2025 DIANE WEYERMANN FELLOWSHIP

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Overview

The Diane Weyermann Fellowship at Points North champions filmmaking teams producing cinematic feature documentaries that take artistic risks in highlighting stories of moral and ethical urgency. Mirroring Diane’s generosity and commitment to bold, visionary storytelling, this program aims to empower advanced-career creative documentary directors and producers, building a robust community of support that will help them create significant works of art that connect with audiences across the world.

Up to three original, feature-length documentaries in mid to late production from global filmmaking teams will be selected to participate in this collaborative Fellowship.

Over the course of 18 months, Diane Weyermann Fellows receive:

$100,000 in total unrestricted grant support ($50,000 each year) towards both director/producer salaries, production costs and/or post-production costs

Two week-long creative retreats in Maine coinciding with the 2025 and 2026 Camden International Film Festivals, including work-in progress feedback screenings, mentor-led workshops and industry networking opportunities for both directors and producers

Ongoing creative and professional mentorship through monthly cohort calls, 1:1 consultations, reviewing proposals and budgets, or providing notes on work samples and rough cuts

Eligibility

Content: Cinematic, feature-length documentaries (70 minutes or longer) highlighting stories of moral and ethical urgency that will resonate with international audiences.

Project Stage: We’re looking for films between mid to late production stages with at least 10 minutes of edited material and access secured with key participants, including signed releases. If the application moves to the second round, an updated sample of up to 20 minutes will be requested. Applicants must hold at least 50% of the project’s copyright. Projects on track to be completed and released via festivals and/or theatrical distribution in late 2026 or in 2027 will be prioritized. Projects scheduled to be premiering at festivals prior to Fall 2026 will not be eligible.

Budget: Projects with budgets of less than $1.5 million and at least 10% of budget raised from other sources will be prioritized.

Team: Projects must have both a director and producer attached, with both having at least one feature-length film completed and released, and signed MOUs or contracts in place for the current project in the application. We strongly encourage applications from filmmakers that have been historically marginalized in the film industry by virtue of their race, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, ability, age, class or citizenship status, as well as filmmakers from countries and regions within the Global South.

For the disbursement of the grant money, film teams must be working with a Fiscal Sponsor or other formal financial entity. Fiscal sponsorship is not required at the time of application.

DEADLINE: Applications will be accepted through Tuesday, January 21, 2025 at 11:59p ET.If you have any other questions about the program or the application process, please contact artistprograms@pointsnorthinstitute.org.

Accessibility
The Points North Institute is committed to providing application assistance to applicants who require support with the application process. Directors or the key creative on a project who self-identify as artists who are deaf, hard of hearing, have a disability, or are living with a mental illness may request assistance at any stage of the application process. To request assistance and for additional information please email artistprograms@pointsnorthinstitute.org.

Project Info

Project Title *

Current Status
the fellowship will support projects in mid-to-late production stages. *

Mid Production

Late Production

What percentage of the film do you estimate will be shot by Summer 2025? For archival, animated, or other non-traditional documentaries, please approximate this scale to represent where you are in the collection of your materials. *

10-30%

30-60%

60-90%

More than 90%

Intended Runtime (in minutes) *

Project Website

Anticipated completion date * +

Key Creative Personnel

Director

Director's First Name *

Director's Last Name *

Demographic questions are for internal program evaluation related to our ongoing equity, inclusion and accountability work. Your responses will be kept strictly confidential. If you have questions or feedback about the application or the demographic questions below, please reach out to artistprograms@pointsnorthinstitute.org.

Director's Race or Ethnic Origin (select all that apply)

Director's Gender

Is the director a member of the 2SLGBTQIA+ Community?

Yes

No

Prefer not to answer

Yes, specifically... Yes, specifically...

Does the Director identify as a person with a disability? (optional)

Yes

No

Prefer not to answer

Director's Country of Citizenship

Director's Country of Residence

Co-Director

Co-Director's First Name

Co-Director's Last Name

Demographic questions are for internal program evaluation related to our ongoing equity, inclusion and accountability work. Your responses will be kept strictly confidential.

Co-Director's Race or Ethnic Origin (select all that apply)

Co-Director's Gender

Is the co-director a member of the 2SLGBTQIA+ Community?

Yes

No

Prefer not to answer

Yes, specifically... Yes, specifically...

Does the Co-Director identify as a person with a disability? (optional)

Yes

No

Prefer not to answer

Co-Director's Country of Citizenship

Co-Director's Country of Residence

Producer

Producer First Name

Producer Last Name

Producer's Race or Ethnic Origin (select all that apply)

Producer's Gender

Is the producer a member of the 2SLGBTQIA+ Community?

Yes

No

Prefer not to answer

Yes, specifically... Yes, specifically...

Does the Producer identify as a person with a disability? (optional)

Yes

No

Prefer not to answer

Producer's Country of Citizenship

Producer's Country of Residence

Bios of Key Creative Personnel
Provide brief biographies for director(s) and the producer(s), and if attached, cinematographer(s), and/or editor. Include notable credits and/or major recognition or award information. For each creative team member, include information about relevant expertise and the individual's role in the project. Bullet list names and titles of any attached advisors and/or consultants.

Suggested Length: Approximately 200 words per bio *

Contact Information

Contact Email *

Contact phone number (with country code if outside the U.S.) *

Address line 1

Address line 2

City *

State (or Province) *

Zip/Postal Code

Country *

Project Description (IDA Core App)

Logline
Please provide a 2-3 sentence summary of the project that captures the most important elements — setting, participants*, key issues, and form.

Up to 50 words. *

0/50 words

Story or Concept Summary

Give an overview of your story, introducing the main characters and potential plot points. Describe the anticipated story and narrative trajectory, or potential character arcs for your film. If your project is non-narrative or not character driven, what is the concept and intended film structure? Give an overview of the subject matter and your primary questions and ideas to be explored. Please be clear about the elements of your film that remain unknown or unclear and highlight the questions that may steer the direction of your film.

Up to 750 words. *

0/750 words

Artistic Approach
Describe your artistic vision for your project. What are the formal elements of the project, including any artistic devices, visual and audio elements? Does this project fit within or reference any specific filmmaking or narrative traditions?

Up to 500 words. *

0/500 words

Project Stage & Timeline
In list form, outline the projected production timeline from the development of the project to the anticipated completion date. Please include major project activities, production schedules, and anticipated post-production and release dates.

Up to 300 words. *

0/500 words

Connection and Point of View

What is your connection to the story (i.e., to the participants, themes, community, location, archives,
etc.)? How do your interests, motivations, and/or worldview shape your approach to this story? What
lens, perspective, insights, or bias do you bring to the story?

Up to 250 words.

*

0/250 words

Accountability and Community Care

Describe your ethical considerations and practices of accountability in your filmmaking process. This can include a description of your guiding values, processes of establishing and maintaining ongoing consent, providing transparency about your filmmaking processes, collecting feedback etc. For example: How do you reflect on and address the potential consequences of your storytelling choices on participants, audiences, your crew, and/or other stakeholders? What activities or strategies do you use to implement your values as they relate to care for yourself and others? For further guidance, reference DAWG’s Framework for Values Ethics and Accountability in
Nonfiction Filmmaking

Up to 250 words.

*

0/250 words

Creative Control

Who has creative control and, if applicable, ownership of the project?

Up to 50 words.

*

0/50 words

Filmmaker Statement

to be completed by Director(s) and/or Producer(s).

Explain who you are as a filmmaker, and if applicable, how this project is expanding or evolving your creative practice. What does success look like for you as an artist? What are the creative, professional, or holistic barriers and challenges you are facing?

Up to 500 words total.

0/500 words

Cohort Experience
In addition to our two in-person creative retreats, fellows gather virtually for monthly, 2-hour calls, to engage with one another’s creative and professional development. How would your film benefit from this cohort experience? What capacity and interest do you have to show up to the fellowship experience in this way?

Up to 250 words.
*

0/250 words

Audience, Distribution & Impact (IDA Core App)

Audience Consideration
Describe the audience you’d like your film to reach and why. How do you plan to reach your target audience?

Up to 100 words. *

Distribution & Marketing Strategy
Describe the intended distribution life for your film. What are your plans for festival, theatrical, and/or community screenings, as well as your plans for securing broadcast and/or distribution?

Up to 500 words. *

0/500 words

Fundraising Strategy (IDA Core App)

Fundraising Strategy
Describe the strategy for raising the additional funds necessary to complete the project. Be specific.

Up to 100 words. *

0/250 words

Funding to Date
Provide a list of all sources and amounts raised to date, including the type of currency, with one source per line. Distinguish beween potential sources of funding and secured amounts. List the status of other sources of funding currently under consideration, whether to be applied for or pending.

Examples:
Foundation A / $25,000 USD / secured
Foundation B / $10,000 USD / applied
Foundation C / $75,000 USD / planning to apply
Crowdfunding Campaign / $15,000 USD / in process *

Total Funding Secured to Date *

Total Production Budget *

Total Distribution & Outreach Budget *

Comprehensive Line-Item Expense Budget
Please provide a budget, from development through release, in U.S. dollars, including a budget total. Please ensure that any accessibility, safety, and duty of care costs mentioned in your above responses are reflected in the submitted budget. For further guidance, reference A (Revised!) Introduction to Documentary Budgeting. *

Fiscal Sponsor

For the disbursement of the grant money, film teams must have a Fiscal Sponsor in the US. Fiscal sponsorship is not required at the time of application. If you already have fiscal sponsorship secured, please list the available information below.

*

Do you have a Sales Agent attached? If Yes, please name them.

No

Yes Yes

Work Sample

Trailer / Work Sample URL
Vimeo preferred. 10 minutes maximum.

Please share a work sample that demonstrates characters, story arc or structure, and visual treatment. Work samples can be select edited scenes only or a combination of selected scenes and trailer. This should also reflect the current stage of the project. Samples should be up to ten minutes. As a note, finalists will be asked to provide a 20-minute version of their work sample when they are notified of their progression to the finalist round.

* 🛈

Password (if necessary)

If your current sample is longer than 10 minutes, please provide reviewers with the time codes of the portion of the sample that best reflects your intended style and approach (e.g., 3:15-12:15).

What should reviewers be looking for in your sample? Explain what is present and absent in the sample, and how it will differ as a finished film. Describe how it is representative of the intended story, style, subject, or other aspect of the project. We encourage applicants not to spend extra resources creating a sample for each individual fund.

Up to 100 words. *

Prior Work Samples
We ask that applicants to include a link to a previous feature-length work by the director and producer. Please include passwords when necessary. Please provide reviewers with time codes (totaling up to 10 minutes) of the portion of the sample that best reflects your intended style and approach (e.g., 3:15-12:15). *

Discuss the relevance of the work to the current project. If the current project is a departure from the previous work, how will this film differ?

Up to 50 Words.

0/50 words

Supplemental Questions

Have you participated in any markets, pitch sessions, fellowships or lab programs with this project? If yes, which ones?

Up to 100 words. *

0/100 words

Which types of creative collaborators or industry partners are you interested in meeting through the Fellowship? *

Are there any specific organizations or individuals you hope to connect with?

Up to 150 words. *

0/150 words

Participation
As part of the requirements of this fellowship, we ask that both director(s) and lead producer be in attendance for our in-person retreats in Camden (September 8-14, 2025 and September 2026, dates TBD) as well as our virtual monthly cohort calls. At Points North, we believe in accommodation and care for people’s needs- whether that includes accessibility accommodations, familial care, or any additional contexts that might impact or inform participation.

Please let us know if you have any scheduling conflicts, specific needs or other circumstances that would impact your ability to participate in fellowship activities in person or online. *

One More Thing

How did you hear about the Diane Weyermann Fellowship? *

Have you applied to the Diane Weyermann Fellowship in the past? We welcome re-applications. This is for our internal records only. *

Yes

No