Climate Story Fund
Opens
February 2025
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View the Stories Directory
View the Stories Directory
View the Stories Directory
View the Stories Directory
View the Stories Directory
2025 Call For Applications
“All flourishing is mutual... we are bound together, the flourishing of one is dependent on the flourishing of the other.” These profound words from Robin Wall Kimmerer guide this year’s call for applications for the Doc Society Climate Story Fund. We are seeking stories that illuminate the interconnectedness of all life and demonstrate how climate action can lead to a new era of abundance—one where systems are redesigned to be more inclusive, equitable, and resilient, without leaving anyone behind. These narratives should resonate on a deeply emotional level, reflecting our collective love for our communities, our environments, and the generations yet to come. By amplifying these stories, we hope to activate global audiences to envision and demand a future that balances environmental restoration with social justice, political accountability, ethical migration policies, and the responsible use of technology.
The Doc Society Climate Story Fund supports compelling independent media storytelling and impact strategies from around that world that can help audiences envision the just transition, and activate them to make these visions a reality. The Fund provides up to $125,000 grants to support the completion of production of nonfiction projects, and for impact pilots for completed nonfiction and fiction projects.
We believe investing in culture is a solution to address the climate emergency. We aren’t looking for the one silver bullet story that will work for everyone, rather we believe we need a multitude of stories “as diverse as the ecosystems we seek to save” (props to filmmaker Michael Premo for coining this phrase).
Since its launch in 2021 the Doc Society Climate Story Fund has awarded more than $4M to more than 50 projects that move us closer to a more climate just and biodiverse future. Current grantees represent multiple geographies, spanning from Latin America to Sub Saharan Africa to Southeast Asia. Some grantees are reaching their target audiences on public service broadcasters such as the BBC, POV, via digital platforms like Spotify and YouTube, or even messaging applications like WhatsApp. Others are being picked up by streamers including Netflix, Hulu and Disney+. All projects have signed or are negotiating distribution deals that align with impact goals and potential to engage critical audiences in each context where they are being released. Learn more about our grantees and their impact here.
Key Dates:
| February 10, 2025 | Call for applications opens |
| February 26, 2025 | Call for applications information webinar |
| March 10, 2025 | Call for applications closes at 7:00 AM Pacific Time |
| June 20, 2025 | Shortlisted applicants will be contacted to supply rough cuts (if ready) |
| July 14-16, 2025 | Zoom interviews for shortlisted applicants |
| July 25, 2025 | Selected grantees will be notified |
| August 1, 2025 | Unsuccessful candidates will be notified |
| September 8-9 & 17-18, 2025 | Virtual Impact Lab |
The call for applications is now open.
To Apply:
- Review the “Fund Guidelines”, in the Helpful Links module below.
- Take a moment to complete a brief self-assessment questionnaire to help determine if your project aligns with the Fund's guidelines.
- Click on the “Applications Portal” banner above to access our application.
- As you fill out the application, you can save it and return to it as often as needed until you are ready to submit it.
- To complete the application you will need your general project and applicant information, a budget, a work sample, and optional demographic information for key creative team members.
Helpful Links
Fund Guidelines
English
French
Portuguese
Spanish
Application Questions
English
French
Portuguese
Spanish
FAQs
English
French
Portuguese
Spanish
If you have any questions, you can:
- Read our FAQs which aim to address questions asked regularly by applicants
- Listen to our 2024 webinar here
- Sign up for our 2025 webinar here
- For outstanding questions, email us at climate@docsociety.org
(please note there may be at least a 3 day delay)
Keep in Touch
We encourage all potential applicants to join our mailing list to receive the latest funding news, talent support, events and opportunities across the documentary sector.
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