Applications open for Public Media Fund in the US

Proposed film and television programs should be appealing to a broad audience, intended for public media broadcast and its digital and streaming platforms, and have effective outreach/community engagement activities to reach audiences beyond a Public Television broadcast.

At times, Vision Maker Media may offer additional distribution opportunities to funded film and television programs such as educational and home, as well as possible theatrical, non-theatrical, television (free, pay syndicated and videoon-demand), multimedia and internet broadcasting (including podcasting and streaming).

Categories

• You may submit more than one broadcast film or television program per production category listed below.
  • Research and Development- $5,000 – $25,000
    • Requests for funding under this category should be a proposal to fully develop a documentary, animation, or episodic program, which includes storylines, engaging characters, production talent, timeline, budget, a tangible community outreach plan for a broad audience reach, and a script for fictional episodic programs. Eligible activities include:
      • research;
      • clearance of life story rights or other rights necessary to initiate production;
      • development of a script or treatment, including the hiring of writers;
      • preliminary filming, if necessary prior to the commencement of principle photography; and
      • submission of a Vision Maker Media production application and budget to the following year’s Vision Maker Media Public Media Fund open call.
  • Production- up to $150,000.00
    • Requests for funding under this category should be a proposal to film, record, and produce programs to complete:
      • principle photography (including all production activities, hiring of crew, talent and clearance of rights for public media use);
      • development of a website for the program; and
      • post-production (including editing and completion). For episodic programming a minimum of (4) episodes are expected to be produced under this funding.
  • Post-Production- up to $30,000.00
    • Requests for funding under this category should be a proposal to bring programs to their completion where principal photography has already been achieved. Eligible activities include:
      • post-production (including editing and completion);
      • clearance of rights required for public media use; and
      • development of a website for the program.

Eligibility Criteria

• Independent and Public Television producers, film and digital makers. Applicants must hold artistic, budgetary and editorial control and own the copyright of the proposed program.
• Applicant’s submitted work must be cleared for broadcast, digital and streaming rights for a minimum of 4 years.
• Applicant must be able to provide a marketing plan that shows an effective community outreach plan. The plan should be engagement through distribution ideas, social media and the creation of a website.
• Applicants must be 21 years of age and a U.S. citizen.
• Applicants must be able to show significant Native American involvement on their program, whether above the line, below the line or both.
• Eligible programs should meet Vision Maker Media’s mission to empower and engage Native people to share their stories.

Ineligible

• Commercial Programs.
• Industrial or promotional films and videos.
• Student productions of any sort, such as thesis films.
• Programs for which four-year exclusive Public Television broadcast rights are not available.
• Programs intended solely for theatrical release.
• Filmmakers or production entities that are foreign-based, owned or controlled.
• Programs funded in part by a government entity or group featured in the content of the program.

For more information, visit VMM.