The 2014 Fall granting cycle is full of opportunities! Several of the major players like NEH, ITVS and Tribeca are open for submissions, offering substantial amounts of funding to documentary filmmakers. Any filmmaker would be happy to work with these esteemed organizations, which is why it’s important to remember that each grant is also quite competitive. Be sure to do your homework to find out if a particular grant is right for your film. If grants are a large part of your fundraising strategy, you might think about branching out from documentary-specific grants to look toward subject
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The 38th annual Festival des Films du Monde (Montreal World Film Festival) took place this year from August 21 to September 1 in Canada's second largest city. It offers, as festival president Serge Losique writes in the catalogue, "a rich program based on cultural diversity, innovation, independence and creativity...Without the Montreal World Film Festival and its annual selection of some 400 films from 80 countries, the Montreal film landscape would be drastically reduced." There's certainly no disputing this is a problem plaguing many cities, and is why film festivals are more culturally
'Through a Lens Darkly' opens August 27 through First Run Features.
Dear Readers: As we go to press, we are looking at an über-confluence of happenings in the digital space that could be quite consequential to the documentary community.With the Federal Communications Commission having effectively neutralized net neutrality by voting to maintain an extra toll lane for those willing to pay more for better, faster Internet service, the heady days of a free and open Internet for all might be waning—although the American people have 120 days to weigh in its concerns with the FCC. One of more vocal proponents of net neutrality, Netflix, has been crossing swords with
I introduced Barbara Kopple at the Cinema Eye Awards in New York this past January, where she received the Legacy Award for her 1976 film Harlan County USA. I'd lost track of how many times I've seen Harlan County, but I decided to watch it again before the event. It fascinates me how seeing a film again can strike you differently each time you see it. Harlan County USA reflects the essence of our craft. The editing masterfully weaves together the stories of the miners, their wives and the complicated history of the United Mine Workers. The music of the coal miners is organically woven into
Dawn Porter had a couple of careers before she landed in documentary filmmaking-where she feels most at home. She was an attorney for BakerHostetler, where she learned the true meaning of rigorous thought and how to pay attention to detail. But she felt she was missing out on creative opportunities in that world, so she moved on to work in television, for ABC News and A&E Television Networks. There, her creativity flourished a bit more, and she was also able to learn a lot about the business of making media. "I learned that it doesn't matter if you have the most brilliant project in the world
'Big Men' airs August 25 on 'POV.'
A review of 'Documenting the Documentary'
For this month's #FunderFriday, we asked Lisa Chanoff and Bonni Cohen from Catapult Film Fund to answer some questions from our Twitter community. Below, they answer our community's questions, while also offering up answers to frequently asked questions. Don't forget: the Catapult Film Fund deadline is August 25th! Is Catapult a fit for Indie Docs Seeking Post Production Funds? #FunderFriday— ljfogel (@ljfogel) August 5, 2014 Catapult Film Fund: No. Catapult is all about early money. Our focus is to help launch documentary film projects near the beginning of their process. These "development
The Storyhunter team in their Brooklyn office, reviewing pitches from around the world. Courtesy of Storyhunter The Botanic Lab Bar on Manhattan's Lower East Side bustled with the energy of a typical Friday night crowd. International filmmakers, tech leaders and producers all gathered together in the relaxed vibe of the basement lounge, sipping herb-infused cocktails and listening to the ambient, pulsating beats of a world-music mix perfectly suited to the laid-back atmosphere of the room. At first glance, it appeared to be not unlike any other scene with an underground buzz and a focus on