ITVS

03/01/2024

New year, new funding opportunity! We’re looking for exceptional storytelling that’s in line with our mission: stories that take risks, tackle important issues, address the needs of underserved audiences, and are seldom seen in public media.

Open Call gives independent producers up to $350,000 to complete production for a standalone broadcast length documentary to air on public television. Apply now through Feb 9!

ITVS Open Call provides documentary film funding so you can complete your nonfiction work in progress, then present it on public media with our expert help and guidance. | ITVS

21/12/2023

We're so proud to see that two ITVS-supported films made the Academy's Oscar shortlists!

🎬 Beyond Utopia - Documentary Feature
🎬 If Dreams Were Lightning: Rural Healthcare Crisis - Documentary Short Feature Subject

Congrats to the filmmakers and their teams! Nominees are announced on January 23.

The 2024 Oscars shortlist in 10 categories have been announced which include "Barbie," "Oppenheimer," "Killers of the Flower Moon" and more.

21/12/2023

Honey, wake up. A new ITVS Holiday Video just dropped.

Happy holidays from the ITVS fam!

13/12/2023

Hear about the Short-Form Open Call process directly from an ITVS-supported filmmaker!
Australian-born independent filmmaker Patricia Zagarella chatted with us about her web series, Blind Love, and the process of applying for Short-Form Open Call.

Australian filmmaker Patty Zagarella talks to ITVS about her experience producing the "Blind Love" series (including the annoyance of having a very similarly titled but very different Netflix series pop up at the same time) and about the process of applying for Short-Form Open Call. | ITVS

07/12/2023

"The idea is, however, that a film is the filmmaker’s vision, this is their voice, and that ITVS is there to help them realize that vision and that voice."

Check out this interview with ITVS President & CEO Carrie Lozano that dives in to the future of documentary distribution, giving a voice to the underrepresented, and on becoming the first Latina to lead ITVS.

As the first Latina CEO of documentary powerhouse Independent Television Service, Carrie Lozano embraces the recognition and respects the responsibility.

04/12/2023

What exciting new direction is ITVS taking with short-from projects? Join our AMA with Lois Vossen, Executive Producer of Independent Lens, and Supervising Producer Susan Cohen, who will take questions live, tomorrow (Dec 5) at 11am PT.

Register here: https://lnkd.in/gCMzWwkB

29/11/2023

Have questions about our Short-Form Open Call process, eligibility, etc.? Check out our FAQ page ⬇️

Have Short-Form Open Call questions? Here are our most commonly asked questions and their answers.

22/11/2023

Our Short-Form Open Call window closes December 15!
⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️

Development and co-production funding to help you complete your short nonfiction film or series for distribution on public media's web-based platforms. | ITVS

21/11/2023

Congratulations to the ITVS-supported film, Q, which was just nominated for the Best Feature Documentary and Best Editing IDA Awards!

And we're happy to announce that our series, Independent Lens | PBS, has been nominated for the Best Curated Series Award!

This year the IDA Documentary Awards shortlists and nominees are selected by independent committees of 280 documentary makers, curators, critics, and industry experts from 40 countries. We received 669 total submissions in all categories from 48 countries.

13/11/2023

Go SHORTY, it's Open Call day! (forgive us)

Our Short-Form Open Call is now open! We provide co-production support and between $30,000 and $50,000 to complete standalone nonfiction films up to 25 minutes in length. But wait, there's more. Vertical video submissions! We will also provide co-production support and between $20,000 and $30,000 to complete production on vertical series delivered in 9 x 16 aspect ratio, and intended for distribution solely on social media platforms.
Learn more ⬇️

Development and co-production funding to help you complete your short nonfiction film or series for distribution on public media's web-based platforms. | ITVS

31/10/2023

It's
Turning
Very
Spooky! 🎃

From spirited pumpkin carving with a side of deliciously scary treats, to frightfully delightful screaming contests and a costume fashion show, ITVS celebrated Halloween in style.

We hope you all have a safe and happy Halloween! 🦇

23/10/2023

"There's nothing I have found that is more meaningful than being part of an ecosystem so determined to tell some of the most essential stories about what it means to be a human at this time."

Check out this feature of ITVS CEO and President, Carrie Lozano!

In August, ITVS welcomed new CEO and President Carrie Lozano to lead the San Francisco-based nonprofit that has, for over 30 years, funded and partnered with a diverse range of documentary filmmakers to produce and distribute stories that would otherwise be untold. Before ITVS, Lozano built her cred...

27/09/2023

The ITVS survey about documentary filmmaking and film participants’ relationships is closing soon! Participate in the survey before Friday, September 29.

This study is about the relationships that filmmakers have with the individuals and communities whose stories are being told on screen. In the process of making a film any number of influences can impact how filmmakers work with film participants. The survey is being led by the Independent Televisio...

11/09/2023

Documentarians, take the survey by Sep 29. With support from National Endowment for the Arts and Ford Foundation, ITVS and other filmmaking organizations are embarking on a first-of-its-kind survey about the relationship between filmmakers and film participants.

➡️ https://bit.ly/3sAb9yA

29/08/2023

Congratulations to our very own Executive Producer of Independent Lens, Lois Vossen, for being inducted into the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Silver Circle!

Gold and Silver honorees are exceptional professionals who have performed distinguished service in the television industry for 50 or 25 years, respectively. We're proud and honored to work alongside Lois every day!

17/08/2023

The SXSW Panel Picker voting window closes on Monday, 8/20. Send in your vote for ITVS to host a panel all about power and equity in documentary filmmaking, featuring awarded filmmakers, film participants, and researchers.

PanelPicker® is the official SXSW user-generated session proposal platform. Enter ideas and vote to help shape Conference programming for SXSW and SXSW EDU.

15/08/2023

What 👏 a 👏 day! 👏

🎤 Freestyle kickoff by Bay Area Theatre Cypher
👥 Panel discussions on the future of distribution and multi-platform reach
🍦 Open house hangout at ITVS HQ!

Looking forward to future-forward convos tomorrow as we wrap up !

15/08/2023

Drinks & tacos & filmmakers, oh my! 🌮

Day One (0.5?) of saw a rooftop reception with drinks and tacos followed by sneak peeks of our ITVS-funded filmmakers’ projects, all hosted at KQED.

The rest of this week, we’ll be exploring changes and challenges in documentary making in an ever-changing world with our Summit guests. Let’s dive in 🎥

10/08/2023

Send ITVS to SXSW! ↙️

We'd love to host a panel at SXSW 2024, and we need your help to do it! In our panel, awarded filmmakers, film participants, and researchers will react to a groundbreaking research study about power and equity in documentary filmmaking, all while sharing resources for ever-evolving equitable practices.

Vote for ITVS' Whose Story is it Anyway? A Groundbreaking Study on Docs panel below!

PanelPicker® is the official SXSW user-generated session proposal platform. Enter ideas and vote to help shape Conference programming for SXSW and SXSW EDU.

10/08/2023

A milestone moment ✅

As she wraps up a fabulous first week on the job, our new President and CEO, Carrie Lozano, hosted her very first ITVS all-staff meeting this morning, complete with coffee and donuts. 🍩 ☕

Welcome to the team, Carrie!

04/08/2023

⏰ Clock is ticking! ⏰

window closes on Aug 11. Tag someone who could use some funding!

More info: itvs.org/funding/open-call

27/07/2023

Excited to announce that ITVS has received four News and Documentary Emmy nominations!

🌟 Apart - Outstanding Politics and Gov Documentary (Independent Lens and ITVS Open Call)
🌟 TikTok, Boom. - Outstanding Business and Economics Documentary (Independent Lens)
🌟 Let the Little Light Shine - Outstanding Current Affairs Documentary (Diversity Development Fund and ITVS Open Call)
🌟 Delikado - Outstanding Investigative Documentary (ITVS Open Call)

26/07/2023

We join the public media community in remembering the life of trailblazer Frank Blythe.

Francis Frank Marion Blythe, Jr, 82 of Lincoln, passed away on July 21, 2023. Frank was destined to be one of Indian Country’s foremost storytellers. He was born in Pipestone, Minnesota where his Eastern Cherokee Father and Sisseton-Wahpeton Dakota Mother made their home. This is the site of the p...

09/06/2023

Have you applied yet? The Diversity Development Fund has funded over 150 films by filmmakers of color, and the LAST DAY to apply is Friday, June 16 at 11:59 pm PT.

Apply today > https://itvs.org/funding/diversity-development-fund

07/06/2023

We welcome our new President & CEO, Carrie Lozano!

“Carrie’s integrity as an investigative journalist, her leadership experience, and her fierce commitment to filmmakers and democracy will lift our field, partners and incredible staff for many years to come,” said ITVS board chair Garry Denny. “The board is thrilled to welcome her to our team and to public media.”

READ MORE: https://bit.ly/45TM7cM

06/06/2023

We are excited to announce that Lisa Tawil, our vice president of Marketing and Communications, has joined the International Board of INPUT.

Discover how Lisa Tawil's appointment to the International Board of INPUT strengthens worldwide collaboration in public media. | ITVS

02/06/2023

Could you be next?

The Diversity Development Fund is offering $35k in funding to develop stories with public media. Apply today.

ITVS Diversity Development Fund gives producers of color up to $15,000 in research and development funding to develop a documentary film for public media. | ITVS

15/05/2023

Since 2004, the ITVS Diversity Development Fund has funded over 150 films by filmmakers of color. Could you be next? Now open.
Learn more & apply today. https://itvs.org/funding/diversity-development-fund

09/05/2023

Congrats to the Missing in Brooks County and Writing with Fire teams on their Peabody Award win! We are so excited to see your hard work honored and elevated by the Peabody Awards today.