The IDA Enterprise Documentary Fund

by The International Documentary Association (IDA)

Grant amount: Up to $15,000
Phase of Production: Development/Pre-Production

The IDA Enterprise Documentary Fund provides development funds to documentary film projects taking on in-depth explorations of original, contemporary stories and integrating journalistic practice into the filmmaking process.

Inclusion and diversity, both in terms of the filmmaking team and subject matter, are a priority of the fund.

There are two grants associated with this fund:

1) Development Funding (up to $15,000) CURRENTLY ON HOLD FOR 2022
2) Production Funding (up to $100,000)

Eligibility for the Development Grant

Applicant must be the director and/or a producer who shares creative and editorial oversight of the project.

Applicant must be a US citizen or permanent resident and 18 years of age.

Applicant must have a proven track record working in documentary film (features or shorts), but a directing and/or producing credit is not necessary.

Project must be in research and development. Projects that have completed significant production are not eligible.

Subject may be domestic or international.

Final project may be a short, feature, series, audio, VR or other emerging documentary film format.

Film must be intended to reach a large and broad audience (a broadcast commitment is not necessary).

Journalistic practice must be integral to the project, with a commitment to fairness and accuracy. Journalistic practice is broadly defined and may include, but is not limited to, extensive research, accessing public records, an accountability or investigative approach, the need to protect sources or media, a heavy reliance on facts, or navigating hostile environments.

Stories must be contemporary and of an urgent or critically important nature. Biographies and historical films will only be considered if they have a clear contemporary angle.

There are no restrictions on style, aesthetics or treatment.

Applicants must submit an online sample of their previous work and if available a sample from the proposed project.

Grant requests may be up to $15k.

The applicant is not required to be a member of IDA.

The applicant is not required to have nonprofit status or fiscal sponsorship.

Student films are ineligible.

Eligibility for the Production Grant

Applicant must be the director and/or a producer who shares creative and editorial oversight of the project.

Applicant must either be a U.S. citizen or reside in the U.S., and be a "U.S. Person" with a valid TAX ID. International co-productions are eligible if the applicant (director and/or producer) is a U.S. citizen or resides in the U.S. and is a "U.S. Person" with a valid TAX ID.

Applicant must have directed and/or produced a minimum of two feature-length films (40 minutes or longer) or an equivalent documentary series or two broadcast hours.

Film must be in production. Production costs may include staff, crew, travel, gear rental, office expenses, production insurance and legal expenses during the production period. Films with principal research and development completed are especially encouraged to apply. Films nearing the end of production will be considered, but must have production expenses remaining.

Subject may be domestic or international.

Film must be intended to reach a large and broad audience (a broadcast or distribution commitment is not required).

Access to major participants must be secured.

Journalistic practice must be integral to the project, with a commitment to accuracy, fairness, ethical practices, and assembling, verifying, and presenting accurate facts and visual materials.

Stories must be contemporary, original and of an urgent or critically important nature. Historical films will only be considered if they have a significant contemporary component or narrative. Biographies will not be considered. Branded content will not be considered.

The proposal must include an online work sample of 10-15 minutes in length (Rough cuts will not be reviewed. If you submit a rough cut, only the first 15 minutes will be reviewed.)

Grant requests may be up to $100k.

The applicant is not required to be a member of IDA.

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.