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The Pare Lorentz Documentary Fund

About the Fund

Made possible by the New York Community Trust, the Pare Lorentz Documentary Fund supports feature-length documentary films that reflect the spirit and nature of Pare Lorentz's work, exhibiting objective research, artful storytelling, strong visual style, high production values, artistic writing, and outstanding music composition, as well as skillful direction, camerawork, and editing.

The Fund provides production and post-production grants to be used in the creation of original, independent documentary films that illuminate issues in the United States. 

Starting in 2022, nominees for Pare Lorentz Fund will be selected by IDA and three partner organizations representing different regions and constituencies in the documentary field.  We partner with collectives, initiatives, and non-profit organizations that are working to support marginalized voices and creative expansion in the field. 

This year we will be partnering with Working Films, The Chicago Media Coalition, and ADocPR. IDA and each partner organization will nominate up to five films.  IDA will reach out to nominated films by August 12 to submit applications for their projects. Once we have received all of the submissions, IDA and partner organizations will review and select a shortlist of top ten films to be announced in mid-October. An external panel of three will be selected to review the shortlisted films and select the final three grantees. We anticipate announcing the grantees in early December 2022. Any questions can be directed to funds@documentary.org .

Partner Organizations 2022
 

Working Films

Recognizing the power of film to inspire, Working Films positions documentaries to increase civic engagement and shift culture at the local, state, and national level. We offer funding and in-kind support to underrepresented filmmakers. And, we share our learning and foster dialogue to further the field of documentary for change. We lead conversations and trainings with grassroots groups and nonprofits to ensure that nonfiction media is increasingly embraced as a critical resource in their strategies for social change.

Location: Wilmington, North Carolina


Chicago Media Coalition

In the Chicago spirit of collaboration and solidarity, the newly formed Chicago BIPOC Media Coalition -- founded by Sisters in Cinema, Full Spectrum Features, Mezcla Media Collective, and OTV | Open Television -- is launching the Chicago BIPOC Media Fund to support general operations and strategic partnerships as a development & management commons. The Fund leverages the strengths of the Coalition, individually and collectively, to catalyze the most innovative investment towards a new media infrastructure that is representative of our country’s diversity.

Location: Chicago, Illinois


La Asociación de Documentalistas de Puerto Rico (AdocPR)

The Association of Documentalists of Puerto Rico (AdocPR) is a non-profit organization that brings together various generations of documentary filmmakers in the country with the aim of promoting the development of documentary filmmaking and improving our working conditions. We are currently around 40 documentary filmmakers associated with filmmakers, professors, students, and other members related to the work of documentary film.

Location: San Juan, Puerto Rico

La Asociación de Documentalistas de Puerto Rico (AdocPR) es una organización sin fines de lucro que agrupa diversas generaciones de documentalistas del país con el objetivo de promover el desarrollo del cine documental, y mejorar nuestras condiciones de trabajo. Actualmente somos alrededor de 40 documentalistas asociados entre cineastas, profesores y profesoras, estudiantes y otros miembros relacionados al quehacer del cine documental.