Documentary News and Resources

Greetings from the new Executive Director

Happy New Year! Documentary Educational Resources is looking forward to a year of continued productivity and growth. As the new Executive Director, I am delighted by the opportunity to build on the wonderful work of my predecessors, interact with the amazing collection of films and filmmakers associated with DER, and collaborate with the DER community to further our mission.

Particular challenges and opportunities define our moment in time: scholars increasingly incorporate media into their work, yet such efforts often fit awkwardly within existing academic promotion and publishing frameworks; the funding landscape for film continues to shift; distribution technologies are moving toward streaming; and emerging genres and changing viewing behaviors create new opportunities for storytelling and outreach. We continue to believe in the potential of documentary filmmaking for creating new knowledge, communicating understanding of people and cultural processes, enriching our understanding of the human condition, and contributing to a more just and compassionate world. We look forward to continuing to support more traditional forms of documentary filmmaking as well as new directions in which documentary is moving.

Over the months and years ahead, we will be looking at how best to extend the DER mission to promote cross-cultural understanding through film and continue to support filmmakers through fiscal sponsorship, distribution, and outreach. I’d like to hear from you, by phone or e-mail, about your ideas for how we can best meet these goals.

The staff and I wish Cynthia Close all the best as she writes a new chapter of her life; we know that she will make it sparkle. I’d also like to take this opportunity to introduce two new staff members: Julia Perciasepe is our new Acquisitions and Distribution Manager, and Kayla Hammond is our new Sales and Outreach Associate. Craig Carpenter, Digital Media Specialist, has now been with DER for over a year, and Frank Aveni, Director of Design and Media, will soon celebrate his five-year anniversary with DER. As a team, we wish you good health, happiness, and inspired filmmaking and film viewing.

Alice Apley
Executive Director

Left to right: Alice Apley, Frank Aveni, Kayla Hammond, Julia Perciasepe, Craig Carpenter

Posted on January 26th, 2012

NEH Awards Major Production Grant to DER

The National Endowment for the Arts confirmed a major production award this week to Documentary Educational Resources in support of the feature documentary, THE ROYAL CUP, currently in the works under the direction of David Lebrun and NIGHTFIRE FILMS. The 90 minute feature doc will examine Mayan history and culture through Archaeological objects.

We thank the Endowment for their continuing support especially during these demanding times and we look forward to assisting NIGHTFIRE FILMS in their realization of this project during the coming months.

Cynthia Close
President/Executive Director
DER

Posted on September 23rd, 2011

GRANT DEADLINES FOR MEDIA MAKERS

DER Filmmakers have receieved several grants in the past from RICH (Rhode Island Council for the Humanities)

See Upcoming Grant Deadlines for Major & Mini Grant opportunities. Non-profit organizations and individual researchers are invited to apply for funding to support projects that promote a greater understanding of the humanities in the state of Rhode Island.

Through our competitive grant programs, we aim to stimulate new research in the humanities, spark thoughtful community exchange, build new audiences for the humanities, innovate new methods in the humanities, and advocate for the importance of the humanities in the daily lives of a free and engaged democratic peoples. We invite you to submit proposals that help us achieve our goals.

FALL 2011 MAJOR GRANT CYCLE DEADLINES: Public Projects, Media, Civics
Pre-registration Deadline: September 1, 2011 by 5 p.m.
Intent to Apply to be submitted online. The form is non-binding, however, a required first step for all Major Grant applications. Late registrations will not be accepted. Visit our Grant Guidelines page for more information, and to submit the Intent to Apply form.

Draft Deadline (Optional): September 24, 2011 by 5 p.m.
RICH staff will review grant application drafts from pre-registered applicants who make this deadline.

Final Proposal Deadline: October 15, 2011 by 5 p.m.
Final Major Grant Application to be submitted online from pre-registered applicants only.

FALL 2011 MINI GRANT DEADLINES: Public Projects, Civics, Research

Final Proposal Deadline: October 1, 2011 at 5 p.m.

Monthly Mini Grant awards will resume with an October 1, 2011 deadline for projects scheduled to take place after December 1, 2011. Mini Grants are awarded on a monthly basis. Deadlines are the first of the month at 5:00 p.m.
Grant Information Workshops
Find out what’s new with the RICH application! Attend one of our grant information workshops held across the state with Grants Director, SueEllen Kroll. Workshops will also include tips, strategies, and general guidelines. The workshops are free and open to the public; however, attendees must register to reserve a space. Email caroleann@rihumanities.org to RSVP for one of the following workshops:

North Kingstown, RI
Monday, August 15, 2011 at 3pm
North Kingstown Free Library
100 Boone Road, North Kingstown, RI

Providence, RI
Tuesday, August 16, 2011 at 10am
Aldrich House, Rhode Island Historical Society
110 Benevolent Street, Providence, RI

Newport, RI
Friday, August 19, at 12pm
The Preservation Society of Newport County
424 Bellevue Avenue, Newport, RI

Our thanks to North Kingstown Free Library, Pettaquamscutt Historical Society, The Preservation Society of Newport County, and Rhode Island Historical Society for their help in hosting and promoting these events!

For more information contact:

SueEllen Kroll, Grants Director, at sue@rihumanities.org or (401) 273-2250 x205.

Posted on August 5th, 2011

THE BARR FOUNDATION

DER thanks The Barr Foundation for their continued, generous support to The Cloud Foundation’s Boston 100K ArtScience Innovation Prize. DER is pleased to be able to facilitate this award that encourages inner city youth to use creativity in solving real human problems through scientific means.

Posted on July 26th, 2011

ITVS OPEN CALL DEADLINE

The ITVS Open Call application deadline is this Friday, July 29.

Open Call provides completion funds for single nonfiction public television programs on any subject, and from any viewpoint. Projects must have begun production as evidenced by a work-in-progress video. Open Call funding is only available to independent producers who are citizens or legal residents of the U.S. and its external territories.

How to Apply

Posted on July 25th, 2011

CALL FOR ENTRIES: ACE / Animal Content in Entertainment

This is a great opportunity for all filmmakers who are focusing on animal rights.

www.humanesociety.org/ACE

Posted on July 7th, 2011

THE PANNONIA FOUNDATION

D.E.R. wishes to thank Mr. Adam Bartos, a Trustee of the Pannonia Foundation, and Mr. Robert J. Hughs of Marks, Paneth & Shron LLP, for their generous charitable contribution to our organization, in support of Ross McElwee’s film project: Photographic Memory.

Without such significant contributions important flms such as these would not be made.

Posted on June 30th, 2011

THE STATE STREET GiveMore Program

D.E.R. thanks the State Street Matching Gift Program for their generous support of non-profit causes, the arts, culture, and education. We are grateful that they practice good citizenship and that D.E.R was singled out by their employees for their support.

Posted on June 30th, 2011

LEF DEADLINE APPROACHING

The application deadline for LEF Pre-production funding is June 10, 2011 by 5pm.

LEF will award up to (7) grants of $5,000 to projects in the pre-production phase of development at this deadline.

How to apply

Guidelines

Past Awards

Potential applicants are strongly encouraged to contact LEF Program Manager Sara Archambault to discuss their projects before the deadline, by phone at 617.492.5333 or at sara@lef-foundation.org

Posted on June 1st, 2011

Hot Docs and Blue Ice Film Announce $1-Million Production Fund

At this morning’s opening of the Hot Docs Forum it was announced that Hot Docs and Blue Ice Film have partnered to establish the Hot Docs-Blue Ice Film Documentary Fund. The $1-million production fund will provide financial support to independent documentary filmmakers based in developing African countries, with the goal of increasing the quality and quantity of social, cultural and political documentaries produced in the region. Generously established by Toronto-based Blue Ice Film, the Fund will be administered by Hot Docs and disbursements will be made over the next five years.

The Hot Docs-Blue Ice Film Documentary Fund will disburse six to ten grants each year to successful applicants for projects in various stages of production. Grants will range from $10,000 to $40,000. In addition to financing, the initiative will also offer valuable resources and industry connections. Through an accompanying mentorship program, selected African producers will team with international production partners to bring their projects to international markets, festivals, broadcast and online audiences.

The first application deadline for the Hot Docs-Blue Ice Film Documentary Fund will be in the fall of 2011 and guidelines will be available in September. The five-member selection committee will consist of representatives from Hot Docs and Blue Ice Film, in addition to other international industry professionals.

Posted on May 9th, 2011