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You’ve found a story and you’re committed to telling it—no matter what. Let’s do it together.
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We join forces with visionaries like you from across America to bring risk-taking independent film to the public.
Open Call
Open Call provides documentary funding and co-production support so you can complete your nonfiction work in progress, then air it on public television.
- Reopens January 7, 2019 9:00 AM PST
Recent Open Call Projects
Digital Open Call
Digital Open Call offers research and development funding for you to pilot a story on public media digital platforms. Pre-production nonfiction projects only.
- Reopens March 11, 2019 9:00 AM PDT
Recent Digital Open Call Projects
Diversity Development Fund
DDF gives producers of color up to $25,000 in research and development funding so you can develop your documentary for air on public television. Pre-production nonfiction projects only.
- The deadline for this round was September 14, 2018 11:59 PM PDT
Recent Diversity Development Fund Projects
Series and Special Projects
We commission a limited number of innovative and timely projects for public media, providing development and production funding. Submissions for Series and Special Project funding are by invitation-only. This collection also encompasses documentary films funded through limited special open calls held over the years.
Recent Series and Special Projects
ITVS in the Field
We’d love to meet you! Join the ITVS programming team at an event. We want to hear about your latest projects.
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International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA)
November 14-25, 2018
Amsterdam, NetherlandsExecutive Producer of Independent Lens
Lois Vossen
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Filmmaker Resources
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ITVS Open Call Frequently Asked Questions
Have questions about Open Call Production Funding? Find the most commonly asked questions and their answers here.
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ITVS Diversity Development Fund Frequently Ask Questions
Find the answers to the most commonly asked questions about ITVS Diversity Development Fund.
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From Concept to Contract: The Path of an ITVS Proposal
ITVS can give you the funding and support you need to tell your story. Here's a behind-the-scenes look at the process submitted proposals follow.
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The AIR/ITVS Scan of Independent Journalists
This benchmark analysis provides new insight into how independent radio, television, and online producers intersect with the rapidly evolving public media landscape.
From our blog
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National Issues, Local Impact: How Indie Lens Pop-Up, Filmmakers, and PBS Stations Gather Communities
October 17, 2018Fueling films that spark conversations, and connecting with local audiences, is at the heart of our mission to bring impactful independent documentaries to public media. Indie Lens Pop-Up is the tool in which ITVS filmmakers, PBS member stations, and other local partners connect and engage with their communities. These events translate your film’s…
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And the Emmy Goes To...
October 1, 2018In a room filled with independent filmmakers and journalists, the 2018 News and Documentary Emmy Awards ceremony was a night to remember. ITVS received three Emmy awards: Forever Pure (Independent Lens) for Outstanding Politics and Government Documentary; Abacus (FRONTLINE) for Outstanding Business and Economic Documentary; and…
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When Money and Businesspeople Flood the Documentary Field, Does the Rising Tide Lift All Boats?
September 26, 2018What does the volatile media landscape mean for documentary film and public media?If it seems like we’ve all been asking this question over and over, it’s because the water doesn’t look like it's settling any time soon. Big players conduct capricious spending sprees. Digital advertising climbs over the $100 billion mark. The creative and consumer tastes…
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