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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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Sundance Film Festival
January 24 - February 3, 2019
Park City, UTSenior Vice President of Content
Jim Sommers
Executive Producer of Independent Lens
Lois Vossen
Vice President of Content
Noland Walker
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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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In Remembrance of Bill Siegel
December 11, 2018It is with sadness that we say goodbye to filmmaker and educator Bill Siegel who has passed away. Bill Siegel first became a part of the ITVS family with his and directing partner Sam Green’s award-winning film The Weather Underground, which tells the story of former University of Chicago students who showed their outrage at the Vietnam War and racism in…
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ITVS Achieves Milestone 100th Sundance Film Festival Selection
December 3, 2018Last week the Sundance Institute announced the showcase of independent feature films selected for the 2019 Sundance Film Festival. We are thrilled to share that four of the selections drawn from a record-breaking 14,259 submissions are ITVS co-productions. It's a milestone moment for ITVS. The 2019 festival entries mark 100 ITVS co-productions…
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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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