About the Sundance Documentary Film Program
WHAT WE DO
Sundance Documentary Film Program nurtures courageous, independent artists worldwide who surface true stories of human rights, social justice, freedom of expression, civil liberties, and other pressing issues for global audiences.
At the core of the Sundance Documentary Program is the Sundance Documentary Fund, which offers a continuum of support through the life of a project, from research to production and post-production, through to distribution and audience engagement. By supporting innovative nonfiction storytelling by both emerging and established documentary filmmakers, the fund promotes the diverse exchange of ideas by artists and audiences, and reflect Sundance Institute’s celebration of documentary as an increasingly important global art form and a critical cultural practice in the 21st century.
In addition to the Documentary Fund, the Sundance Documentary Program offers extended support to its grantees through a rewarding array of Program Activities that also enrich the larger documentary film community.
DOCUMENTARY FUND – Full List of Films Funded from 1996-2008
Twice a year, the Documentary Fund makes up to $1.5 million in grants to support U.S. and international documentary films focused on contemporary issues. Films supported by the Sundance Documentary Program have received widespread distribution to their intended audiences via broadcast and theatrical release, and many have garnered a number of awards and exceptional industry recognition.
As of 2009, the Fund has provided over 500 grants to projects from 57 countries. Visit our main site for Fund guidelines and formal application.
Among the films supported by the Fund are:
IRAQ IN FRAGMENTS – James Longley
BORN INTO BROTHELS – Ross Kauffman and Zana Briski
FARMINGVILLE – Catherine Tambini and Carlos Sandoval
DAUGHTER FROM DANANG – Gail Dolgin and Vicente Franco
SOUTHERN COMFORT – Kate Davis
CHILDREN UNDERGROUND – Edet Belzberg
LONG NIGHT’S JOURNEY INTO DAY – Frances Reid & Deborah Hoffmann
PROMISES – B. Z. Goldberg and Justine Shapiro
ONE DAY IN SEPTEMBER – Kevin MacDonald
PARAGRAPH 175 – Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman
SENIORITA EXTRAVIADA – Lourdes Portillo
View the full list of films funded from 1996 to 2008.
PROGRAM ACTIVITIES AND GRANTEE SUPPORT
Through variety of programming and collaborative international documentary initiatives, the Documentary Film Program supports and catalyzes independent documentary practices, provides professional development opportunities and offers our learning and skills to filmmakers globally.
Once a project receives a grant, the filmmaker is eligible for a range of support services. Program activities for grantees include:
- Documentary Edit and Story Lab
- Composers Lab
- International Work-in-Progress Screenings
DOCUMENTARY EDIT AND STORY LAB
Since 2004, the Documentary Program program has organized two week-long workshops at the Sundance Resort in Utah. Held annually in June, the Documentary Edit and Story Lab offers an intensive one week lab experience focusing on story, character development and dramatic structure in nonfiction storytelling. The Lab brings together artists with world class editorial advisors. Past fellows and advisors have included Zana Briski and Ross Kaufman (Born Into Brothels), Laura Poitras (My Country, My Country), Carlos Bolado (Promises) and Ra’anan Alexandrowicz (The Inner Tour).
COMPOSERS LAB
Every year in August the Documentary Program and Film Music Program bring together documentary filmmakers and emerging film music composers for a five-day intensive exercise based workshop around music in film. Past fellows and advisors include Jessica Yu (In the Realms of the Unreal), Composer Osvaldo Golijov, and directors Ellen Kuras and Thavisouk Phrasavath.
PANEL PROGRAMMING AT THE FILMMAKER LODGE
Since 2000, the Sundance Documentary Program has programmed panels and planned networking opportunities that take place each year at the Sundance Film Festival.
- Panel Programming: Focusing on the art of making and producing documentary films, as well as contemporary issues in the global documentary community, panel programming has brought together diverse artists and thinkers from around the world.
- Informational Sessions: Filmmakers meet with film funders, broadcasters, agents, and publicists through a series of informal “brown bag” lunch sessions and a yearly round table event, “Meet the Film Funds and Commissioning Editors.”
The DFP works throughout the year with film festivals, pitch forums and unique initiatives to help foster a vibrant global documentary community. In the past the DFP has co-presented films and panels with Human Rights Watch Film Festival, Open Society Institute, One World Film Festival, and others.
WORK-IN-PROGRESS SCREENINGS
Since 2006, the DFP has curated quarterly screenings around the world to spotlight grantee films-in-process. These screenings are designed to advance storytelling technique, and provide professional development opportunities. The chance to preview work for an audience and offer a window into the creative process can be invaluable for both arists and film lovers. The DFP has platformed filmmakers at prestigious screening venues including Lincoln Center and the Film Forum in New York as well as internationally.
GLOBAL CONTACT
The Sundance Documentary Film Program staff travels around the world to support the documentary film field and to cultivate emerging documentary traditions. Throughout the year staff attend forums, conferences and festivals worldwide.