Vision Maker Media Acquisitions Fund in the US

Support for the Vision Maker Media Finished Acquisitions is provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB).

They encourage works that address new and current issues reflecting the changing identity of Native American communities, including the following:

• Works that are innovative, original and compelling to a national audience.
• Works that explore issues of universal interest from a unique Native American perspective.
• Works that view the history of Native Americans through contemporary stories.
• Works that use new technology and/or provide new models for television production.
• Works with a sense of humor.

Priorities

• Quantity and quality of Native American participation in creative, technical, and advisory personnel.
• Power of the program to illuminate the Native American experience.
• Originality of concept and style.
• Potential interest to a national audience.

Initiatives

• Vision Maker Media will also consider programming, beyond general submissions, in the following initiatives to foster dialogue about today’s critical social issues in Indian country.
  • American Graduate
    • Projects aimed at decreasing the achievement gap and encouraging Native students to finish high school.
    • Projects that showcase how Native communities are tackling the high school dropout crisis.
    • Projects that increase awareness of bullying and promote youth safety.
  • Indian Mascots
    • Projects that address the use of derogatory and offensive Indian mascots and names that promote harmful stereotypes locally and nationally.
  • Native Women
    • Projects that address failure to protect Native women locally and nationally.
    • Projects that address sexual and domestic violence in Indian country.
  • Suicide Prevention
    • Projects that address the suicide rates in Indian country, serve as a resource for people working to prevent suicide, and promote wellness in Native communities.
  • Underrepresented Tribes
    • Projects that profile Native American Tribes underrepresented in the United States and on Public Television.
  • Veterans & Military Service
    • Projects that tell the stories of Native American veterans and to honor and thank all who served in the United States Armed Forces.
    • Projects that shed light on the impact and experience of PTSD, healing in Indian country, or transition to civilian life.

Eligibility Criteria

• Works by independent film or video makers.
• Works produced by independents in association with a station or an organization.
• The producer or production entity must retain the copyright and have artistic, budgetary, and editorial control over the proposed program.

Ineligible

• Student productions such as thesis films.
• Industrial or promotional programs.
• Programs for which the exclusive public television broadcast rights are not available.

For more information, visit VMM.