Incubator Fund

ITVS is seeking to support the development of programs for new public media audiences.  ITVS is looking for features and web series that want to be distributed primarily on public media’s streaming and YouTube channels. ITVS-funded programs are presented by PBS series such as Independent Lens, POV, American Masters, and FRONTLINE on these channels. We are not looking for projects whose distribution goals are limited to film festivals or seeking commercial distribution.

ITVS defines a standalone feature documentary as a single film of 30, 60, or 90 minutes that is not intended to be a series or episodic piece.

We accept short episodic series of up to 10 episodes, with individual episodes between 10 and 15 minutes in length.

Funds can be used for research, travel, casting, hiring crew, and any preliminary development costs associated with crafting a work-in-progress.

Yes. Despite our best efforts to ensure the accessibility of itvs.org and our application software, there may be some limitations. Please reach out to funding@itvs.org for any accessibility needs.

The applicant must be the principal of the business entity. They must maintain at least 50 percent of the copyright and have majority business and artistic control of the project throughout the production.

No, there is no submission fee required to apply to any ITVS funding initiatives.

To address any conflict of interest concerns, any former employee has a 12-month waiting period before they are eligible to apply to any ITVS funding initiatives as an applicant.

Yes, however, there are situations where applicants may not be eligible due to other circumstances. Please email funding@itvs.org if you are unsure of your eligibility.

The applicant that will be a signatory on the ITVS agreement must be a citizen or legal resident of the U.S. or its external territories, age 18 or older. Please email funding@itvs.org if you are unsure of your eligibility.

Shorts, features, and series—both nonfiction and fiction— that were publicly exhibited or distributed through third parties qualify as previously completed work if they meet the following criteria:

• You are credited as director, producer, co-director, or co-producer.
• The work was exhibited at a film festival; list the festival name(s) and year(s). 
• The work was completed as a graduate thesis project; list the university and year completed. Undergraduate work is not eligible.
• The work was not self-exhibited on personal or company-owned platforms, including YouTube, Facebook, or a production company website.
• Branded documentary-style content is eligible; industrials and commissioned educational works are not.

No, the applicants must be independent producers, not organizations such as film studios, universities, foundations, or nonprofit media organizations.

Yes. ITVS contributed to the development of the Non-Fiction Core application and has incorporated many of the elements into the application.

No. In order to maintain a consistent and fair application process, ITVS will not accept applications after the deadline.

Yes. Prior funding commitments are not required.

If your project is character-driven, we require a 1-3 minute sample. Otherwise, this is an optional upload. This can include: 

• A casting reel (if you have participants already cast, you must submit material that introduces them)
• Sample footage and/or selects (to demonstrate access, research, mood, and tone)
• A brief teaser or trailer
• A combination of any, or all, of the above to help reviewers envision the project you intend to complete

We recommend including title cards to provide viewer context if you mix the types of footage provided. Work samples containing any language other than English must be subtitled.

If your short web series pilot episode or feature film is already at the assembly or rough-cut stage, it is too far along to be submitted. This initiative is not a production fund.

Yes. This fund supports projects that are in early- to mid-development stage that do not yet have complete development proposals or samples or pilots. The purpose of the incubator program is to support the development of these materials.

No. Individuals may only submit one application per round, per initiative. Only one project can be under consideration for ITVS funding at any time.

No. ITVS staff will only review materials as part of the application process after they are formally submitted for consideration through our online application process.

No, you do not need a fiscal sponsor to apply to the Incubator Fund.

You will receive an email from the application portal confirming ITVS has received your proposal. Check your spam folder, as it is system generated.

No. In order to maintain a consistent and fair application process, ITVS will not accept application updates after the deadline. Should your project advance to the panel phase of review, you may be asked to submit additional materials.

Applicants advancing to Panel Review will be notified within 8-10 weeks after the application window closes. Final determinations will follow at 12-14 weeks, and all applicants will receive written notice of funding decisions via email.

All projects that advance to the second round, or panel review, will receive feedback. Projects that do not advance beyond the first round of review will not receive feedback. The decisions by ITVS regarding funding and the application process are final and are not subject to appeal.