Climate Story Fund: Apply

SHORT FILM ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

For the purposes of this Fund, a short film is any project with a total runtime of 40 minutes or under.

Stage of the project. Short film applications are accepted from late development through rough cut, as well as completed projects aiming to carry out impact activities.

Filmmaker experience. Applicants must demonstrate that at least one of the film’s directors or producers has previous filmmaking experience, including at least one previous film selected for an international film festival.

Grant award. Short film projects may apply for production grants for up to USD 40,000. Applications must include a dedicated impact category within the budget, with a minimum of USD 5,000 allocated to impact activities. Projects with total budgets exceeding USD 45,000 are welcome to apply, but must demonstrate a clear strategy for financing the remaining gap beyond the Fund's contribution.

Secured financing. While securing financing from an additional institutional funder is not required to apply, it is considered a positive indicator of the project's viability.

Materials requested. For projects in production, post-production, or finished, applicants must submit up to 10 minutes of material. For projects in late development, applicants must submit a moodboard, test footage or other visual references. All material in languages other than English must include English subtitles.

Impact expectations. Short film projects are not required to have a dedicated impact-only team or previous impact experience. However, applicants must show a clear impact vision and be able to explain what impact activities they plan to carry out, how the project will reach and connect with its intended audiences, and why those audiences are central to the project's impact goals.

The criteria set out in this section take precedence over the general eligibility criteria for short film applicants. The general eligibility criteria apply only where this section is silent.

GENERAL ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Projects that do not meet the following requirements will not be eligible for consideration, and applications will be rejected.

Regarding Your Project

• The project must be the original creation of an independent filmmaker/audiomaker or production company that holds the copyright and maintains complete artistic, budgetary, and editorial control.
• Projects commissioned by a third party (such as a broadcaster, university, foundation, or nonprofit organization) are not eligible.
• The project must have social impact goals, and your application should demonstrate a commitment to expanding, exploring, and implementing a social impact strategy.
• We also recognize projects that are authored collectively or rooted in Indigenous traditions and other cultural practices where creative ownership does not fit a conventional individual-authorship model. In such cases, applicants should describe the collective or community-based process through which the work was created and identify who holds decision-making authority over the project.
• Projects receiving production funding should be completed within one year of the grant award.
• Projects receiving impact-only funding should implement an impact campaign within one year of the grant award.
• The project must have secured financial support from at least one institutional funder other than a production company.

Regarding Your Application

• All applicants must first submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) Form online via the Doc Society portal.
• Projects that meet all eligibility criteria and show a compelling artistic vision and strong impact potential will be invited to submit a full application.
• Full applications must be submitted online via the Doc Society applications portal.
• All EOI and application questions must be answered thoroughly and thoughtfully. If a question has multiple parts, all parts must be addressed.
• Projects must include a work sample of up to 10 minutes, accessible via a streaming link. If you submit a sample longer than 10 minutes, only the first 10 minutes will be reviewed unless you specify which 10-minute segment reviewers should watch.
• Sample materials must not be changed during the review period.
• All sample materials in languages other than English must include English subtitles.
• Budgets must be submitted in US dollars. Budgets should reflect a commitment to fair and proportionate compensation for the creative team and crew, appropriate rights clearances, and sustainable production practices suited to the local production context.
• If you are shortlisted, you will be asked to supply an updated budget and further footage or materials reflecting your project's current stage of production, including any progress made since your initial application. Supporting documents such as pitch decks and treatments may also be requested. You will be contacted directly with a specific request and further guidance at that time.
• The director and producer must be available for the full week to attend the virtual Impact Lab.. Additional key team members are welcome to attend. At least one attendee must have a meaningful role in the project's impact work, though they are not required to be solely responsible for implementing impact activities. If neither the director nor the producer holds that role, a third key team member with meaningful responsibility for the project's impact work must also attend.

Regarding Applicants

• The applicant must be 18 years of age or older.
• Applicants, emerging and established, from anywhere in the world are welcome to apply.
• One of the project's directors or producers must have a demonstrable track record, with at least one prior work that has been released and received public recognition in the relevant medium.
• The project must have a producer attached at the time of application.
• Applications must be submitted by producers, directors, or impact producers on the project.
• Nonprofit status or fiscal sponsorship is not required.
• Student projects are not eligible. This includes projects created as part of a full-time education program or funded through an academic institution.