Filmmaker professional growth and success are at the heart of what we do at DOC NYC. That’s why we’ve built this comprehensive resource page: a central, living hub for every documentary filmmaker, no matter where you are in your career. Here, you’ll find a curated collection of vital tools, key organizations, and invaluable information, all specifically chosen to empower your work and professional growth. Click through the links to dig deeper into each resource. We’ll be updating this hub approximately every quarter, so check back often!
GENERAL DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKER RESOURCES
IDA Resources For Documentary Filmmakers and Creators
The International Documentary Association (IDA) offers extensive resources for documentary filmmakers, including hands-on resources, insights from industry experts, and meaningful opportunities. Whether you’re a student, emerging, or established filmmaker, there’s always something new to learn and build your work.
Filmmaker Resources | American Documentary – POV
This resource provides information on hackathons, labs, funds, residencies, grant information, film festivals, new media funding, fiscal sponsors, and more. It includes details on various documentary film grants and funding opportunities.
Top 10 Best Documentary Websites for Filmmakers
Desktop-Documentaries.com lists the best documentary websites for filmmakers, covering filmmaking tips, distribution advice, and the latest documentary news.
NYU Documentary Film Research Guides
A compilation of industry and research resources organized by New York University.
TOPIC-SPECIFIC RESOURCES
BUDGETING
Introduction to Budgeting and Scheduling
This resource is created by Robert Bear and hosted on the IDA website.
DISTRIBUTION
The Distribution Playbook is a practical guide for documentary filmmakers. It breaks down strategies for festivals, broadcast, educational sales, and digital platforms.
FESTIVALS
The Film Festival Alliance (FFA) is a nonprofit organization that supports mission-driven film festivals through advocacy, education, and community building. It offers resources like best practices, a film festival directory, and professional development programs to strengthen the independent film exhibition sector.
A toolkit that addresses key questions when supporting delegations visiting film festivals.
FUNDING
IDA Grants Database (searchable)
A comprehensive, regularly updated database of grants and fellowships for documentary filmmakers worldwide.
FilmDaily.tv Documentary Grants
Offers a global list of documentary grants, including funding for post-production, investigative journalism, and social issue films.
No Film School’s Massive List of Film Grants
A seasonal roundup of grants, labs, and fellowships, including opportunities from Sundance Institute and Film Independent.
LEGAL
Filmmakers Legal Clinic – Cardozo Law School
The Filmmakers Legal Clinic (FLC), formerly known as the Indie Film Clinic, provides free transactional, intellectual property, and First Amendment legal services to visual advocates, filmmakers, and video journalists working to move the social justice needle and diversify the stories that are told through media.
UCLA Documentary Film Legal Clinic
The UCLA Documentary Film Legal Clinic offers pro bono legal services to independent documentary filmmakers. Law students, supervised by experienced media attorneys, assist with issues like fair use, rights clearances, contracts, and First Amendment matters.
MENTAL HEALTH, ETHICS, and PARTICIPANT CARE
DocuMentality’s Mental Health Report
The first ever report focused on the mental health and well-being needs of documentary filmmakers and what role the film industry can play.
A collective of practitioners offering mental health support, therapy, and consultation services tailored to the unique challenges faced by filmmakers. The organization aims to foster a healthier film industry by integrating mental well-being into the creative process, providing resources and guidance to filmmakers navigating emotionally demanding projects.
The Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma
A global resource and think tank dedicated to improving media coverage of trauma, conflict, and tragedy. It advocates for ethical reporting, provides training and support for journalists, and fosters interdisciplinary collaboration among news professionals, clinicians, and researchers.
The Documentary Accountability Working Group
This framework, From Reflection to Release, guides filmmakers through a process of ethical inquiry across all stages of production, aiming to foster accountability and minimize harm to participants and communities.
ITVS Participant/Filmmaker Study
This study is based on surveys from hundreds of documentary filmmakers and participants to explore ethics like consent, control, and impact. It helps filmmakers understand the ethical challenges in their work and offers insights to build more respectful and transparent relationships with participants.
Peace is Loud: Collective Lens Library
Peace is Loud offers a suite of resources designed to prioritize the health and well-being of documentary film participants. These tools assist filmmakers in establishing ethical practices, such as informed consent and respectful collaboration, throughout the filmmaking process.
Documentary Producers Alliance Ethics Resource Library
A single, searchable, library for ethical inquiry. As documentary filmmakers, we are often understaffed, under-resourced, and without proper human resources support. Navigating questions of ethics can feel like walking through a dark forest without a compass.
The documentary funders behind this initiative, The Documentary Funders Network, Doc Society, Perspective Fund, Ford Foundation want to help filmmakers identify threats, assess and manage risks, and put in place contingency plans to keep themselves, their production and their contributors safe and secure.
RESOURCES SPECIFICALLY FOR JOURNALISTS
Medical, financial, and informational sources for journalists compiled by the Global Investigative Journalism staff.
Save Journalism: Resources for Journalists
Career resources for freelance journalists from managing job transitions to building a portfolio.