Part 1 Core Strength: Introduction to the Nonfiction Core App 3.1

Core App 3.1 in English
Presentation Slides
Core App webpage

All of the Images in the presentation slides are stills from IDA grantee films.

Watch Part 1 to learn why the Core App was created, what funders are looking for, and how to style your writing.

Watch Part 2 for a breakdown of each of the questions that ask about the creative content of your film.

Watch Part 3 for a breakdown of all of the questions about your producing decisions. This includes questions about your interactions with your participants, safety and security, timeline, and your film team.

Watch Part 4 to get a sense of the level of detail needed for financial information and plan for exhibition. We end the series outlining the latest changes to the Core App 3.1.

Articulating the purpose and promise of your documentary is a foundational step in advancing your project. Writing the Nonfiction Core Application is a process that doesn’t just apply to grants—it is a powerful development tool that helps you clarify your film’s intention, structure, and impact, and teaches you how to communicate those ideas clearly to others. The language you develop through this process becomes the backbone of how you share your film with funders, creative partners, collaborators, and audiences across the life of the project.

Through this series of short-form video presentations, IDA’s own Maria Santos and Katy Hurley—who have been working in the nonfiction funding space for the past ten and four years, respectively—will break down the Core Application questions into four distinct sections. This approach is designed to support both application writing and the development of language that will be useful both for marketing and for sharing your film with others. Drawing on their experience as funders, Maria and Katy will offer insight into how applications are read and evaluated, and what funders are looking for when assessing a project’s clarity, strength, and potential.