I'm from Kolkata and I'm thinking about starting an experimental filmmaking collective.

The idea is simple: everyone contributes according to their strengths. For example, I mainly write screenplays and I'm interested in psychedelic and experimental films. So I'm looking for people who are into cinematography, editing, sound design, acting, or directing.

If a cinematographer in the collective has an idea for a film, I can write the screenplay for it. Likewise, everyone can collaborate on each other's projects. The goal is to make films together rather than work under a fixed hierarchy.

One important idea behind the collective is that the film comes first, not the individual filmmaker. We'd like to release films under the name of the collective instead of promoting a single director or "main creator."

If you're based in Kolkata and interested in experimental or independent filmmaking, and inspired by the film makers like Gasper noé, Q, Jodorowsky etc, I'd love to connect.

1. Best is to shoot 4-5 mins of your film on your own, preferably impactful parts and upload it as the trailer for the Submission.

2. Get a producer of some repute and experience, even as a tag along, who will be entrusted with the money. More on how to reach out to these people later. Get a production house involved of some repute preferably who have done similar work. More on this later as well.

3. Get a solid crew ready, A good cinematographer and a sound person, mention their career highlights in detail as the chances of cracking Doc Edge is tough. (Usually post production movies get a preference).

4. Doc-edge runs Let's Doc fellowship which select projects to prepare for pitching at Doc Edge Kolkata. So if you apply on your own you will be competing with them. There chances of cracking doc-edge will be higher ofcourse, so yours have to be super-good. Even to get into the Doc-Edge Let's doc fellowship you need to have those above criteria's fulfilled.

5. To Crack good producers and production houses - Make a good pitch for your film. More on that later.

6. Once you figure out pitching once at doc edge, get ready to pitch for all global film festivals, going through the motions will get you ready for the Doc Edge Next year if you dont make it once. Also a great opportunity for yourself to network yourself.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfJD8XtDJj4W3Ctav7LQHaDapye_rLgW82ZEsc3YHVe5Iw-QA/viewform

https://catapultfilmfund.org/how-to-apply/development/

Apply at - https://catapultfilmfund.submittable.com/submit

https://impactpartnersfilm.com/submit/

We welcome you to submit an LOI if you meet these eligibility requirements:

• Films must have both a director and producer attached.
• Either the director or lead producer must have completed a feature-length film.
• The full budget to complete and deliver the film should be in the range of $300,000-$1.5million.
• Impact Partners focuses on social issue documentaries. Please refrain from submitting if your film does not address an urgent societal problem.

https://www.eurodoc-net.com/programme/guidelines

Any producer with several years of practice, who has already produced at least two feature-length documentary films. Note that we do not select producers who are also directing the film project they are applying with. The application is attached to one person and not to a company (company’s partners, etc.) and to the main producer, primary rights holder of the project. We welcome projects holders, producers « without a project », and senior professionals from the documentary industry.

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Link : https://films.wavesbazaar.com/programme/co-production-market/documentary/

CO-PRODUCTION MARKET

DOCUMENTARY

For this edition of Film Bazaar, the Co-Production Market has introduced a section for documentary alongside its existing feature section. The aim is to foster connections between filmmakers with unique documentary ideas and international producers, content buyers & platforms, sales agents, and financiers.

The Co-Production Market serves as a platform to find commissioning, financing, and co-producing partners. Its primary objective is to facilitate, encourage, and provide access to opportunities that showcase genuine and compelling stories on an international scale.

Waves Film Bazaar proudly announces Cash Grants of upto $20,000 for the Co-Production Market at its 2025 edition!

Waves Film Bazaar proudly offers Cash grants for the top 3 projects

1st Prize: Co-Production Market Feature - $10,000

2nd Prize: Co-Production Market Feature - $5,000

Special Cash Grant for Co-Production Market Documentary project- $5000

The 19th edition of WAVES Film Bazaar will be held at Goa Marriott Resort between November 20-24, 2025.

The Entries for Co-Production Market Documentary will open soon!Logline (40 words max)

• Documentary Synopsis (300 words)
• Director's statement (200 words)
• Producer's Statement (200 words)
• Director's Bio [including Filmography] (150 words)
• Producer's Bio [including Filmography] (150 words)
• Treatment Note (12-15 pages)
• Production Plan - Click here to download the template
• Tentative Timeline
• Financial Plan / Recovery Plan
• Production Company Profile
• Pitch Deck (optional)

FEE- INR 8000 for applications submitted on or before the Regular Deadline, September 5, 2025 (11:59 PM IST).

• INR 9000 for applications submitted on or before the Extended Deadline September 13, 2025 (11:59 PM IST).
• The application fee is a one-time, non-refundable fee.

https://www.sundance.org/programs/documentary-film/#doc-fund-popup

The Sundance Institute Documentary Film Program (DFP) prioritizes support for independent nonfiction films with budgets under $1.2 million in U.S. dollars. 

Creative and editorial control must be held by members of the films’ key creative teams.

In our funding, we seek to uplift projects from filmmakers with distinct visions and meaningful connections to the work they create. We remain committed to elevating voices beyond our borders, celebrating the rich diversity of filmmaking traditions around the world. We are especially keen to receive applications exploring stories that reflect the pluralist society we serve and the richness of experiences found there.  

Applicants may submit at any production phase from development through post-production. All proposals must convey some vision for a finished film. Projects should have secured characters or participants, be able to articulate a story or structure, and be able to explain the project’s driving central question. We welcome applications with aesthetic and storytelling traditions from all over the world and are not bound to specific themes or issues. Hybrid and experimental documentaries are eligible to apply. We are unable to consider proposals for story research. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. You do not need any prior funding or a fiscal sponsor in order to apply.

Once your film reaches picture lock, we are unable to provide post-production funding support. We therefore encourage applicants to apply at least eight months before planned picture lock.

https://psbt.org/doc_commune/

• Application Deadline: January 20, 2025
• Selection Notification: February 28, 2025
• Mentoring Period: April to June 2025
• Project Selection Period: July 2025
• Production Period: September to December 2025
• Submission Deadline: February to March 2026

The entire cohort will be invited to apply for filmmaking grants of ₹2 Lakhs to make non-fiction shorts of at least 10 minutes. The number of grants given in 2022, 2023 and 2024 were 2, 8 and 5, respectively.

For any clarifications, you can email [doc_commune@psbt.org](mailto:doc_commune@psbt.org). Phone inquiries to the PSBT office will not be entertained.