Stories of Change: Social Entrepreneurship in Focus Through Documentary
STORIES OF CHANGE:
Social Entrepreneurship in Focus Through Documentary
Request for Proposals: NOW CLOSED
Awards announced: December, 2008
The Sundance Institute Documentary Film Program, in partnership with the Skoll Foundation, will provide $1.2 million in film project grants to enable the development and/or production of new feature-length independent documentary films that frame, examine and amplify social entrepreneurship as an innovative approach to the central questions of our time. The initiative anticipates funding up to 8 films in the range of $30,000-$150,000 per project. Editorial control must be retained by the filmmaker/s.
Documentary films that combine the art of storytelling with topics in social entrepreneurship and the work of social entrepreneurs, and which have a high potential for co-production and for a full distribution plan, including theatrical, broadcast and DVD distribution, will be given priority. Films can be at any stage of development, production or post-production to apply. Completed films will not be considered.
How do I find Social Entrepreneurs?
Peruse Skoll Social Entrepreneurs
Or visit the online discussion on the Social Edge website.
PROPOSAL EVALUATION GUIDELINES
The Request for Proposals is for films about social entrepreneurship including the work of a specific social entrepreneur. Rather than a visual report of the entrepreneur’s biography and past successes, the most competitive films will ideally allow viewers to learn about the social entrepreneur in an intimate and authentic way, to learn with candor about the challenges and obstacles facing his or her vision, and to follow first hand as they attempt to achieve their mission.
Proposals for documentary films are evaluated on effective storytelling, broad relevance and resonance, originality, artist vision and potential for social engagement. Generally speaking, Sundance Institute’s Documentary Film Program is synonymous with films that are artist driven with superlative storytelling. Filmmaker’s with demonstrated experience completing cinematic nonfiction films working in collaboration with leading social entrepreneurs will likely be most competitive. Proposals must be filmmaker driven.
Eligibility Summary:
Desirability Summary:
To learn more about the initiative, visit our online resources including frequentlyaskedquestions.pdf and the resource-guide-on-social-entrepreneurship.pdf.
Congratulations to Skoll and Sundance for floating a project like this. My query is, does social entrepreneurship mean activity to gain economic independence or does it cover activities in the field of education too?
Please define the term “social entrepreneurship”.
Hello,
“A Weekend to Remember, the 25th Anniversary of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.” is the project that I’ve been working on since December, 2007.
As a Vietnam veteran, I approached Vietnam Veterans of America about my project and they gave me a media pass that allowed me to shoot to the events, reunions and parade during Veterans Day weekend in Washington D.C., 2007 that includes Colin Powell’s remarks at “The Memorial.”
You can view a short 8 minute video at http://www.youtube.com/afveteran that will give you an idea about the project.
Thank You,
[...] Aside from receiving funding, filmmakers will have an amazing opportunity - the chance to work with the Sundance Institute. The Sundance Institute, founded by Robert Redford, is one of the major catalysts in American independent film, providing mentorship in all aspects of filmmaking as well as exhibition and promotion for a number of emerging artists every year. For more information on this program, check out http://docsource.sundance.org/dfp-blog/2008/06/20/stories-of-change-social-entrepreneurship-in-focus... [...]
This is a fantastic program. I am very interested in staying in the loop on the discussion.
Please add my name to the list of participants in this ongoing dialogue.
Thanks,
Henry
It’s really great to see this partnership develop between SDP and Skoll Foundation, with the focus on social entrepreneurship. It brings to mind a scene we shot for The Reckoning (a documentary we’re making about the International Criminal Court-ICC) at a radio station in the town of Bunia in the Ituri region of eastern DR Congo. Station owner Richard Pituya has a program called “Interactive Radio for Justice”, we’re people call in with their cellphones to discuss ideas on how to deal with the ethnic conflict that has gripped the region. Richard even had the Prosecutor of the ICC on the phone from The Hague answering questions on the show the day that warlord Germain Katanga was taken into custody to face charges at the ICC!