The Sundance Documentary Fund is a core program of the Documentary Film Program. It is dedicated to supporting U.S. and international documentary films that focus on current human rights issues, freedom of expression, social justice, civil liberties, and exploring critical issues of our time.
The Documentary Fund considers projects in five categories:
Development,
Production/Post-Production,
Audience Engagement,
Impact, and
Discretionary.
Development grants provide seed funds to filmmakers whose projects are in early research through pre-production (grant awards up to $20,000). Documentaries in production or post-production are eligible for Production grants (current average grant awards range between $25,000-$50,000). Audience Engagement grants are awarded to innovative distribution and audience engagement strategies. Impact grants support on-going work on the issues by the filmmakers. Audience Engagement and Impact grants are available exclusively to projects previously supported by the DFP. The Discretionary category is by invitation only in support of a particular works. Click here for more information on submission guidelines.
How to Apply:
Complete the online application and mail a hard copy of proposal and supporting visual materials to our Los Angeles office.
Please carefully read through the application checklist and FAQ sheet before submitting your proposal. You MUST complete and print out a copy of the cover sheet and include it with your mailed application.
All application elements must be included at time of submission. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. Application materials cannot be kept on file in between rounds. If you are re-applying you must submit the entire application online and by mail.
About the Sundance Documentary Film Program
The Sundance Institute Documentary Film Program provides year-round support to contemporary- issue nonfiction filmmakers worldwide in the production of cinematic documentaries with human rights themes. Services include the Sundance Documentary Fund, three Creative Documentary Labs for directors and producers held at the Sundance Resort every summer, work-in-progress screenings held globally, discussions and presentations by invitation worldwide, documentary support at the Sundance Film Festival and the Sundance Independent Producers Conference, and a variety of convenings and partnerships designed to amplify the use of film as a tool for increasing awareness of key global challenges, and motivate change towards more open and equitable societies.
Application Process
Sundance Documentary Fund grants are announced twice a year and since its inception at the Institute in 2002, the Fund has disbursed almost $6 million to over 450 films. The Fund provides grants in two categories, Development and Production/Post-Production. A committee of human rights experts and film professionals make recommendations from projects submitted by filmmakers from around the world.
The Fund reviews 2,000 proposals annually, choosing up to 50 for support each year. In funding such work, the Sundance Institute Documentary Fund encourages the diverse exchange of ideas crucial to developing an open society, raising public consciousness about human rights campaigns and restrictions of civil liberties, and fostering an ongoing dialogue about these and other pressing social issues.
To apply, you are required to submit an online application form, plus a full written proposal as well as supporting visual materials.
