The Hot Docs-Blue Ice Group Documentary Fund (HDBI) offers grants in two separate categories Development and Production. Approximately four to 10 projects are awarded each year. All successful applications will be considered for the up to five mentorship program slots, and select applicants will be invited to apply to The New York Times—Op-Docs under the Hot Docs-Blue Ice Group Documentary Fund banner.
Development Category
The Hot Docs-Blue Ice Group Documentary Fund will provide successful applicants with a development grant of up to $10,000 CDN which could reflect up to 100 per cent of the development budget. Grant money must be spent in the region on development activities and pre-production. Eligible costs include research, development of a script and story proposal and production of a teaser or trailer. Other eligible costs may include production of pitch and marketing materials, community engagement strategy research, as well as distribution strategy research.
Production Category
The Hot Docs-Blue Ice Group Documentary Fund will provide successful applicants with a production grant of up to $40,000 CDN to maximum of 50 per cent of the production budget. Eligible costs include those that are standard in the industry during production and post-production.
At the discretion of the selection committee, projects applying to the production fund category may be awarded a completion grant in lieu of a production grant. Completion grants may be awarded to projects at the end of their production or post-production process. Completion grants are cash grants only, and do not include the accompanying mentorship programs or travel support to Hot Docs or Durban International Film Festival.
Mentorship Program
Up to five funded projects will be invited to participate in a year-long mentorship program with international mentors who will help guide the project. These participants will also receive additional funding. One director from each selected projects will participate in a private filmmakers lab at Hot Docs and at the Durban FimMart/Durban International Film Festival as fellows. The fellows will receive travel, accommodation and accreditation support for these international markets and festivals, and the opportunity to develop their projects on a year-long basis. All applicants will have the opportunity to further indicate their interest in the year-long mentorship program, and all successful funded projects are automatically considered. Learn more about our mentorships from past participants Soko Samand Sihle Hlophe.
The New York Times—Op-Docs
Op-Docs is a forum for short, opinionated documentaries, produced by independent filmmakers with wide creative latitude, covering current affairs, contemporary life and historical subjects. All eligible projects submitted to the Hot Docs-Blue Ice Fund will also be considered for an Op-Docs short documentary, unless the applicant indicates otherwise. If accepted, the projects will receive a related grant from the Fund. You may receive an invitation to apply with further instructions. Please note this does not affect your current or future application to the Hot Docs-Blue Ice Group Fund. Being accepted to one initiative does not guarantee or affect a successful application to the other. It is possible to receive support from both or none. Learn more about Op-Docs.
Application deadline: August 17, 2018
Questions? Contact Olena Decock at odecock@hotdocs.ca.