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2016 Spring/Summer Grants & Opportunities | International Documentary Association

M ARCH 7, 20 16

2016 Spring/Summer Grants &

Opportunities
BY LI SA H AS KO
S HA RE:

Another year meansanother chance to get fundsfor your documentary! Below is your
essential guide to grants, awards, open calls,and opportunities to be had in the rst half of
2016.
http://www.documentary.org/blog/2016-springsummer-grants-opportunities

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2016 Spring/Summer Grants & Opportunities | International Documentary Association

GRANT DEADLINES
ITVS - INDEPENDENT LENS (http://itvs.org/funding/digital-open-call)
Independent Lens is currently seeking submissions of lms in advanced rough cut or ne cut
stage or completed lms to broadcast during the October 2016 - June 2017 season.
Independent Lens lms are often character driven stories, and are known for compelling
storytelling, innovation, and diversity. Independent Lens welcomes individual expression and
is committed to presenting diverse points of view, on topics suited for a national audience.
Deadline: March 25, 2016
MANUEL RIVERA-ORTIZ FOUNDATION FOR DOCUMENTARY PHOTOGRAPHY &
FILM (http://mrofoundation.org/programs/lm-grants/)
The Manuel Rivera-Ortiz Foundation for Documentary Photography & Film will award a
US$5,000 grant to a single completed Short Short documentary lm project. Our grant is
open to up-and-coming, independent lmmakers and directors in all countries. Participant
must be committed to the eld of reportage and documentary lmmaking.
Deadline: March 31, 2016
ROY W. DEAN GRANTS (http://fromtheheartproductions.com/roy-w-dean-lm-grants-andawards/)
The Roy W. Dean Grant funds independent feature lms, documentaries, web series, and
short lms that are unique and make a contribution to society that, without its help, might
otherwise never get made. There are 3 lm grants available each year, one for Spring, Summer,
and Fall.
Deadline: June 30, 2016
ITVS DIGITAL OPEN CALL (http://itvs.org/funding/digital-open-call)
The Digital Open Call provides up to $50,000 in R&D funding to develop and pilot digital
series concepts on any subject, and from any viewpoint, for public medias digital platforms.
Projects must be in development, and cannot have begun principal production. The Digital
Open Call funding is only available to independent producers who are citizens or legal
residents of the U.S. and its external territories. Carefully review the full eligibility criteria
before beginning an application.
Deadline: May 2, 2016
BERKELEY FILM FOUNDATION (http://berkeleylmfoundation.org/apply/)
Berkeley Film Foundation (BFF) grant awards average $12,000 and $5,000 for students 18+
enrolled in a lm arts program.New for 2016, two grants, $12,000 each for Oakland
lmmakers. In addition, BFF oers The Al Bendich Award of $20,000 and The Saul Zaentz
Award of $25,000.
Opens: April 1, 2016
Deadline: May 13, 2016

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IDFA BERTHA FUND (https://www.idfa.nl/industry/idfa-bertha-fund.aspx)

The IDFA Bertha Fund, formerly known as the Jan Vrijman Fund, supports documentary
lmmakers in developing countries. Its goal is to stimulate local lm cultures and to turn the
creative documentary into a truly global lm art. The IDFA Bertha Fund is the only fund in
the world dedicated solely to stimulating and empowering the creative documentary sector in
Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and parts of Eastern Europe...The fund is
looking for new creative documentary projects which can be submitted in project
development, production, and post production.
Deadline: May 15, 2016 (Classic), September 1, 2016 (Europe distribution support)
PACIFIC PIONEER FUND (http://www.pacicpioneerfund.com/)
The Pacic Pioneer Fund provides support to emerging documentary lmmakers. The term
"emerging" is intended to denote a person committed to the craft of making documentaries,
who has demonstrated that commitment by several years -- but no more than ten -- of
practical lm or video experience. Grants are to support lmmakers are limited to lmmakers
or videographers who live and work in California, Oregon and Washington, and range from
$1,000-$10,000.
Deadline: June 1, 2016
NEH DIGITAL PROJECTS FOR THE PUBLIC (http://www.neh.gov/grants/public/digitalprojects-the-public)
Digital Projects for the Public grants support projects that signicantly contribute to the
publics engagement with the humanities. Digital platformssuch as websites, mobile
applications and tours, interactive touch screens and kiosks, games, and virtual environments
can reach diverse audiences and bring the humanities to life for the American people. The
program oers three levels of support for digital projects: grants for Discovery projects (earlystage planning work), Prototyping projects (proof-of-concept development work), and
Production projects (end-stage production and distribution work).
Deadline: June 8, 2016
LEF FOUNDATION MOVING IMAGE FUND GRANTS (http://www.leffoundation.org/DefaultPermissions/NewEngland/tabid/160/Default.aspx)
The goal of LEF New England is to fund the work of independent documentary lm and video
artists in the region, and to broaden recognition and support for their work, both locally and
nationally. It also supports programs that highlight the rich history and ongoing legacy of
innovation within New Englands independent lm community. In order to apply for funding,
the main creative personnel, which is the director and/or producer, must live in one of the six
New England states: Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont,
or Maine.
Pre-production proposal deadline: June 3, 2016
WORLD CINEMA FUND
(https://www.berlinale.de/en/branche/world_cinema_fund/wcf_prol/index.html)
the World Cinema Fund works to develop and support cinema in regions with a weak lm
infrastructure, while fostering cultural diversity in German cinemas. The World Cinema
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Fund supports lms that could not be made without additional funding: lms that stand out
with an unconventional aesthetic approach, that tell powerful stories and transmit an
authentic image of their cultural roots. Eligibility requires that the director originates from
one of the listed WCF regions (Africa, Latin America, Central America and the Caribbean, the
Middle East, Central Asia, Southeast Asia and the Caucasus) and have a German partner as a
co-producer or sometimes distributors.
Deadline - Production: July 14, 2016
Deadline Distribution: Rolling
ALTERCINE FOUNDATION DOCUMENTARY FILM GRANT
(http://www.altercine.org/html/en/programme-de-bourses.php)
Altercine awards 10,000 Canadian dollars to a video or lmmaker to assist in the production
of a documentary project. The grant is aimed at young video and lmmakers born and living
in Africa, Asia or Latin America who want to direct a lm in the language of their choice that
respects the aims of the Foundation.
Deadline: August 15, 2016
ALBA HUMAN RIGHTS DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL (http://www.albavalb.org/programs/human-rights-lm-festival/)
Now in its fth year, ALBA's documentary lm festival creates a community-wide dialogue
about justice, equality, and humanity through the presentation of documentaries on human
rights issues, post-screening Q/A sessions with the lm directors, and community talk-backs
with human rights advocates and activists.
Early bird deadline: May 15, 2016
Extended deadline: June 15, 2016
MOVIES THAT MATTER SUPPORT PROGRAMME
(http://www.moviesthatmatter.nl/english_index/international/support_programme/)
Movies That Matter seeks to promote the screenings of human rights cinema worldwide,
Movies that Matter Support Programme oers modest small grants to human rights lm
events in Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and Eastern Europe, especially in
countries with limited resources and freedom of press. These events can take various forms,
such as human rights lm festivals, LGBT festivals, mobile cinema projects, school
screenings, grassroots distribution and lm outreach projects. Movies that Matter oers
grants up to EUR 7,500.
Deadline: September 12, 2016
NIST GRANT FOR SCIENCE DOCUMENTARY (http://go.usa.gov/chhdG)
NIST, the National Institute of Standards and Technolo , is oering a grant of up to
$500,000 for the creation of a documentary lm about the world-wide endeavor to redene
the kilogram and reboot the international measurement system. This is an opportunity to
create a lm that chronicles a fascinating and largely untold story in the world of science.
Deadline: 11:59 p.m. EST September 26, 2016

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ROLLING DEADLINES
THE ARTHUR VINING DAVIS FOUNDATIONS PUBLIC EDUCATIONAL MEDIA
(http://www.avdf.org/Programs/PublicEducationalMedia.aspx)
Grants support "capstone" funding ranging from $100k-$500k, to complete production for
major series assured of national airing by PBS. These should include innovative uses of
technolo to enhance community outreach and contribute to teaching in grades K-12 and
beyond. Preference is given equally to children's series and programs of enduring value on
subjects such as history and science. Consideration is given on occasion to single stand-alone
programs of exceptional merit with a conrmed national airing. Programs whose primary
purpose is advocacy, topical news coverage or entertainment may not be competitive.
Deadline: Rolling
BERTHA BRITDOC JOURNALISM FUND (https://britdoc.org/bertha-journalism/)
The Bertha Britdoc Journalism Fund is an international lm fund dedicated to supporting
long form feature documentaries of a journalistic nature. They are looking for lms that break
the important stories of our time, expose injustice, bring attention to unreported issues and
cameras into regions previously unseen. This fund recognizes such lms are often delicate
and protracted, making them dicult to fund. With a mission to enable in-depth analysis of
issues through long-form investigative lmmaking, we are particularly looking to work with
lmmakers with a journalistic background or those who are collaborating with journalists.
Deadline: Rolling
CATAPULT FILM FUND (http://catapultlmfund.org/how-to-apply/)
Catapult Film Fund provides development funding ($5,000 to $20,000) to documentary
lmmakers who have a compelling story to tell, have secured access to their story and are
ready to shoot and edit a piece for production fundraising purposes. Our mission is to enable
lmmakers to develop their lm projects to the next level at a moment where funding is hard
to nd. We support powerful stories, and moving storytelling, across a broad spectrum of
issues and perspectives.
Deadline: Rolling
FILMMAKER FUND (http://www.lmmakerfund.com/)
In the spirit of fostering great work, the Filmmaker Fund is committed to both proven and
emerging lmmakers with assistance at every stage of production and post-production.
Primarily, our role is to remove the obstacles that lie in the way of great work. From early
stage funding, through production to the last edit, it is our aim to alleviate artistic
encumbrances. To be selected as a project of the Filmmaker Fund is to have a partner in the
entirety of the journey. That includes grants of up to $75K as well as an invitation to our
annual retreat, festival navigation and distribution strate .
Deadline: Rolling (submit at beginning of each month, decisions made at the end of each
month)
THE FLEDGLING FUND (http://www.theedglingfund.org/apply)
Grants support outreach and engagement for social issue documentary lm and other
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storytelling projects that have the potential to inspire positive social change around issues that
aect the most vulnerable. Grants typically range from $10K - $25K. There are two types of
grants available: audience engagement planning grants or audience engagement
implementation grants. Grants are NOT available to support production or post-production.
Deadline: Rolling (applicants will be notied within three months)
THE MILLER / PACKAN FILM FUND (http://rogovy.org/lm-fund/overview/)
The Miller / Packan Film Fund supports documentaries that Educate,Inspire and Enrich. The
Fund is nanced through the Rogovy Foundation. We believe in the transformational power
that comes from enlightening narratives and inspiring characters. The Fund begins granting
in 2016. In its rst year, grants totaling $150,000 will be awarded to between six and ten
lmmakers. The fund operates an open rolling submission process, and awards will be
announced bi-annually.
Deadline: Rolling (rst grants awarded in July 2016)
SUNDANCE DOCUMENTARY FUND (http://www.sundance.org/programs/documentarylm/#grants)
The Sundance Documentary Fund provides strategic nancial support to cinematic, feature
documentaries from independent lmmakers globally. We provide $1M-$2M in nonrecoupable nancing annually across all stages of development, production, post-production,
and strategic audience engagement.
Deadline: Rolling

LABS & PITCH FESTS

CHANNEL 4 - FIRST CUT PITCH 2016
(http://www.channel4.com/info/commissioning/4producers/rst-cut-pitch-2016)
Five shortlisted directors will vie to prove that they are ready to take on the challenge of an
hour-long, post watershed doc for Channel 4 by presenting a 3 minute documentary lm that
answers an editorial brief set by Channel 4 for this event. These short docs will be a unique
opportunity for the directors to showcase their ability to tell a captivating factual story, nd
and develop great contributors and work eectively in an edit. Channel 4 will support each
shortlisted director with a 500 production budget and one day with an editor at a post-house
of Channel 4's choosing to polish their lms.
Deadline: March 27, 2016
GOOD PITCH NEW YORK 2016 (https://goodpitch.org/events/gpny2016)
Good Pitch brings together documentary lmmakers with foundations, NGOs, campaigners,
philanthropists, policymakers, brands and media around leading social and environmental
issues - to forge coalitions and campaigns that are good for all these partners, good for the
lms and good for society. Over a year, the selected lmmaking teams receive sustained
mentorship and professional development. This includes two campaign development
workshops, taking place right after project selection and again on the eve of the live event.
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Deadline: March 29, 2016

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