Open Call ITVS
The Application Process
Overview
We’re looking for exceptional storytelling that’s in line with our mission: stories that take risks, tackle important issues, address the needs of underserved audiences, and are seldom seen in public media. We know how hard you’ve worked on your project, and we’ll partner with you to help you finish it, then distribute it across public media platforms.
Open Call provides up to $400,000 of co-production funding to independent producers of nonfiction documentaries, ranging from short films to feature length. The documentary can be on any subject, or any viewpoint or style as long as it is in active production already, as evidenced via a work-in-progress sample. For pre-production nonfiction projects, see Diversity Development Fund.
Open Call is not a grant. You will receive funding in the form of a co-production agreement that assigns ITVS certain broadcast and streaming rights to your project during the term of the contract.
Be sure to allow sufficient time (2-4 weeks) to complete the application. ITVS has adopted the Non-Fiction Core standards as a foundation for our funding applications. Much of the Open Call application has been aligned with this model, however, there is additional production detail required to complete the application as ITVS funds documentaries for public media.
Subscribe to get updates on funding news.
Since 1991, we’ve funded over 500 Open Call programs, including:
Who We Fund
Open Call supports:
- Single, nonfiction films of various lengths. We do not accept narrative film/fiction projects, pilots, or series.
- Projects over 10 minutes seeking production or post-production support.
Eligibility
You are eligible to apply if you are:
- A citizen or legal resident of the U.S. or its external territories, age 18 or older.
- The owner of the copyright of your production and maintain editorial control of the story. If more than one applicant is included on the application, both applicants must be copyright owners.
- An individual with previous film or television production credit in a principal role: director, producer, or first-time director or producer with an experienced co-producer or co-director attached to the project. Please review the FAQs for more information on eligible work.
- Seeking funding for production activities that support the completion and delivery of the documentary.
- Submitting a project that is in production or post-production as evidenced by having a video sample that includes originally-shot footage for this project.
- An individual only submitting one application per round, either as an applicant or a second applicant. Note that an applicant can be a member of the key creative personnel on multiple projects.
You are not eligible to apply if you are:
- Currently enrolled as a student at a college or university.
- In consideration through another funding initiative with ITVS funding at time of submission.
- If you have received four declinations since June 2024 on a single project/documentary submission without advancing beyond the Reader Review.
- Current signatories of any ITVS production contracts who have not yet completed delivery.
- Producers representing foreign-based production entities.
- Employed full time as a producer or director by a broadcast entity or film studio, including public access stations.
- An organization including universities, foundations, and nonprofit businesses.
- A former employee who has worked for ITVS within the past 12 months.
- Submitting a project/documentary previously distributed in a public forum, including theatrical, festivals, educational, and community screenings.
- Contracted for premiere commercial distribution with the intended submission.
What to Expect
Review Process
After you submit your application, you will receive notification of your status within 16-20 weeks.
- Eligibility Review: All projects are reviewed against the eligibility criteria and for full completion of the application. Ineligible projects will be notified if your project is unable to be considered for funding.
- Reader Review: Each complete application is assigned an ITVS staff member and a peer reviewer. Our peer reviewers are ethnically and geographically diverse members of the independent film and public media communities.
- Notification of Advancement: A small group of top applicants are chosen to advance as finalists. You’ll receive an email that lets you know if you’ve been selected.
- Feasibility Review: Advancing submissions will be asked to submit a full production budget and answer additional production questions for review.
- Panel Review: A five-person panel of independent producers and industry peers reviews all treatments, screens work-in-progress samples, and discusses the merit of each project.
- Selection and Invitation for Co-Production Funding: Our programming and production department reviews the panel recommendations and feasibility check. A selection is then proposed to the ITVS content strategy team. ITVS President and CEO Carrie Lozano approves the final funding recipients and notifications are made inviting applicants into the contracting process.
Production and Distribution
ITVS doesn’t just fund your film. We provide you with co-production support, creative development and feedback, and public media distribution which can include marketing, publicity, and audience engagement services. You own copyright and maintain full editorial, creative, and financial control.
Funded projects will be expected to acknowledge the production support from ITVS in all program and publicity materials; cooperate with ITVS’ publicity protocols; provide timely information to ITVS about project activities, including notification of and request for approval of any major changes to the project; and submit contract deliverables, including final financial reporting at the conclusion of the project. Failure to submit the final financials will preclude applicants from eligibility to apply for future funding.
When your program is at or near completion, we work closely with public media programmers to ensure the strongest distribution of your program throughout public media. ITVS will enter a license agreement for the exclusive premiere distribution of your documentary.
ITVS-funded programs are presented by PBS series such as Independent Lens, POV, American Masters, Frontline, and America ReFramed on platforms like the PBS App, pbs.org, PBS YouTube, and broadcast. Our programs also have success in the festival, educational video, home video, SVOD, and foreign broadcast markets.
