Submissions are closed for ScreeningRoom $10,000 Follow Focus Grant in partnership with Alex Gibney/Jigsaw Productions and Points North Institute.

Submission Guidelines


A $10,000 grant, a one year ScreeningRoom Pro account, and a screening at the Camden International Film Festival in September 2019.


Open to any documentary filmmaker or video journalist worldwide.


Representatives from Points North Institute, ScreeningRoom and Jigsaw Productions will review the submissions and make a final decision in June 2019. The decisions of the judges are final.


As the winning filmmaker works on their film, representatives from ScreeningRoom, Jigsaw Productions and Points North Institute will watch cuts on ScreeningRoom and leave feedback for the filmmaker.


The winning piece will screen at the Camden International Film Festival (CIFF). The filmmaker agrees to grant the right to screen the completed work at CIFF in September 2019.


All entrants and the winner retain all rights to their films.


Depending on the project’s budget, following the Crediting Guidelines proposed by the Documentary Producers Alliance, the selected filmmaker agrees to provide an appropriate Executive Producer credit to Points North Institute, ScreeningRoom and Jigsaw Productions


There is a $20 submission fee, and filmmakers need to have a Basic, Premium or Pro ScreeningRoom membership in order to apply.


Submissions open on April 10, 2019

Submissions close on June 1, 2019

Final decisions will be made by the week of June 17, 2019

Announcement of Grant winner will be made in early July 2019

Short film to be completed by September 1, 2019

Short film to be screened at Camden International Film Festival in the fall of 2019


We are looking for a short documentary film that is cinematic, character-driven and visually compelling. Please take some time to explore the films presented at CIFF to get a sense of the types of shortform documentary that we’d be interested in.


The length of the finished film should be between 5 and 40 minutes


A project work sample or rough cut at least 5 minutes long
Previous work sample
Link to your website
Written application (uploaded as PDF document)
Representation that you have all rights and releases (person and or location) required for  and screening, we may request copies of releases.


A $10,000 grant for making your film
A free year-long ScreeningRoom Pro account
Feedback on your cuts from representatives from ScreeningRoom, Jigsaw Productions and Points North Institute through the process of making your film
Inclusion in the 2019 Camden International Film Festival program

The Follow Focus grant application follows the guidelines established by the IDA’s Documentary Core Application Project.

Video Guidelines

All video samples must be uploaded into ScreeningRoom (links to videos hosted elsewhere will not be accepted).

The ScreeningRoom application allows for the upload of one video file with your application. That should be your work sample.

There is additional space in the form field to include a ScreeningRoom link to your previous work sample, which you can upload into a project in ScreeningRoom and share with us as a public link pasted into the field.

  • You can do that by:
    • create a new project in ScreeningRoom
    • upload your previous work sample
    • create a screening
    • go into the tool menu (green tool icon next to the title) for the screening and choose 'create a public link'
    • go back to the screening and go to 'share' and copy the public link
    • paste the public link into the application form field for 'previous work sample'

If you are at all confused about how to create a public link, here is a helpful video

ScreeningRoom supports most major file formats and codecs for video. Filmmakers have the best results when using an H.264-based codec to compress their files.

Here is a list of the video extensions we allow: mp4, mov, wmv, webm, mkv, flv, vob, ogv, ogg, avi, qt, asf, m4v, mpg, mpeg, m2v, 3gp, mxf.

Your video file should be less than 5GB.

We recommend the following compression settings:


H.264 (High Profile)

2-Pass VBR, Target: 5Mb/s Max: 8Mbps

Frame Rate:
(same as original)

(same as original, up to 1920x1080)

Our recommended target bitrate for H.264 encoding is 5Mb/s. Lowering this bitrate will allow you to upload more minutes of material at smaller file sizes. Please note that doing so will reduce the quality of your videos

Document Guidelines

Please upload one document, PDF preferred, that has the following information based on the Documentary Core Application created by IDA (International Documentary Association). Please number each section as described below. You can read more about IDA's initiative to make applying to different grants easier for filmmakers.


1. Project Description

Logline - Provide a brief, catchy summary of your story.

Suggested Length: Approximately 2-3 sentences

2. Story Summary/ Synopsis- What is your story and story structure? Give an overview of your story, introducing the main characters and potential plot points. Describe the anticipated story structure and narrative trajectory, or potential character arcs for your project. Discuss your access to the story and characters.

Suggested Length: Approximately 1 page

3. Topic Summary - Describe why this topic is important, timely or relevant. Things to consider include: Why are you the best person to make a short cinematic film about this? Explain the cultural or social relevance and context for the topic, and why this project is timely or urgent. Detail the topics, issues, themes, challenges, stakes, or questions that your project will cover.

Suggested Length: Approximately 1/2 page

4. Artistic Approach - How are you going to tell this story? Describe your creative vision for the finished project - its visual look and feel. Explain your intended use of cinematic language or any particular artistic approach that informs the storytelling. If applicable, mention any creative elements and assets, interactive elements, new technologies or non-traditional mediums that you intend to utilize (if relevant). Explain how these elements will enhance the experience and interaction between viewers and the world of the story.

Suggested Length: Approximately 1/2 page

5. Project Stage and Timeline - Explain the current status of the project. Outline the projected production timeline from the project's current state to the anticipated completion date. Your timeline should cover both the creative and production processes and should detail major project activities, production schedules, and anticipated post-production and release dates. If you have applied to this fund previously, please share how your project has progressed since the last time you applied. Please also describe any challenges you might face to finishing the short film, including difficulty accessing subject or material.

Suggested Length: Approximately 1-2 paragraphs

6. Project Team

Bios of Key Creative Personnel - Provide brief biographies for the director(s), journalist(s) and if attached, the producer(s), cinematographer, and/or editor. Include notable credits and/or major recognition or award information. For each key 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 1 paragraph/short bio for each team member

7. Fundraising Strategy and Grant Impact

Grant Impact - Please describe how the grant will help you complete a short film. If you need more than the grant to finish the film, please describe your Fundraising Strategy for raising the additional funds necessary to complete the project. Be specific.

Suggested Length: Approximately 1 paragraph

Funding to Date - Provide a list of all sources and amounts raised to date. Distinguish between 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.

Suggested Length: Approximately 1 paragraph

8. Budget

Simple Budget - Please provide a simple high-level breakdown of your project's projected expenses in U.S. dollars. Expense categories should include: Director's Time, Editor's Time, Equipment, Travel, Fixer, Transportation, Housing, Food, Translation (if applicable), and any other major expense you have.  

  • Short Film
Short Film
Final Deadline $20.00