ITVS: Funding to support Independent Producers (United States)

The documentary can be on any subject, or any viewpoint or style as long as it is in active production already, as evidenced via a work-in-progress sample.

Funding Information

• Open Call provides up to $400,000 of co-production funding to independent producers of nonfiction documentaries, ranging from short films to feature length.
• Open Call supports:
  • Single, nonfiction films of various lengths. They do not accept narrative film/fiction projects, pilots, or series.
  • Projects over 10 minutes seeking production or post-production support.

Production and Distribution

• ITVS doesn’t just fund your film. They provide you with co-production support, creative development and feedback, and public media distribution which can include marketing, publicity, and audience engagement services. You own copyright and maintain full editorial, creative, and financial control.
• Funded projects will be expected to acknowledge the production support from ITVS in all program and publicity materials; cooperate with ITVS’ publicity protocols; provide timely information to ITVS about project activities, including notification of and request for approval of any major changes to the project; and submit contract deliverables, including final financial reporting at the conclusion of the project. Failure to submit the final financials will preclude applicants from eligibility to apply for future funding.
• When your program is at or near completion, they work closely with public media programmers to ensure the strongest distribution of your program throughout public media. ITVS will enter a license agreement for the exclusive premiere distribution of your documentary.
• ITVS-funded programs are presented by PBS series such as Independent Lens, POV, American Masters, Frontline, and America ReFramed on platforms like the PBS App, pbs.org, PBS YouTube, and broadcast. The programs also have success in the festival, educational video, home video, SVOD, and foreign broadcast markets.

Eligibility Criteria

• You are eligible to apply if you are:
  • A citizen or legal resident of the U.S. or its external territories, age 18 or older.
  • The owner of the copyright of your production and maintain editorial control of the story. If more than one applicant is included on the application, both applicants must be copyright owners.
  • An individual with previous film or television production credit in a principal role: director, producer, or first-time director or producer with an experienced co-producer or co-director attached to the project.
  • Seeking funding for production activities that support the completion and delivery of the documentary.
  • Submitting a project that is in production or post-production as evidenced by having a video sample that includes originally-shot footage for this project.
  • An individual only submitting one application per round, either as an applicant or a second applicant. Note that an applicant can be a member of the key creative personnel on multiple projects.
• You are not eligible to apply if you are:
  • Currently enrolled as a student at a college or university.
  • In consideration through another funding initiative with ITVS funding at time of submission.
  • If you have received four declinations since June 2024 on a single project/documentary submission without advancing beyond the Reader Review.
  • Current signatories of any ITVS production contracts who have not yet completed delivery.
  • Producers representing foreign-based production entities.
  • Employed full time as a producer or director by a broadcast entity or film studio, including public access stations.
  • An organization including universities, foundations, and nonprofit businesses.
  • A former employee who has worked for ITVS within the past 12 months.
  • Submitting a project/documentary previously distributed in a public forum, including theatrical, festivals, educational, and community screenings.

For more information, visit ITVS.