Documentary Film Program

• How to Apply

  The Documentary Fund is currently open and accepting submissions. Click here for the application.

  Submissions to the Documentary Fund are accepted year-round, with granting decisions occurring three times per year. The next round of grant-making decisions is slated for March. To be considered for the March decision, applications must have been received by 11:59 p.m. PDT on October 20, 2019. The following round of grant-making decisions will take place in June. To be considered for the June decision, applications must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. PST on February 17. Submissions received after the deadline will be considered for the following round.

  Where to Apply	Access application here
  Schedule	We accept applications year-round; grant-making decisions normally occur three times per year. Applications must be received approximately four months prior to a decision.
  Size of Grant Pool	40 to 50 projects per year
  Eligibility	We accept feature-length (52 minutes or more) nonfiction projects. The fund is open to projects and film teams from around the world.
  What we do not fund	Short, fictional, NGO, or educational films. Historical or biographical films must demonstrate their broader contemporary relevance and/or innovation in form. Films that are picture-locked or scheduled to premiere before our scheduled decision are not eligible for post-production funds
  Entry Fee	There are no entry fees associated with applying to the fund.
  Requirements	Applicants are required to fill out our online application, which uses the documentary core application. Please consult our proposal checklist for required questions. Applicants will also be required to upload a line-item budget that covers the entire project from development to finish. View a sample budget: PDF, Excel. (Source: Robert Bahar)
  Creative Considerations	The Sundance Institute Documentary Fund provides grants to filmmakers worldwide for feature-length projects that display artful and innovative film language and techniques, rigorous research, originality, project feasibility, contemporary cultural relevance, and the potential to reach and connect with its intended audience. When looking at multiple projects tackling the same subject, preference is given to projects that have a clearly defined structure or driving question; have notable access, angle, or directorial voice; position the issues with higher stakes; or tie to more contemporarily relevant themes. In our evaluations, we heavily weigh a filmmaker’s demonstrated access to subjects, command of the craft of filmmaking, their desire to push boundaries, and the potential for the granting amount to play a catalytic role for the film.
  Grant Categories	Development (up to $15,000): There is no reel required with an application, but access to location and characters must be confirmed. The proposal should clearly articulate a potential direction for the project and ask questions that would indicate a layered and nuanced approach. Also, we invite applications for a specific need—i.e., to shoot a test re-enactment or sample animation. If a creative technique is integral, and needs funding in order to understand how the film will work, please indicate this. Mood reels, stills, or some visual references for or depiction of the project in development are recommended. Prior work samples are strongly recommended for development applications. Production/Post-production (up to $40,000): Production grants provide funds to projects that are able to deliver to us at least 10 minutes of edited material. At least 20 minutes are required for post-production grants. The reel should convey the narrative and aesthetic approach for the final film.

  Apply now

• Audience Engagement Checklist

  The information below is also available here as a PDF.

  ABOUT

  Grants are available for strategic activities that use your film as a tool to create social or cultural impact. Competitive projects are those that activate audiences and stakeholders and invite action and change. Strategies may be extremely simple, targeted, and focused, or they may have several components of a broad and far-reaching campaign.

  Grants range up to $20,000 and may fund an entire, discrete activity or may be a small part of a larger effort. Available only to current Sundance Institute Documentary Film Program (DFP) grantees at any stage of pre-production, production, or distribution, grants can be applied for through our rolling open call. Grants are available either for planning or for implementation and evaluation.

  Audience engagement grants are only open to previously granted projects.

  APPLICATION CATEGORY (choose one)

  • Type A: Audience Engagement—Planning
  Planning grants could help you consult with topic/issue advisors to determine goals and outcomes, devise strategy, convene or interview partners or stakeholders, identify and segment your audience and/or engage in impact and evaluation planning (including determining your baseline data).
  • Type B: Audience Engagement—Implementation and Evaluation

  Implementation and evaluation grants could help you produce tools, technology, or materials; travel to campaign-specific sites; conduct community screenings not covered by broadcasters, distributors, or speakers’ bureaus; and/or evaluate and measure impact.

  APPLICATION BACKGROUND

  For informational purposes only, we request background information on your distribution activities. For additional help distinguishing distribution or marketing activity from audience engagement, please consider this Fledgling Fund article

  DISTRIBUTION BACKGROUND FACTS
  Please list current distribution agreements for your film, if any. List only secured distribution agreements. If you are still in-process on the film or have no distribution agreements, you are still eligible to apply for funds.

  Information to include:

  • Domestic or international broadcast agreements
  • Sales agents attached
  • Festival premieres (international and national)
  • National-level awards
  • Theatrical distributors
  • Home video distributors
  • Educational video distributors
  • Direct or digital distribution with online vendors
  • Self-distribution on your own website (include the URL)
  • Short-form content based on the film
  • Rights remaining

  PROPOSAL CHECKLIST

  Lengths are suggested, not required. Please use your existing materials.

  1. Strategy (approximately two to four paragraphs)
  2. Partners (approximately one paragraph plus the list)
  3. Tools and Techniques (approximately one to two paragraphs)
  4. Timeline and Sustainability (approximately one to two paragraphs)
  5. Evaluation (approximately one paragraph)
  6. Personne
  7. Budget

  REFLECTION QUESTIONS

  You do not need to answer these reflection questions in your proposal, and you may have an entirely different strategy! The questions are designed to help you probe more deeply into your strategic design.

  • SOCIAL CHANGE GOAL AND STRATEGY
    • What are the primary problems illuminated by the film?
    • What is the source of the problems? (What is the source of the problems? (Greenhouse gases; campaign finance; health insurance industry; military industrial complex; gender, racial, or sexual disparities in health, wealth, education, or public accommodation law; etc.)
    • What accomplishable change might make things improved? (Unless you have a big team/budget/timeline, consider narrowing your focus to something impactful, but bite sized.)
    • Who has the capacity to make concrete changes? (Legislature, corporations, teachers, grocery stores, regulatory bodies, etc.)
    • Who can put pressure on this target? (Voters, shoppers, shareholders, professional associations or credentialing bodies, the affected community, a proxy community, etc.)
    • How might you inspire viewers to reach the target and their constituents? What might you ask viewers to do?
    • Would different audiences need distinct messages and suggested actions?
    • Is there a menu of actions for distinct audiences?
    • Is this engagement activity created with or supported by your partner organizations?
  • OR CULTURAL CHANGE GOAL AND STRATEGY
    • What are the primary problems illuminated by the film?
    • What is the source of the problems? (Greenhouse gases; campaign finance; health insurance industry; military industrial complex; gender, racial, or sexual disparities in health, wealth, education, or public accommodation law; etc.)
    • Is the problem understood by many or few?
    • What values underlie the problem? (Poverty is the fault of the poor, domestic violence is a private problem, etc.)
    • What target group (in addition to those afflicted by the problem) needs to feel invested in a cultural change?
    • What values matter to your new target group? (Fairness, independence, family values, religious sanctity, law and order, the American dream, resourcefulness, etc.)
    • Can you harness those values to move cultural understanding of the problem?
    • How can you increase a sense of shared responsibility for the problem, and shared benefit from its solution? (Black Lives Matter, Je Suis Charlie, NOH8, It Gets Better, Don’t be a Litterbug, etc.)
    • What other cultural interventions might be employed? (New superhero, celebrity affiliation, etc.)
    • Is this strategy created with or supported by your partner organizations?
  • PARTNERS
    • Considering your strategic purpose or goals, with which organizations working in this arena might you partner?
    • What type of organization are they? (Membership, advocacy, policy/research, media, entrepreneurial, technological, educational, legal, etc.)
    • How could your film and campaign align with or forward their work?
    • How could the organization advance your campaign?
    • Please indicate whether partners are secured, approached, or intended.
  • TOOLS AND TECHNIQUES Concisely describe tools or techniques you will utilize, if known. Why is the tool or technique you selected the most effective way to achieve your vision? The list below is merely descriptive, not exhaustive, and some projects may use none of these.
    • 2-D engagement material (study guides, quizzes, maps)
    • Interactive technology (apps, games, interactive maps, augmented reality, avatars)
    • Onsite activity (targeted screenings (legislators, doctors), specially edited modules, site specific installation)
    • Product or environmental design (LED flashlights, solar cook pots, improved mosquito nets, public spaces or urban gardens)
    • Social entrepreneurship (microloans, mobile phone banking, green burials, mobile produce vans)
    • Community philanthropy (donate socks to border-crossers, donate books or glasses to disadvantaged communities)
  • TIMELINE AND SUSTAINABILITY
    • What is the intended time frame and why? (Three months? Two years?)
    • Are any audiences or communities engaged prior to seeing your completed film?
    • How will you know when your campaign is complete?
    • If your engagement project is not fully funded, what is the scaled-down version of activity that would still reach a specific goal?
    • If significant opportunity to amplify impact were to arise, is there a scaled-up version?
    • How might the work continue after your engagement activity is completed and funding has ceased? Is there a partner who might take it over, if needed?
  • EVALUATION
    • How will you define, and then measure, success? Consider impact on partners, audiences, or the constituency represented by the film subjects. You may measure anything in any way that best demonstrates your goals and outcomes.
    • Do you have baseline data (or partners that can provide data) against which to measure impact? Tools or techniques for baseline determination might include analytic tools and data sets or publicly available references including press coverage and Google analytics. Consider measuring cultural-change impact through language use or modification (e.g., Global Language Monitor), entertainment-industry reflections (action heroes not smoking), viewer testimonies, anecdotal evidence, etc. This list is descriptive not directive.
    • Do you intend to produce an evaluation dashboard?

  ADDITIONAL REQUIRED INFORMATION

  KEY PERSONNEL (one paragraph each)
  Provide brief biographies (approximately 50 to 150 words) for key personnel or consultants who will plan, implement, or evaluate audience engagement activity. Please indicate their role. Do not send resumes, CVs, brochures, or extensive filmographies.

  BUDGET

  • What is the total budget amount in U.S. dollars for audience engagement activity?
  • What are the total funds secured (if any) in U.S. dollars for this activity?
  • What are the sources of those secured funds (list)?
  • Where will you seek additional funds? (This can be a list.)
  • What amount are you requesting from the Sundance Institute Documentary Fund?

  LINE-ITEM BUDGET (one to two pages)
  Please give a line-item breakdown of expenses for audience engagement activity in U.S. dollars. A sample audience engagement budget is available for download here: PDF or Excel.

  EXAMPLES
  Examples of successful Sundance Institute DFP audience engagement awards include:

  • Invisible War
    Director: Kirby Dick
    Invisible War documents the epidemic of rape within the U.S. military, the institutions that perpetuate and cover up its existence, and its profound personal and social consequences. The audience engagement grant helped support and evaluate a campaign to engage the U.S. Department of Defense, specifically encouraging measures to radically reduce sexual assault rates, prosecute perpetrators, and support survivors.
  • Girl Model
    Directors: Ashley Sabin and David Redmon
    Girl Model follows a 13-year-old Siberian girl and the American scout who discovers her through the complex global human supply chain of the unregulated and often murky world of the international modeling industry. The audience engagement award supported a girl-fueled campaign to encourage the Department of Labor to extend child labor protections to underage models.
  • 25 To Life
    Director: Mike Brown
    William "Reds" Brawner kept his HIV status a secret for over twenty years. Now Will seeks redemption from his nebulous and promiscuous past as he builds his own family. Audience Engagement PLANNING GRANT will be used to convene stakeholder partners, assess and revise the impact strategy. The films' outreach goals: to help decrease unsafe practices among the target population, reveal complexity in adult relationships, and dispel fear and misunderstandings surrounding the epidemic.
  • Semper Fi: Always Faithful
    Directors: Rachel Libert and Tony Hardmon
    When Master Sgt. Jerry Ensminger’s young daughter dies from a rare type of leukemia, his search for the cause leads him to the shocking discovery of one of the largest water contaminations in U.S. history. The audience engagement award will support the effort to help notify a million families who may be affected by contaminated water on military bases, and help support targeted screenings for legislators interested in health care for affected veterans.
  • Crime After Crime
    Director: Yoav Potash
    Two attorneys fight for the freedom of Deborah Peagler, 20 years into her life sentence for the murder of the man who abused her. The audience engagement campaign will partner with policy makers, legislative organizations, and legal education groups to inform five other states about the successful California law that allows incarcerated survivors of domestic violence to petition for their freedom.
• Still have questions? Read our FAQ!

  GENERAL

  Do you have deadlines?

  Submissions to the Documentary Fund are accepted year round, with decisions occurring three times per year. We publicly communicate submission dates for each round on our website and through our social media channels, but as our application never closes, we encourage filmmakers to submit applications only when they can best demonstrate their artistic intent.

  How long do your decisions take?

  Decisions typically take three to six months.

  At what point in my project should I apply?

  Submit your film only when you have written or visual material that demonstrates your creative and storytelling intent. You may submit at any production phase from development through post-production. All proposals must convey some vision for a finished film. Projects that have not yet secured characters or subjects, are unable to articulate a story or structure, or are unable to explain the project's driving central question are discouraged. We are unable to consider proposals for story research. You do not need any prior funding or a fiscal sponsor in order to apply.

  Once your film premieres, we are unable to provide post-production funding support. We therefore encourage applicants to apply at least six months before an anticipated premiere. Picture-locked cuts are also ineligible for post-production funding.

  What kinds of films do you support?

  We support independent nonfiction films that display artful film language, effective storytelling, originality and feasibility, contemporary cultural relevance, and potential to reach and connect with its intended audience.

  What are some specific examples of films you have funded?

  Recently supported films include Always in Season; American Factory; The Edge of Democracy; Hale County This Morning, This Evening; Minding the Gap; Of Fathers and Sons; and One Child Nation. Please note: we do not fund NGO or educational films. We also tend not to fund purely historical or biographical films unless they show clear contemporary relevance or innovation in form.

  Is there an application fee to apply?

  No. It is free to apply.

  ELIGIBILITY

  Who should apply?

  Independent filmmakers making cinematic nonfiction films anywhere in the world are welcome to submit project proposals. Films may be in any language with English subtitles or transcript. First-time filmmakers are eligible. Prior funding, fiscal sponsorship, and American producers are not requirements.

  I am a filmmaker from a country outside of the U.S. Am I eligible to apply?

  Yes. We support filmmakers globally without restriction.

  Is my project eligible for funding?

  The Sundance Institute Documentary Fund supports projects that are feature-length documentaries (52 minutes and longer). Hybrid/animated and experimental documentaries are also eligible to apply. We do not fund:

  • Fiction films
  • Short films (please see our Documentary Short Film Fund call for information on grants for shorts)
  • NGO or educational films. Historical or biographical films must demonstrate their broader contemporary relevance and/or innovation in form.

  Are short films eligible for funding?

  We do not fund stand-alone short films through the Documentary Fund. However, we have an annual call for shorts through the Documentary Short Film Fund. This fund’s priorities and eligibility change annually, so please check our website for current call information.

  Are series eligible for funding?

  Yes. However, proposals for series should demonstrate especially concrete and specific plans for distribution.

  I am making a movie based on true events. Is my project eligible for funding?

  Fiction films, even based on true events, are not eligible to apply.

  My project is finished. Can I apply for funding to pay for film transfers or reimburse debt, etc.?

  No. Tape-to-film transfers, film prints, and debt reimbursement to complete work are not eligible for funding. We generally do not provide solely completion funding.

  I do not have any funds secured to date. Am I still eligible for funding?

  Yes. Prior funding commitments are not required. Your written proposal should include a fundraising strategy for raising funds for your film, irrespective of a Sundance Institute Documentary Fund grant. In addition to foundations and broadcast license agreements, you might include private donations, in-kind support, crowdfunding, producer investment, and fundraisers. In your fundraising strategy, you should clearly distinguish between funds you have applied for and funds you have already secured.

  VISUAL SAMPLES

  I am already in production but do not have a 10-minute sample. Am I still eligible for funding?

  You may apply for funding in the development category or choose to wait to apply until you have the necessary material. Production or post-production proposals with very short reels (or with only trailers, teasers, or brief selects) are simply not competitive against the longer rough cuts being submitted and will be bumped down to the development category.

  I am a first-time director. May I send in someone else’s work as my completed prior work?

  A visual sample that conveys the director’s storytelling ability is preferred. If this is a directorial debut, you may submit a film you have shot or edited instead. A previous work from a key creative member of the team (e.g., editor, cinematographer) will also be accepted.

  How long does my completed prior work have to be?

  Completed prior work may be any length from short to feature. It may be in any genre. You must submit it in its entirety. We will not consider segments of different projects on one reel as the directing sample. If you have multiple prior works or several co-directors, please select one previous work which best reflects the vision for your new documentary. Reviewers will only have time to review one sample.

  Other than the work-in-progress sample and the completed prior work sample, are there any other video clips or samples I need to provide?

  No.

  What format should I submit my visual material in?

  We only accept samples via online streaming links. You must provide an online streaming link and password, if applicable, to your current rough cut or sample and to your completed prior work . We recommend using Vimeo.com for this service. When you register and upload your files, make your film downloadable. Your film should be available for at least six months after you submit your application. Please do not update or change your uploaded file or its password once you submit your application. When you apply for a grant through our website, provide your Vimeo link and password. Please double-check that you have entered the password correctly (remembering that passwords are case sensitive). If we do not have the correct password, we will not be able to evaluate your project. Include the Vimeo link and password in your written proposal as well. We do not accept WeTransfer, Dropbox, or other such file transfer services for the visual material delivery.

  Can I submit my visual samples on DVD?

  No. All samples must be submitted as a link via a streaming platform such as Vimeo or Youtube. No DVDs will be accepted. If you live in a country with significant impediments to internet access, you may email dfp@sundance.org to request a DVD exemption.

  WRITTEN PROPOSAL

  What is meant by "contemporary cultural relevance"?

  Please articulate what is timely and significant about your project and how the stakes matter not only for your primary character but for broader audiences or contemporary cultures as well.

  What is a story summary?

  The story summary, or narrative synopsis, should convey the film’s story and story structure. Describe the primary characters or subjects and their potential journey, the mission, stakes, central question, and possible outcomes. You may describe any important artistic elements or creative approaches.

  What is a distribution/marketing strategy?

  Outline the intended festival, theatrical, broadcast, home video, or educational distribution for your project. Your distribution/marketing strategy should be a concrete explanation of the best outlets for your particular film and what you will do to have your film reach its intended audience. You do not need secured agreements in order to include them in your proposed strategy.

  What is meant by audience engagement or impact?

  Audience engagement is a strategic campaign to encourage individuals and communities to move from passive to active participants on the issue your film broaches. Engagement campaigns are distinct from distribution, which puts films on screens, and from marketing and outreach, which alerts viewers to see films. Rather, engagement is designed to activate audiences and stakeholders toward a specific goal. Not all films are necessarily suited for social engagement.

  What is a fundraising strategy?

  Your fundraising strategy is your plan for raising your film budget. In addition to grants and broadcast license agreements, you might include private donations, in-kind support, crowdsourcing, producer investments, and fundraisers. A fundraising strategy should clearly distinguish between funds you have applied for and funds you have already secured.

  How long should the written materials be?

  We appreciate clear and concise language that richly explains the intended film. The guidelines in the proposal checklist are suggestions.

  Does my proposal have to be in English?

  Yes. We can only consider proposals written in English, accompanied by a budget translated into USD, and visual material in English or with English subtitles or transcript.

  If I am applying for development funds, can my submitted budget cover the development portion of the project only?

  No. A budget covering the costs of the entire project from development through distribution is required for every funding category. This is a one- to two-page comprehensive line-item budget in U.S. dollars. If you have never made a budget and need a sample, you may access an example here. This template is only a general sample and should be tailored to your project. You may also use your own budget format as long as it provides the costs of the entire project.

  APPLICATION PROCESS

  How are decisions regarding funding made?

  Proposals go through a multistage review, with selected submissions sent for Sundance Institute Documentary Fund Committee consideration. The committee then meets to make recommendations regarding which projects are funded. Proposals to the Sundance Institute Documentary Fund are evaluated on artful or innovative film language, clear storytelling, originality and feasibility, contemporary cultural relevance, and potential to reach and connect with its intended audience.

  Who makes up the committee?

  The Sundance Institute Documentary Fund Committee is a combination of issue-area experts and professional film artists and curators. Past panelists have included Laura Silber (Open Society Foundations), Richard Peña (Film Society of Lincoln Center), and Loira Limbal (Firelight Media); filmmakers Arthur Dong, Kirby Dick, Jessica Yu, Sam Green, and Kimberly Reed; editors Alex O’Flinn and Carla Gutierrez; curators and film critics Ela Bittencourt and Nico Marzano; and producers Joslyn Barnes and Angela Tucker.

  What percentage of applications are actually funded?

  The review process is highly competitive. We review approximately 1,300 proposals each year and fund 40–60 films.

  How will I know if the fund has received my proposal?

  After you press submit on the online application, a confirmation page will appear. You should also receive a confirmation email once your application is submitted. If you have not received an email, please double-check your spam filter.

  When will I find out if I have been awarded a grant?

  Award decisions typically take three to five months, occasionally sooner. Please do not contact us to inquire about your status, as we cannot provide status updates. You will be notified directly by email once a decision has been made. We periodically announce new grantees throughout the year, and those press releases are not notifications.

  If my project is declined, will staff provide feedback?

  Unfortunately, we have a very limited staff and are unable to provide feedback to all applicants. However, projects that make it to our final stage of review are eligible to receive feedback.

  May I re-apply for a grant if my proposal is declined?

  Yes. However, you may only re-apply when your project has advanced in storytelling vision and intent. Given the number of submissions received too early and resubmitted too quickly, filmmakers are strongly discouraged from submitting nearly identical proposals or visual samples twice.

  If my proposal is declined, what are the chances my project will be accepted if I reapply?

  We do not encourage the resubmission of projects that have previously been declined, as they are unlikely to be successful, unless they have significantly advanced the visual sample, story, and structure, as well as elevated and refined the artistry of the approach in order to demonstrate the merits of the film and the director’s aesthetic intent.

  If I choose to re-apply, do I need to submit a complete proposal online?

  Yes. Should you choose to re-apply, please apply online with a brand-new application. Your new submission should address significant development of the project since last applying, corresponding with a later stage of production. You must submit new video links accompanying your proposal.

  Can I submit more than one proposal?

  Yes, you are allowed to submit more than one proposal in the same round as long as they are for separate projects.

  If I received development funding from Sundance Institute, can I apply for production or post-production funds?

  If you are awarded a grant for one stage of production, you are still eligible to apply in a different stage, but only after significant further production activity, usually in a subsequent year.

  Can I provide project updates once my application is submitted?

  You may send any significant updates to dfp@sundance.org. However, due to the volume of projects that we receive, the Documentary Film Program does not guarantee that updates will be incorporated into the project’s review.

  If I receive a grant or award from another source, am I still eligible to apply for Sundance Institute funding?

  Yes.

  If I receive a grant from Sundance Institute Documentary Fund, will my film screen at the Sundance Film Festival?

  No. Grantees are encouraged to submit their completed work for Festival consideration directly to the program staff of the Sundance Film Festival, which selects films independently. Similarly, projects not selected for support by the Sundance Institute Documentary Fund remain eligible to apply for the Sundance Film Festival directly.

  Does receiving a grant from the Sundance Institute's Documentary Fund preclude me from working with any broadcaster or distributor?

  No. Sundance Institute Documentary Fund awards are grants to the artist and do not encumber broadcast, theatrical, or DVD distribution rights in your project. Grants are considered partial support, and projects generally must seek other funding as well as license and distribution agreements in order to realize their budget.

  If I receive a grant, what are the terms of the contract?

  Grants are not recoupable, and none of your exploitable rights are encumbered. Our contract requests are verbal and logo acknowledgment in the end credits of the film and on your promotional materials, and four copies of the finished film on DVD. We also require narrative, financial, and distribution reports—and social impact reports, if applicable. We may request your active participation in the Sundance Institute creative community through invitation-only activities to support you and your film, as well as to support other filmmakers and the independent film field globally.

  What subject category does my film fall into?

  The subject of your film should convey the general-issue area that your film addresses. Although your film may fit into a number of subjects, we ask that you choose one that best represents your film. Below are our six subject areas with a brief description:

  • Cultural Activity and Freedom of Expression Films that highlight the existence of the arts and sports for community, access to knowledge, and the pursuit of creative endeavors.
  • Democracy, Peace and Security, and Human Rights Projects working to highlight and understand human dignity and the fundamental right to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being. Work that addresses peace and security and/or focuses on the right of people to assemble, advocate or participate in democratic practices, among others.
  • Economic Justice and Equity Subjects that encompass the moral principles that guide the design of our economic institutions and fairness through all segments of society.
  • Environmental Sustainability Films dealing with the environment, ecology, natural resource extraction, biodiversity, conservation, climate change, green jobs, etc.
  • Institutional and Government Responsibility Projects seeking to highlight the institutional responsibility or promote greater transparency and accountability of corporations, governments, foundations, religious and educational institutions and other powerful interests.
  • Vulnerable Populations, Tolerance, and Social Inclusion Projects that address discrimination, persecution, and the lives of people from diverse communities and points of view. Projects highlighting the lives of groups that are not well integrated into society because of ethnic, cultural, economic, geographic, or health characteristics.

  May I ask you to review an element of my proposal before I apply (e.g., my website, trailer, or synopsis)?

  No. We only review complete proposals submitted through our online portal.

  I still have questions. Can I call or Skype with you to discuss my film?

  No. Unfortunately, we are unable to respond to inquiries about our application process via telephone or Skype. If you have read the entire FAQ and you still have specific questions, please email dfp@sundance.org and we will be happy to try to answer them. Please understand that we cannot provide status updates. If we need additional information, we will contact you.
  

  TECHNICAL SUPPORT

  How do I reduce the file size of my PDF?

  Check out this link.

  How do I convert my film from a DVD to a uploadable digital file?

  Download and Install HandBrake here, and learn how to use Handbrake here.

  I’m having trouble uploading my film to Vimeo. Can you help?

  Check out this link.

Special Opportunity Funds

The Documentary Fund offers additional support for projects that address specific pressing socio-cultural issues, through our partners. Projects selected for these opportunities will be fielded through our general Documentary Fund application. If interested in applying for a special opportunity fund, please submit an application through the Documentary Fund portal.

• A&E Brave Storytellers Award

  The A&E Brave Storytellers Award is offered by A&E Indie Films, the award-winning feature documentary production arm of A+E Networks—a beacon for world-class documentary filmmakers and a trusted collaborator in creating critically acclaimed content with unprecedented access to remarkable stories.

  Grant Opportunity:
  The A&E Brave Storytellers Award is a $25,000 development grant given to four documentary artists with projects that seek to break new ground in nonfiction storytelling. In particular, Brave Storytellers Awards go to artists who seek to pull audiences into never-before-seen cultures and communities and can deliver heartfelt stories of character, grit, and humanity. These are non-recoupable grants, with the filmmaker retaining all rights to the project.

  Requirements for A&E Brave Storytellers Awards are as follows:

  Where to Apply	Please submit an application through the Documentary Fund portal. Please email dfp@sundance.org directly if interested in this opportunity.
  Schedule	We are no longer accepting applications for this award
  Grantee Pool Size	Four projects per year
  Eligibility	Series and feature-length nonfiction projects in early development.
  Grant Categories	Development ($25,000): Filmmakers eager to develop an idea into a feature-length nonfiction project are eligible for consideration. There is no reel required with an application, but potential characters and locations should be identified. Proposal should clearly articulate a potential direction for the project and ask questions that would indicate a layered and nuanced story. Mood reels, stills, or some visual depiction for the project in development are accepted.
  Creative Considerations	These awards aim to provide seed funding for projects in early development. We are excited to support projects that have sparked the curiosity of the filmmaker because of the incredible potential the story holds for a powerful character-driven documentary that takes us into a world we may not be familiar with.

  Previously Supported Projects:
  American Reckoning
  Director: Yoruba Richen

  The United States vs. Billie Holiday
  Director: Jameka Autry

  Untitled Margaret Brown Documentary
  Director: Margaret Brown

  You Were My First Boyfriend
  Director: Cecilia Aldarondo

  
  

• The Kendeda Fund

  The Sundance Institute | Kendeda Fund partnership offers grants and impact convenings aimed to change the way independent artists, influencers, and the general public think about urgent contemporary issues. Grants aim to support new work on the subjects of gun violence prevention and the environment.

  Grant Opportunity:
  People, Place, and Planet
  Kendeda’s People, Place, and Planet program envisions well-being for all within the ecological means of the planet. True sustainability links social and ecological challenges. The program seeks a world that embeds an understanding of the earth’s planetary boundaries into solutions for more just and equitable societies. It also supports storytellers who are exploring new ways to understand our relationship with the environment, specifically how communities are shifting energy systems, economies, livelihoods, and lifestyles to survive and thrive in balance with nature.
  

  Gun Violence Prevention
  Kendeda’s Gun Violence Prevention program seeks to unite unexpected partners around replicable strategies for long-term change, building on creative community-led efforts to find new, productive pathways toward a less violent society. The program invests in storytelling that moves beyond tragedy reporting and other traditional frames to focus instead on points of agreement, creative solutions, and models of progress. It also supports emerging leaders and new voices working at the intersection of gun violence prevention, criminal justice reform, racial equity, and poverty.

  The Sundance Institute | Kendeda Fund partnership provides non-recoupable grants to documentary, narrative, or emerging media projects exploring gun violence prevention and the environment. The fund also supports thoughtful impact campaigns to shape the public discourse on these themes.

  Application Requirements:

  Where to Apply	Please submit an application through the Documentary Fund portal. Please email dfp@sundance.org to notify us of your application and interest in the Kendeda Fund at Sundance Institute.
  Schedule	Grant-making decisions happen twice per year (usually late spring and fall) in conversation with the Kendeda Fund staff.
  Grantee Pool Size	Four to six projects per year
  Eligibility	Shorts, series, and feature-length nonfiction projects; immersive/ new media projects. Gun Violence Prevention—U.S. only People, Place, and Planet—U.S. and international applications are accepted.
  Grant Categories	Development (up to $15,000) Production/Post-production (up to $40,000) Impact (up to $25,000)

  To learn more about the Kendeda Fund, click here.

  Completed Projects:
  Always in Season
  Director: Jacqueline Olive
  Producers: Jessica Devaney, Jacqueline Olive

  Awavena
  Lead Artist: Lynette Wallworth
  Producer: Nicole Newnham

  Charm City
  Director: Marilyn Ness
  Producer: Danielle Varga

  Harvest Season
  Director: Bernardo Ruiz
  Producers: Lauren Rosenfeld, Bernardo Ruiz

  Inventing Tomorrow
  Director: Laura Nix
  Producers: Diane Becker, Melanie Miller, Laura Nix

  Newtown
  Director: Kim A. Snyder
  Producers: Maria Cuomo Cole, Kim A. Snyder

  Silas
  Directors: Anjali Nayar, Hawa Essuman
  Producers: Steven Markovitz, Anjali Nayar

  When Claude Got Shot
  Director: Brad Lichtenstein
  Producer: Talleah Bridges

  Projects in Production:
  A Journey Into the Storm
  Director: Sandra Salas
  Producer: Dwjuan F. Fox

  Akicita- The Battle For Standing Rock
  Director: Cody Lucich
  Producer: Gingger Shankar

  As Goes Parkland
  Director: Kim A. Snyder
  Producers: Maria Cuomo Cole, Lori Cheatle

  Hollow Tree
  Director: Kira Akerman
  Producers: Monique Walton, Jolene Pinder

• The Kendeda Fund

  The Sundance Institute | Kendeda Fund partnership offers granting and impact convenings aimed to change the way independent artists, influencers and the general public think about urgent contemporary issues. Grants aim to support new work on the subjects of gun violence prevention and the environment.

  Grant Opportunity:
  People, Place, and Planet
  Kendeda’s People, Place, and Planet program envisions wellbeing for all within the ecological means of the planet. True sustainability links social and ecological challenges. The program seeks a world that embeds an understanding of the earth’s planetary boundaries into solutions for more just and equitable societies. It also supports storytelling and storytellers that are exploring new ways to understand human relationship with the environment, specifically how communities are shifting energy systems, economies, livelihoods, and lifestyles to survive and thrive in balance with nature.
  
  

  Gun Violence Prevention
  Kendeda’s Gun Violence Prevention program seeks to unite unexpected partners around replicable strategies for long-term change, building on creative community-led efforts to find new, productive pathways toward a less violent society. The program invests in storytelling that moves beyond tragedy reporting and other traditional frames to focus instead on points of agreement, creative solutions, and models of progress. It also supports emerging leaders and new voices working at the intersection of gun violence prevention, criminal justice reform, racial equity, and poverty.

  The Kendeda Fund | Sundance Institute fund provides non-recoupable grants to documentary, narrative, or emerging media projects exploring gun violence prevention and the environment. The fund also supports thoughtful impact campaigns to help these projects shape the public discourse on these themes.

  Application Requirements:

  Where to Apply	Please submit an application through the Documentary Fund portal. Please email dfp@sundance.org to notify us of your application and interest in the Kendeda Fund at Sundance Institute.
  Schedule	Grant-making decisions happen 2 times per year (usually late spring and fall) in conversation with The Kendeda Fund staff.
  Grantee Pool Size	4-6 projects per year
  Eligibility	Shorts, series and feature length fiction projects, Immersive/ New Media projects. Gun Violence prevention - US only People, Place and Planet - US & International applications are accepted.
  Grant Categories	Development (up to $15,000) Production/Post-Production (up to $40,000) Impact (up to $25,000)
  Creative Considerations	These awards aim to provide seed funding for projects in early development. We are excited to support projects that have sparked the curiosity of the filmmaker because of the incredible potential the story holds for a powerful character driven documentary that takes us into a world we may not be familiar with.

  To learn more about The Kendeda Fund, click here.

  Completed Projects:
  Always in Season
  Director: Jacqueline Olive
  Producer: Jessica Devaney, Ann Bennett

  Awavena
  Director: Lynette Wallworth
  Producer: Nicole Newnham

  Charm City
  Director: Marilyn Ness
  Producer: Katy Chevigny

  Harvest Season
  Director: Bernardo Ruiz
  Producer: Lauren Capps Rosenfeld

  Inventing Tomorrow
  Director: Laura Nix
  Producers: Diane Becker, Melanie Miller, Julie Goldman, Chris Clements

  Newtown
  Director: Kim A. Snyder
  Producer: Maria Cuomo Cole

  Silas
  Director: Anjali Nayar
  Producer: Steven Markovitz

  When Claude Got Shot
  Director: Brad Lichtenstein
  Producer: Talleah Bridges

  Projects in Production:
  A Journey Into The Storm
  Director: Sandra Salas
  Producer: Djuan Fox

  Akicita- The Battle For Standing Rock
  Director: Cody Lucich
  Producer: Gingger Shankar

  As Goes Parkland
  Director: Kim A. Snyder
  Producer: Maria Cuomo Cole, Lori Cheatle

  Hollow Tree
  Director: Kira Akerman
  Producer: Monique Walton, Jolene Pinder

• Sundance Institute | Science Sandbox Nonfiction Project

  The Science Sandbox Nonfiction Project was launched in 2017 as a creative partnership between the Sundance Institute Documentary Film Program and Science Sandbox, an initiative of the Simons Foundation, with the intent of fostering innovative nonfiction science storytelling. This multiyear initiative harnesses the power of nonfiction storytelling as a vehicle for inspiring audiences to engage with science.

  The project offers grants, engagement events, and other opportunities for independent artists seeking to explore the intrinsic link between science and culture through innovative storytelling.

  Learn more about the Science Sandbox Nonfiction Project

• Sundance Institute | Luminate Fund

  The Sundance Institute | Luminate Fund provides non-recoupable grants to stories addressing Luminate’s key impact areas: civic empowerment, data and digital rights, financial transparency, and independent media.

  Grant Opportunity:
  By investing in a range of high-quality documentary, narrative, episodic, and emerging media projects, the fund helps catalyze strategic storytelling across the four areas where Luminate strives to have impact: civic empowerment, data and digital rights, financial transparency, and independent media. Filmmakers will be eligible if they are working on relevant issues in any of our priority countries and regions—including Africa, Europe, and the U.S.—but the fund especially encourages applications from Latin America. The fund supports independent filmmakers both financially and with advisory and network services.

  Learn More About the Sundance Institute | Luminate Fund