Five teams will be invited to take the stage at the Original Voices Shorts Pitch, an inclusion focused pitch session where a curated selection of diverse filmmakers propose their documentary works in progress to a panel of industry professionals. The five pitching teams will receive a grant of $6,000 each to help further their documentary and to assist with the costs of attending the pitch event.1. To apply, you must be a US-based documentarian, at least 18 years of age, who identifies as – or showcase stories highlighting social issues affecting – women, LGBTQ+ folx, communities of color, and people with disabilities.
2. You may be an emerging or an established documentary filmmaker.
3. You warrant that you hold the legal right to work in the United States, and that your right to work allows you to undertake the activities necessary for participation in this Program.
4. Production must be based on reliable sourcing (generally, at least one creditable on the record source or two independent credible sources with direct knowledge).
5. Those subject to allegations of wrongdoing must be contacted for comment and those comments should be included in the WIP where journalistically appropriate.
6. Production must comply with all federal, state, and local laws, rules, and regulations. This includes, without limitation, laws regarding trespass, wiretapping, unauthorized access of computer systems and files, and other general privacy laws.
7. Interviewees should not be paid for their participation or be assured that they will be portrayed favorably. Interviews should not be scripted and interviewees should not be given questions in advance.
8. Anyone working on the WIP must not misrepresent their identities in connection with the production.
9. Agreements with sources – including on what is reportable and attributable – must be followed.
10. Interviews and other footage should not be edited in a manner that changes the meaning of what was said or gives a false impression of what happened.
11. If a film includes recreations/reenactments/Al, it must be clear to the viewer through style, narration, or overall creative approach that the scenes are not real.
12. The WIP must be presented or subtitled in English.
13. The WIP must not have been previously exploited or otherwise encumbered in any way.
14. The WIP must be your original creation (and/or the original creation of the other filmmaker(s) on your team), and you and/or such other filmmaker(s) must solely and exclusively own all right, title, and interest in and to all legally protectable elements of the WIP.
15. If you are selected as a potential participant for the Pitch Event you (and the other filmmakers on your team) will be required to execute certain waivers, documentation, and agreements required by NBCU.
16. The Commissioned Project must include NBCU News archival material.
17. If your WIP is selected as the Commissioned Project, you (and, if applicable, the other filmmaker(s) on your team) will be required to enter into a commissioning agreement with NBCU (subject to good faith negotiation), and to execute and submit certain other documentation required by NBCU. In exchange for NBCU funding the further development (if applicable), production, and completion of the Commissioned Project, NBCU shall own all rights in and to the Commissioned Project, all materials created in connection therewith, and the results and proceeds of all individuals and entities providing services in connection with development, production, and completion of the Commissioned Project, including all distribution, and allied and ancillary rights.
18. If your WIP is selected as the Commissioned Project, you and your team of filmmaker(s) will be responsible for the further development (if applicable), production, and completion of the Commissioned Project. You and your team of filmmakers shall consult with NBC News Studios in advance regarding all creative, production, financial, and business elements of the Commissioned Project (including, without limitation, relating to news/journalistic standards), and NBC News Studios and you shall mutually agree upon all such elements, provided that in the event of any failure to agree, the decisions of NBC News Studios shall be final and binding.
Eligible filmmakers are US-based documentarians who identify as – or showcase stories highlighting social issues affecting – women, LGBTQ+ folx, communities of color, and people with disabilities regardless of career stage. We recognize all key creative staff as our fellows. The fellowship is an invite-only opportunity. We partner with national artist development organizations, funders, producers, curators, and independent documentary film nonprofits to solicit recommendations each summer. Fifty teams are invited to apply and five to seven teams are chosen to receive non recoupable grants of $60,000 and up.
