Deadline: January 5, 2024
Applications are open for the Hot Docs-Blue Ice Docs Fund 2024. The Hot Docs-Blue Ice Docs Fund (HDBID) is a fund for filmmakers who live and work on the African continent. The Fund offers grants in Development and Production for feature or broadcast-length documentaries. Approximately 4 to 10 projects are awarded each year. All successful applications will also be considered for a mentorship program.
The Hot Docs-Blue Ice Docs Fund exists to enable more African documentary filmmakers to tell their stories and contribute to the next generation of African documentary talent.
Grant
- Development Grant Up to $10,000: Grant can reflect up to 100% of the development budget.
- Production Grant Up to $40,000: Grant can reflect up to 50% of the production budget.
- Short Documentary Grant
- All eligible projects submitted to HDBID Fund will also be considered for The New York Times—Op-Docs short documentary, unless the applicant indicates otherwise. Op-Docs is a forum for short, opinionated documentaries, produced by independent filmmakers with wide creative latitude, covering current affairs, contemporary life and historical subjects. This does not affect your current or future application to HDBID Fund. It is possible to receive support from both Op-Docs and Hot Docs-Blue Ice Docs Fund or none.
- Up to five funded projects will be invited to participate in a year-long mentorship program guided by international mentors, consisting of a private digital filmmaker lab, year-round mentorship from seasoned doc professionals, and participation at Hot Docs and Durban FilmMart/Durban International Film Festival. Historically, these fellowships included round-trip travel, accommodation and accreditation support for these international markets and festivals.
Eligibility
The applicant must:
- Be the producer and primary rights holder of the project.
- Have a registered production company that is associated with the project in a country on the African continent.
In all cases both the director and producer must:
- Hold citizenship, or have legal permanent residency, and primarily live and work in Africa.
- Have at least one previous professional credit to their name.
- Be in good standing with Hot Docs by application date.
The project must:
- Be produced and shot in Africa.
- Be either a high-quality feature or broadcast-hour length documentary to audiences both locally and internationally (school work, series, and fiction pieces are not eligible).
- Be in development, production or post-production as of April 2024. The Fund will not consider projects that will be completed by Hot Docs 2024.
Eligibility for re-application:
- A project can submit to the Development Fund and then submit to the Production Fund at a later deadline, whether or not the Development Fund application was successful.
- Submitted projects that do not receive funding may submit a maximum of one additional time only in another stream within the fund. Requests for resubmission must be received in writing to [email protected]. In some instances, the selection committee may invite a project to resubmit and they will be notified directly.
Application
The online application must be submitted in English on or before the deadline. There is no application fee. All materials received by Hot Docs are confidential.
For more information, visit Hot Docs-Blue Ice Docs Fund.
