You may know American Documentary from programs like the PBS' strand POV. Now you will know them for their re-branded and re-launched Artist Emergency Fund, which will now consist of $100,000 that will be given out specifically to documentary directors or producers whose livelihood has been affected by COVID-19. The fund will be given out for groceries, medical bills, or other costs related to health, or health insurance premiums. 

Here is the official announcement from AmDoc:

"In the face of our global health pandemic and related self-isolating protocols, we have pushed to rapidly to relaunch the Artist Emergency Fund with a revised framework and set of guidelines designed to quickly turn around support to as many filmmakers as possible. This COVID-19 Artist Emergency Fund will provide rapid response grants up to $500 to assist artists with basic needs including food, immediate health needs and insurance premiums. Applications are now open and will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the fund is expired.

These one-time grants are a direct response to concerns about sustainability in the documentary field, with overall lack of adequate healthcare alongside loss of livelihood due to canceled production, festivals and theatricals."

So who qualifies for the emergency fund? Here are the eligibility requirements:

  • Director or producer must demonstrate need and a professional relationship to documentary filmmaking
  • Have at least one, completed nonfiction film that was publicly exhibited
  • Reside in any U.S. State, Territory, or Indian Nation and/or be able to receive and cash a check, or receive funds electronically
  • Not a student

If you meet the requirements, you can apply for a $250 grant as an individual, or $500 as a family. As a doc filmmaker, you're probably wondering, can I use this to fund a project? That's a hard no. The funds can only be used for the above needs.

The Artist Emergency Fund will be open until the funds have all been given out.

If this sounds like a fund you need and are eligible for, find out more information about the grant here.

Good luck.

Header image from POV distributed documentary film "a.k.a. Don Bonus" directed by Spencer Nakasako and Sokly Ny.

 

Source: American Documentary

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