Journalism - Film & Documentaries: Funding & Professional Development

Adobe Creative Residency Community Fund

CAAM Funding Iniatives -  The Center for Asian-American Media (CAAM) currently has two funding initiatives for independent, non-fiction projects which tackle Asian American narratives and experiences.

• Documentary Fund Open Call - an initiative funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) for programs intended for public television looking to receive production and post-production funds.
  • Available funding: $10,000 to $50,000
  • Timetable: one round per year, starting in the fall
• Documentaries for Social Change Fund - this program is funded by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and mostly considers projects that are in the research and development phase. All forms and lengths of programs, from shorts to features, as well as limited series are considered for this fund.
  • Available funding: $15,000 maximum grant award, contingent on grant agreement
  • Timetable: one round per year, starting in the fall

Catapult Film Fund - provides development funding to documentary filmmakers who have a compelling story to tell, have secured access to their story and are ready to shoot and edit a piece for production fundraising purposes.

Cinereach - These resources are meant to assist filmmakers at any stage of the funding, production, or distribution process. 

Field of Vision - commissions and supports short-form documentaries from independent filmmakers.

• IF/Then X Hulu Short Documentary Lab - Four filmmaking teams will be chosen to participate in a one-year lab focused on short-documentary production and career training. 
  • Funding: $25,000 per-team grant to use for the production of the film.
  • Timetables: Applications open in January, close in February, and the program begins in April.

Film Independent - helps filmmakers make their movies, builds an audience for their projects and works to diversify the film industry. 

Firelight Media - Firelight Media is a non-profit organization that supports and develops non-fiction filmmakers of color.

• Firelight Media Documentary Lab - an 18-month fellowship program that supports filmmakers in the United States from racially and ethnically underrepresented communities directing their first or second feature-length documentary film. Provides funding, customized mentorship from prominent leaders in the documentary world, professional development retreats, and networking opportunities. 
  • Funding: $25,000 grant toward a filmmaker's project.
  • Timetable: Applications due in June, 18-month fellowship starting around October.
• Groundwork Regional Lab - supports early career filmmakers in the American South, Midwest, and U.S.-controlled Territories.

Docs In Progress - gives individuals the tools to tell stories through documentary film to educate, inspire, and transform the way people view their world.

International Documentary Association - provides scholarships, grants with deadlines, and grants without deadlines. Also hosts a grants and fellowship directory.

MacArthur Foundation - MacArthur's goal in media grant making is to provide the public with high-quality, professionally-produced documentary films, deep and analytical journalism, and well-produced news and public affairs programming.

PBS Documentary Funding sources - a listing of a number of funding opportunities for non-fiction storytellers supported by PBS.

Sundance Institute - Documentary Fund and Awards division is a core element of the DFP, granting between $1 and $2 million per year to support U.S. and international contemporary independent documentary films. There are many funding opportunities through the Institute.

• Sundance Institute Inclusion Resource Map - search for support by resource type, art form, artist type, location, and community served

WomenArts -  is a worldwide community of artists and allies that works for empowerment, opportunity, and visibility for women artists. We provide a variety of free online networking, fundraising and advocacy services, and we organize Support Women Artists Now Day (SWAN Day), an annual international holiday celebrating women’s creativity in all its forms.  Lists many places for funding.

Catapult Development Grant

Film Independent Grants

Mala Forever Day Rate Micro Grant

NYC Women’s Fund for Media, Music and Theatre

Panavision New Filmmaker Program

Perspective Fund

Roy W. Dean Film Grant (From The Heart Productions)

Southern Documentary Fund Grants

The Future of Film is Female Grants

CAAM Fellowship - The Center for Asian American Media (CAAM) Fellowship Program aims to support and develop Asian American documentary filmmakers by pairing selected fellows with accomplished professionals / mentors in the field for 12 months to develop a project and/ or their career in documentary filmmaking.

Field of Vision - commissions and supports short-form documentaries from independent filmmakers. Education resources include:

• Free virtual mentorship and consultation - Field of Vision team offers a free virtual office hours service for the documentary community open to all filmmakers, regardless of if they are wanting to submit work for review, or filmmakers they have worked with before.
• Free digital security clinic for documentary filmmaking professionals - In partnership with the Freedom of the Press Foundation (FPF), Field of Vision offers a free digital security educational series for groups and individuals
• Free legal clinic for documentary filmmaking professionals - Field of Vision is partnering with Lawyers for Reporters to launch a free legal clinic for freelancers working in documentary in the United States. This program will provide legal information about specific topics and possible referrals to pro bono legal counsel.

Film Society KC - LOCAL!

• Every year the Altman Fund sends up to 4 qualified candidates through Kansas City's Artist INC program, which seeks to give artists the tools to better fulfill their creative business goals. The Film Society pays for these classes in the form of education grants so the recipients can go for free.

True/False - LOCAL! 

• Volunteer on audio tech tech crew, CTRL+ALT+SHIFT team, photo team, film screener team, or lighting team to build skills relevant to documentary and film.
• Act as a counsellor at Camp True/False
• Apply to attend the Rough Cut Retreat

NOTE: organizations may use these terms in different ways, but these definitions offer a good foundation. Always clarify terms with the organization using them if you are unsure of their meaning.

Apprenticeship - a training program in the film industry that helps you develop your on-the-job skills. It may also be an internship or work experience placement program, depending on the listing. Film apprenticeships can vary in length, depending on the role, organization, project or location, though many often last one to five years to help you develop extensive knowledge and expertise. Some offer pay for an apprenticeship or even have paid time off and holidays, while other apprenticeships may not offer payment.

Fellowship - Fellowships usually focus on professional development and/or academic research surrounding a specific project, rather than general experience. Many fellowships require at least a bachelor’s degree, and some even require a master’s or doctoral degree. In most cases, fellowships pay fixed-amount stipends, rather than hourly wages. A fellow is a person who has been awarded a fellowship.

Fiscal sponsorship - when a tax-exempt organization, such as a 501(c)(3), provides credibility for non-tax-exempt groups (ie emerging filmmakers) so they can apply for funds that are only available to tax-exempt orgs. The process may look like this:

• Group 1 has Grant A. Only recognized non-profits are allowed to apply for Grant A.
• Filmmaker finds out about Grant A and wants to apply, but is ineligible.
• Filmmaker applies for fiscal sponsorship from Group 2, which is a 501(c)(3)
• Group 2 approves on the condition that Group 2 can manage the money. They don't charge a fee, but they could.
• Filmmaker applies for Grant A and has Group 2 'co-sign' before sending the application off to Group 1.
• Group 1 approves the application and sends the grant money to Group 2's bank account.
• Group 2 gives the money to Filmmaker, but continues to monitor Grant A and Filmmaker to make sure they're on track.

Fund - the amount of money available from a specific 'pot'. Examples include one organization's budget for offering several grants, the amount of money that makes up the budget for a grant awardee, etc.

Grant - A grant is an 'award', usually a set amount of money from a specific fund, given by one entity (typically a company, foundation, or government called a 'funding organization') to an individual or a company (the 'awardee') to facilitate a goal or incentivize performance. They often have very specific guidelines for how the award can be used that the awardee must follow and document. Generally, grants are essentially gifts for specific purposes that do not have to be paid back.

Lab - a lab can mean anything from a workshop, to a fellowship, to a two-week retreat. Be sure to clarify what is being offered and the timeline.

501(c)(3) - Section 501(c)(3) is a portion of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code (IRC) and a specific tax category for nonprofit organizations. Organizations that meet Section 501(c)(3) requirements are exempt from federal income tax and donations to them are tax deductible. A 501(c)(3) organization is a nonprofit organization established exclusively for one of the following purposes: charitable, religious, educational, scientific, literary, testing for public safety, fostering national or international amateur sports competition, or preventing cruelty to children or animals.