Deadline News Indies Can Use

One of BTB’s chief responsibilities is to keep an eye out for news the independent producer can use. With that in mind, we asked our Programming Department to highlight upcoming deadlines for us — featuring funding opportunities, festival deadlines, and other things you may find helpful. These will be for both U.S. and international producers … Enjoy and good luck!

FUNDING

Jan Vrijman Fund DEADLINE: May 15, 2011
The Jan Vrijman Fund is looking for creative documentaries and documentary events in developing countries (PDF). Funding categories include Script and Project Development, Production and Post-Production, and Other activities (including Distribution Initiatives; Documentary Film Festivals; Documentary Workshops). The Jan Vrijman Fund gives financial support twice a year. Application deadlines are January 15 and May 15. Click here for more details. 

CAAM Media Fund DEADLINE: May 19, 2011
The Center for Asian American Media (CAAM) seeks provocative and engaging proposals from independent media producers with projects intended for public television broadcast. Offered once a year, this round of funding is for applicants with documentary projects at the production and/or post-production stage. Click here for more details.

SFFS/Kenneth Rainin Foundation Filmmaking Grant DEADLINE: May 20, 2011 
The SFFS/Kenneth Rainin Foundation Filmmaking Grant awards up to $450,000 for narrative features that significantly engage with issues of social justice. Letter of Inquiry opens April 21, 2011 and closes May 20, 2011 (Early Deadline May 13). Finalists are invited to submit additional materials June 16, 2011. Additional materials deadline for finalists is July 8, 2011. Winners will be announced early August, 2011. 

TFI New Media Fund DEADLINE: May 25, 2011
The TFI New Media Fund provides funding and support to non-fiction, social issue media projects which go beyond traditional screens -– integrating film with content across media platforms, from video games and mobile apps to social networks and interactive websites. Four to eight non-fiction projects will be accepted, each receiving $50,000 to $100,000 in funding. Submissions deadline is May 25, 2011. Click here to apply. 

Latino Public Broadcasting's 2011 Public Media Content Fund DEADLINE: June 6, 2011 5pm (NOTE: This is not a postmark date — packages must be received in-house by June 6.)
The Public Media Content Fund is an open invitation to independent producers to submit proposals for a program, series, or short web-based digital video (of no longer than 20 minutes) on any subject that relates to or is representative of Latino Americans that is appropriate for public television and/or one of its platforms. Click here for details on how to submit and for further details on funding categories. 

SFFS Documentary Film Fund DEADLINE: July 15, 2011
Documentary Film Fund will support riveting documentaries distinguished by compelling stories, intriguing characters and innovative visual approach. A total of $100,000 will be disbursed annually to documentary filmmakers nationwide. Letter of Inquiry period opens June 17, 2011, and closes July 15, 2011. Finalists asked to submit additional materials in August; Winners will be announced September 30, 2011. Click here for more details on the fund.

Storyville Vancouver DEADLINE: August 12, 2011
The 26^th edition of VIFF’s Film & TV Forum runs from September 27 through September 30, plus New Filmmakers’ Day, Oct. 1. The 2011 Forum is proud to stimulate the development, co-financing and co-production of the creative documentary by creating Storyville Vancouver, an opportunity for filmmakers based in the Pacific Northwest to pitch their projects to an international forum of commissioning editors. Click here for more details and to download the submission form. 

FESTIVALS

Margaret Mead Film & Video Festival DEADLINE: May 9, 2011
The American Museum of Natural History's Margaret Mead Film & Video Festival is the longest-running showcase for international documentaries in the United States. The Mead Festival screens documentaries that increase our understanding of the complexity and diversity of the peoples and cultures that populate our planet. Click here for details on how to submit. The deadline is this Monday, but they accept Withoutabox submissions, so there's still plenty of time.

 Media That Matters Festival '11 DEADLINE: May 11, 2011
Got a short film you want to share with the world? Arts Engine’s annual Media That Matters Film Festival is now accepting all entries for this year’s event! Media That Matters is the premier showcase for short films with big messages.  The late deadline: May 11, 2011, and the festival will take place in the fall of 2011. (Please Note: Your film MUST be cleared for NONEXCLUSIVE home video, educational, online, broadcast, and theatrical distribution.) Click here for more details and to submit your film. 

DOCSDF 2011, 6th International Documentary Film Festival of Mexico City DEADLINE: May 13, 2011
DOCSDF 2011, 6th International Documentary Film Festival of Mexico City will take place from September 29 to October 9, 2011. Each participant may present one or more documentaries. Call for entries are open, with a shipping deadline of May 13, 2011. Submit your documentary at www.docsdf.com Got a tip on an upcoming deadline for filmmakers? Email us at tips@itvs.org, be sure to include DEADLINE in the subject line and we'll include it if we can.