Interdoc was first set up in 2007 by Rachel Wexler (Bungalow Town Productions) and Ian Davies (Initialize Films) to help develop feature length documentaries. Two films that came out of the inaugural programme: The English Surgeon by Geoffrey Smith, and Andrew Lang’s Sons of Cuba went on to win many awards at leading film festivals.

In 2008 Initialize and Rachel teamed up with Scottish Documentary Institute and Skillset to deliver a more comprehensive programme over 8 days. The 2008 edition raised more than £500,000 development & production funding for 10 projects in 12 months.

In 2010 Scottish Documentary Institute & Initialize Films relaunched Interdoc II, which took 5 ambitious Scottish documentary producers with a feature doc in development to international markets and help strategise their finance plans, meet commissioning executives and co-production partners.
The programme took place over 3 sessions (6 days Hotdocs, Toronto & 4 days in Edinburgh/ EIFF & 2 days in Galway Film Fleadh in May, June & July 2010). The selected producers got a chance to pitch their project at the Edinburgh Pitch, received in depth one to one feedback on their project development as well as a pass to participate at SDI’s inaugural Docweek during EIFF.  2 Irish Producers participated to foster co-production possibilities between Ireland and Scotland.

In 2011 Scottish Documentary Institute & Initialize Films launched Interdoc+, a highly bespoke and tailored programme for a select group of producers aiming for the North American market.
The programme took place over 3 sessions (Edinburgh, Hot Docs and Aarhus for Nordisk Panorama). In collaboration with the Danish Film Institute, the Swedish Film Institute, the Finnish Film Foundation and AVEK (Promotion centre for Audiovisual Culture in Finland), four Scandinavian producers were integrated, in addition to three Scottish producers, a way to facilitate and encourage productive collaborations and a dynamic exchange of expertise.

The 2012 edition of Interdoc+ joins again leading filmmakers from Scandinavia and Scotland for 3 sessions (Edinburgh, Hot Docs and IDFA), thanks to the support of Creative Scotland, the Danish Film Institute, the Finnish Film Foundation and AVEK (Promotion centre for Audiovisual Culture in Finland), The Norwegian Film Institute and the Swedish Film Institute.