Deadline: 1 July 2019
The International Documentary Association (IDA) is seeking applications for the Pare Lorentz Documentary Fund. In 2019 their focus is economic inequality.
The 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. A program of the International Documentary Association, the Pare Lorentz Documentary Fund is made possible by The New York Community Trust.
Focus Areas
Projects must focus on one of these areas and on one of Pare Lorentz’s central concerns—the appropriate use of the natural environment, justice for all or the illumination of pressing social problems.
Grant Information
- Grants made will range from approximately $15,000-25,000.
- The grant period of support is one year from the date of the grant award. Grant funds will be used to advance or reimburse production and post-production related expenses incurred during that period.
Supported Activities
- Eligible projects will be in production, having completed the bulk of research and development but still having substantial production or post-production related work and expenses remaining. Grant funds may be used for production and post-production related expenses incurred during the period of support.
- Expenses may include line items such as principal photography, travel, equipment purchase or rental, insurance, rights and clearances, editing and filmmaker salaries. The fund does not support expenses related to fundraising, distribution, publicity, marketing or outreach.
Eligibility Criteria
- The applicant (Project Director) must be 18 years of age or older.
- The applicant must be a producer and/or director of the submitted work.
- The applicant must be an independent filmmaker working on an original project. For the purposes of this grant, IDA defines an independent filmmaker as a content creator who both owns the copyright of his or her work and has full artistic, budgetary, and editorial control of the documentary project.
- The project must addresses a critical issue in the United States that was a hallmark of Pare Lorentz’s films. In 2019 the focus must be on economic inequality.
- The project must focus on one of Pare Lorentz’s central concerns—the appropriate use of the natural environment, justice for all or the illumination of pressing social problems.
- The project must be in production, having completed the bulk of research and development but still having substantial production and post-production related work and expenses remaining.
- The applicant should be an experienced filmmaker with at least one key above-the-line (producer, director, co-director, co-producer) or other principal creative (director of photography, editor) credit on a previously completed documentary.
- The applicant does not need to be a US citizen or US resident. However, grants to non-US citizens or non-US residents may be subject to mandatory US government withholding.
- The applicant is not required to be a member of IDA to be eligible to apply.
- The applicant is not required to have nonprofit status or fiscal sponsorship.
- Student films are ineligible.
- Completed films are ineligible.
- Short documentaries (under 40 minutes finished run time) are ineligible.
How to Apply
- Interested applicants can apply online via given website.
- Applicant will need a narrative proposal, line item budget and statement of interest.
- Applicants must submit a link to a streaming version of applicants visual work sample for the current project applicant are applying with.
For more information, please visit https://www.documentary.org/parelorentz/application-guidelines