In addition to our annual 7-day film festival, we are proud to share the American Documentary Film Fund with independent American filmmakers who will participate and compete for financing for new projects as well as works in progress.  An amount up to $50,000 may be awarded or distributed in any given year.  (View our past Film Fund winners.)

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A panel of film industry professionals will review a select group of documentary filmmaker projects for funding consideration. Filmmakers will provide detailed story outlines and budgets for their works in progress or new projects. Filmmakers will screen a three (3) minute preview of their film projects before the industry panel and take part in a 10 minute Q&A.

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At the end of the closing awards ceremony, the fund winner(s) will be announced. Winning filmmakers will be required to share their finished film at the American Documentary Film Festival within the first year of completion. All filmmakers submitting for this fund must be U.S. citizens or legal residents in order to participate and they must be in attendance at the  festival for the Film Fund pitch itself and the closing awards ceremony. The festival shall provide accommodations.

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If you believe you have what it takes to make your pitch, please provide an electronic package including your story a three (3) minute preview link in progress or work to be shot.  You can go to our homepage to see submission platforms options or just click below.  If invited you will need to send us hard copies of the trailer/teaser as well as your story outline and detailed budget.

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2019 Competitors:

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Sandra Alvarez & Amanda Spain                                      An All American Affair

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Jeffrey Schwarz                                                                    Swanson On Sunset                                 

Taimi Arvidson                                                                     Hossain

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Diane Tsai                                                                             Back In The Picture

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Holly Morris                                                                          Exposure

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Jenny Shi                                                                               Finding Ying Ying

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Ann Rabin                                                                             Off The Vine

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David Vassar                                                                         Exquisite Wasteland

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Sara Jo Wollansky                                                                 Snapshots Of Zember

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Paul Stephenson                                                                  Take One Shot

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Mirrisa Neff                                                                           This Is National Wake

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Colin Scott                                                                             Horse Nations

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