American Documentary Launches Artist Emergency Fund

American Documentary (AmDoc), the producing company of the PBS series POV, launched the Artist Emergency (AE) Fund today, aimed at providing emergency financial assistance to filmmakers facing unexpected and substantial personal, health or property needs or losses including those caused by accidents or natural disasters. To date, this is the first fund of its kind dedicated to supporting nonfiction filmmakers.

"For too many documentary filmmakers, a simple trip to the emergency room can mean years of mounting medical bills," said Justine Nagan, executive producer/executive director of POV/ American Documentary." Our aim is to make AmDoc as supportive to filmmakers as possible, while also helping build a more inclusive industry that supports the most vulnerable among us. This type of grant program is common in other artistic disciplines, and it seemed time for filmmakers to have a safety net. This is a first step towards greater sustainability for professional filmmakers."

These one-time grants are a direct response to concerns about sustainability in the documentary field, especially among emerging and underrepresented filmmakers. This is AmDoc's second initiative this year aimed at supporting new and veteran filmmakers. In March, AmDoc launched its $100,000 Knight-AmDoc Patron fund with the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, and has since backed five Kickstarter projects by filmmakers working in the 26 cities where Knight invests.

The inaugural Emergency Fund is seeded by generous grants from Chicago Media Project, Genuine Article Pictures and the Sage Foundation. For more information about eligibility, criteria and the application process, continue below:

For Applicants:

American Documentary (AmDoc) welcomes applications by documentary filmmakers who are facing financial emergencies due to unforeseen personal calamities.

During our pilot year, AmDoc will provide one-time awards of up to $1,000 each. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis and reviewed based on demonstration of need and professional relationship to documentary filmmaking. All applications will be confidential.

Criteria

Must be a mediamaker that has produced and/or directed one nonfiction project that has been publicly exhibited in a curated and/or noncommercial environment, including online and/or physical programs.

Must reside in the United States.

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