Fundraising for independent documentaries in the U.S. has always been difficult. As the manager of the IDA Fiscal Sponsorship Program, I have a unique
How to
As a reviewer for a couple of documentary grants, the process is a lovely way to learn more about what stories my peers are exploring, what styles and
This article is a condensed and slightly adapted version of a talk I delivered on June 8, during the Skjaldborg documentary film festival in Patreksfjörður, Iceland, titled “The Press Playbook: How To Get Your Doc in the Spotlight.” What follows reflects both the structure and tone of that session—direct, personal, and grounded in real-world practice.
In 2008 and 2019, in Documentary magazine, I published documentary budgeting articles and budget templates that have been read and used widely all over the world. I’m thrilled to return with a big update that includes: (1) a fully revised budget template that has been updated for 4K and streamer deliveries; (2) for the first time, a schedule template; (3) numerous new budget line items related to accessibility for film crews, participants, and audiences; and (4) a bigger reorganization to make the template more flexible and universal. The article has also been expanded and extensively rewritten.