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$25,000 Grant Will Be Given to Documentary Filmmakers, Honoring Film Arts Foundation's Legacy of Support for Nonfiction Filmmaking
Call for Entries for the SFFS / Film Arts Foundation Documentary Grant, the newest grant to be offered by its ever-expanding Filmmaker Services program.
The grant will award a total of $25,000 for documentary feature films in postproduction. This grant is open to filmmakers residing in the United States whose work expresses both a unique personal perspective and an artistic approach to their chosen subject. This will be a one-time grant with awards given in 2010.
The letter of inquiry period for the SFFS / Film Arts Foundation Documentary Grant opens January 6, 2010 and closes February 4. For eligibility requirements and additional information, visit sffs.org/filmmaker-services/grants-and-prizes.
Garrett Scott Documentary Development Grant
What: This grant funds first time documentary makers for travel and accommodations at the Full Frame Documentary Film Festival, April 8-11, 2010. For four days, grant recipients will be given access to films, participate in master classes and be mentored by experienced filmmakers. TWO filmmakers will be chosen for the grant in its third year.
Deadline: Applications must be RECEIVED BY Friday, February 5, 2010. Applicants will be notified by email in early March.
About the Grant: Garrett Scott made a distinctive mark in documentary during his short career. Without any formal training in film, he directed Cul De Sac: A Suburban War Story, examining the case of a methamphetamine addict who stole a tank from an armory and went on a rampage through the San Diego suburbs. The film prompted Filmmaker Magazine to cite Scott as one of 25 New Faces of Independent Film. He went on to make Occupation: Dreamland, co-directed with Ian Olds, about U.S. soldiers in Falluja, Iraq. It won prizes at Full Frame and the Independent Spirit Awards. Both films were broadcast by the Sundance Channel. In 2006, Scott died of a heart attack at age 37.
Scott's work examined how the forces of state power and economics impact individuals. Stylistically, his films broke convention, giving audiences new perspectives on familiar milieus like suburbia or war torn Iraq. He was a beloved member of film communities in San Francisco and New York City and several points in between.
His friends, family and colleagues established this development grant to help other emerging filmmakers reach their potential. The grants selection committee looks especially for filmmakers who somehow fulfill Scott's example, by bringing a unique vision to the content and style of contemporary documentary making.
Previous grant recipients include Elinyisia Mosha and Cameron Yates in 2009, Rebecca Richman Cohen, Nathan Fisher and Mai Iskander in 2008 and Robin Hessman and Lee Lynch in 2007.
Criteria: Applicants must be a U.S. citizen or green card holder and live in the continental United States; any age 18 or older. By "first time filmmaker," we mean someone who is in the early stage of their documentary career and has not yet received significant recognition (such as major festival play or broadcast). All applicants should anticipate finishing their first project by March 2011. You still qualify as a "first time filmmaker" if you've made shorts or student projects, worked professionally as a crew member on other people's films, or if you've recently completed a documentary that hasn't been released yet. The grant is open to students and non-students alike.
How: Applicants should send a 2 page letter addressing these areas:
1) Project summary: Describe the documentary you're working on. It doesn't matter whether the film is a short or a feature, though the judging tends to favor more ambitious projects. Describe the characters, structure, visual approach and what stage you're at.
2) Director's statement: Describe how you came to filmmaking and how you've trained as a filmmaker. It doesn't matter whether you went to film school or are self-taught. Describe what you want audiences to take from your film.
Work sample: Applicants must send a 5-10 minute DVD sample of a work-in-progress or a past work. You may send a longer work sample, but judges may only review the opening minutes.
Submit TWO COPIES of both the letter and DVD along with your...
Name:
Address:
Phone:
E-mail:
Send to:
Full Frame Documentary Film Festival
ATTN: Garrett Scott Documentary Grant
324 Blackwell Street. Suite 500
Washington Building, Bay 5
Durham, NC 27701
Question or comment? e-mail us submissions@fullframefest.org
Deadline: February 5, 2010
This production funding initiative is designed to showcase international documentaries with powerful global stories that inform, inspire and connect Americans to the world at large.
ITVS INTERNATIONAL CALL
International Call provides production funds for independent producers who are non-U.S. citizens, helping them create documentaries for American television. Through the ITVS International Call, storytellers from other countries introduce U.S. audiences to their global neighbors, opening a window into unfamiliar lives, experiences and perspectives.
In addition to production funding and support, ITVS International will premiere funded programs on U.S public and commercial television, engaging viewers and maximizing impact through national promotion and educational outreach campaigns.
International Call is an initiative of the International Media Development Fund-a project created by ITVS in partnership with the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, the Ford Foundation and the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.
APPLYING TO ITVS INTERNATIONAL
Before applying to International Call, it is important to review our Production Agreement Note to understand the terms and conditions of ITVS funding. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact Joy-Marie Scott at joy_scott@itvs.org or +1-415-356-8383 x232. ITVS office hours are 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM Pacific Daylight Time.
Please read the following guidelines carefully and complete the application according to the instructions in How To Apply. We require a written proposal, work-in-progress reels and a copy of a previously completed work in its entirety, including credits. No demo reels, or clip reels of your previous work, will be accepted. Incomplete proposals or unsigned applications will not be processed.
English is the working language. All written materials must be in English. Video materials must also be in English, subtitled if necessary. Producers may submit only one application for one program to International Call per year. A producer can not apply as a Primary Applicant and a Co-Applicant for two separate projects.
ITVS INTERNATIONAL IS LOOKING FOR
Programs that bring international perspectives, ideas, events and people to U.S. television
Content that represents diverse communities and advances underrepresented points of view
Content that explores globally significant themes and inspires public dialogue
Single, story-driven documentaries with broadcast hour versions
Programs that have already begun production and can be realistically completed within one year of contract
Co-production projects with either international broadcast partner(s) or co-productions with producers from different countries
ITVS INTERNATIONAL IS NOT LOOKING FOR
Projects solely from American producers; U.S. producers may partner with international producers and apply as co-applicants in true co-production relationships
Subject matter based in the United States, lifestyle or children's programming
Projects in development
Completed work for acquisition or distribution
Projects not intended for television or intended solely for theatrical release
Series proposals
Fictional dramas
INDEPENDENT PRODUCER ELIGIBILITY
Applicants must be "independent producers." This means that the individuals must have a) artistic, budgetary and editorial control of the project and b) the ability to grant ITVS the right to reversion for broadcast.
Applicants must be at least 18 years old.
The Primary Applicant must be a citizen of another country, who does not reside in the U.S. Applicants must identify their country of citizenship and legal residence.
Dual foreign/U.S. citizens are eligible if they do not reside in the U.S.
American citizens may only participate as Co-Applicants in a true co-production relationship with a non-U.S. Primary Applicant.
Applicants must have previous film or television production experience in a principal role (producer, co-producer, director or co-director) as demonstrated by credits on a sample tape of a previously completed work submitted with the application.
INELIGIBILITY
Students are not eligible.
U.S. residents, regardless of citizenship, are not eligible to apply as a Primary Applicant. (U.S. producers may partner with international producers and apply as co-applicants in true co-production relationships.)
Producers who are currently under ITVS contract are not eligible.
Organizations-NGOs, universities, foundations, nonprofit media organizations, etc.-are not eligible.
Supporting crew members-writers, production managers, production assistants, etc.-cannot submit an application on behalf of the project's director or producer.
If an individual does not possess artistic, budgetary and editorial control of the project, he/she is not eligible.
If an individual does not have the ability to grant ITVS the right to reversion the program for broadcast, he/she is not eligible.
If an individual submits an application as a Primary Applicant, he/she can not be a Co-Applicant on another project. Individuals can only submit one application per round.
FUNDING AMOUNTS
International Call funds must be used as production completion funds for the project. The range of production funds offered for each project will vary. Applicants should be realistic and request what they need to finish their programs. If a project is recommended for funding, ITVS will thoroughly review the budget and negotiate the proposal's funding request. A selected project will receive a funding offer that ITVS believes will allow the producers to complete the program for U.S. television broadcast.
ITVS FUNDING IS NOT A GRANT
Selected projects will receive funding once a Production License Agreement is executed. This is a contract that assigns ITVS International exclusive broadcast rights in the United States. Depending on the individual contract, ITVS International may participate in revenue sharing in all versions of the production. Please read the Production License Agreement note that follows the budget summary sheet.
TIMELINE
February: After the submission deadline, all applicants receive notification by mail or email within four weeks.
April: In early April, a limited number of applicants are asked to submit additional budget and production information with a narrative update.
May: A small group of finalists is given the opportunity to submit updated work-in-progress video (10 minutes maximum). This is not mandatory. Applicants receive final decisions within six to eight weeks.
Note: The entire proposal review process takes up to five months. Less than five percent of International Call applicants receive funding.
The Good Pitch at Tribeca
Deadline: February 8, 2010
The Good Pitch aims to bring together social-purpose film projects and a group of expert participants from charities, foundations, brands and media to form powerful alliances around groundbreaking films. It is open to projects looking for completion funding, outreach funding, campaigning networks, or any combination of the above.
britdoc.org/real_good/tribecca
Sundance Documentary Fund
Deadline: February 9, 2010
The Sundance Documentary Fund is a core program of the Documentary Film Program. It is dedicated to supporting U.S. and international feature length documentary films that focus on current human rights issues, freedom of expression, social justice, civil liberties, and exploring critical issues of our time.
for more info and to apply:
http://www.sundance.org/applications/dfp/
2010 CLARION AWARDS COMPETITION NOW OPEN FOR ENTRIES
