Call for Documentary Short Proposals on Indigenous Legal History (US)

The Faculty in the Department of History and College of Law at University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) are leading the Law and Race Initiative funded by the Mellon Foundation with Vision Maker Media and the Institute for Policy, Politics, Law and History.

Together, they are seeking producers interested in making a short documentary that fits within Indigenous legal history.

Vision Maker Media and the UNL Dept. of History and College of Law will select the production of two short documentaries of 40 minutes or less. Producers should have documentary filmmaking experience and be comfortable collaboratively working with academic experts and/or advisors in the making of the film. Funds support the production of a short film produced by a Native filmmaker.

Funding Information

• Production costs may be funded in a request amount of up to $25,000.
• Duration: Proposed projects should be completed within 12-months of award.

Eligibility Criteria

• Native filmmakers must hold artistic, budgetary and editorial control and own the copyright of the proposed short film.
• The proposed project must be a short film of 40 minutes or less.
• Topics and genres accepted for the Law and Race Initiative funded by the Mellon Foundation are to be short film documentary. Topic ideas are to be within Indigenous history and legacy of Law & Race.
• The proposed project must be ready for production (funding supports production to completion).
• Production timeline must have completion within 12 months of receiving 1st payment of awarded funding.
• All applicants must be over 21 years of age, and a U.S. citizen or legal U.S. resident.
• Proposals must show significant Native American involvement on their production, whether above the line, below the line or both.

Ineligible

• Commercial Programs.
• Industrial or promotional films and videos.
• Student productions of any sort, such as thesis films.
• 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.