sign language focussed, the commissioning round will consider a limited number of projects from non-signing deaf or hard of hearing creatives on a case-by-case basis where this reflects their lived experience.

LumoTV invites submissions from both emerging talent for short form and first-time commissioning opportunities, and from established production companies and creatives. On major series and features, LumoTV can board from development or pilot stage for consultancy or funding, on projects to be taken out to market with a view to a mainstream co-commission, or by becoming a co-production partner.

The brief also invites opportunities for LumoTV to join, collaborate or co-fund any existing series or shows that are already partially realised, either in development deals or partially funded for production. These can be UK set or internationally as long as there is a deaf UK creative’s involvement and onscreen representation amongst the cast, for LumoTV to board as co-commissioner and co-producer.

The commissioning brief reflects LumoTV’s recent campaign, ‘The 91% Mandate’, encouraging broadcasters, commissioners, production companies and talent to work more closely with the deaf community and increase the volume of content created directly in sign language by deaf talent.

Phil Dodds, Drama Commissioner, LumoTV says: 'Our scripted ambitions at LumoTV keep growing. In this new commissioning brief we’re looking for mass market, break-out, box office hits; stories that speak to very specific audiences, including bold ideas that look at issues, take risks, and go big with reach or experimentation that no other broadcaster might deem commercial enough. We’re interested in stories with an international flavour that can foreground British, deaf representation on a global, multi-lingual stage. We really want to engage more of the industry around the world with LumoTV and the pivotal work that we do as a commissioner, co-producer and deaf talent incubator'.

Camilla Arnold, CEO of LumoTV, says 'We want to champion deaf stories, experiences, talent and creative, and this brief is not only for the deaf community to engage with but the wider film and TV industry as a whole. The brief is as varied and experimental as we are and we’re really looking forward to seeing the incredible ideas that come in'.

 

 

LC