Applicants to the Documentary Film Producers Track will be considered for the Producers Lab and Fellowship (yearlong program, commencing June 2024) by invitation only. If you meet the application requirements and are interested in applying to the lab, please contact docproducers@sundance.org for further information.
The 2024–2025 Documentary Producers Lab and Fellowship is a yearlong program designed to nurture emerging producers with project-specific support through the Producers Lab, year-round mentorship from a dedicated industry mentor, film industry networking opportunities, professional development and project advancement strategy workshops, and ongoing support from Sundance Institute staff. The program is designed to hone emerging producers’ creative instincts and evolve their communication and problem-solving skills at all stages of their next feature film.
For three years (2021–2023), we piloted a Producers Intensive to broaden our support for emerging independent feature film producers. This pilot has ended, and we will not be hosting a Producers Intensive in 2024, though we are exploring future iterations of this program.
There is a separate Producers Track application for producers working on a scripted fiction feature film. More information can be found about support for fiction projects on the Producers Program page.
Application Open: Wednesday, October 25, 2023, 9 a.m. PT
Application Deadline: Wednesday, January 3, 2024, 5 p.m. PT
Producers Lab Dates: June 10–15, 2024
Number of Fellows: 5
Location: Ucross – Clearmont, WY
Fellowship Year: June 2024–May 2025
Eligibility Criteria:
Candidates are required to have produced or co-produced at least one documentary short (experience as an executive producer only does not qualify). Candidates must be the lead producer on the project they are applying with.
Candidates should not be the director of their submitted project.
Candidates must have a director attached to the submitted project.
Candidates’ submitted project must be for a feature-length format; no series work is accepted at this time. (Note: Nonfiction series projects are considered through the Episodic Lab. For more information, visit the program’s page here.)
Candidates must be in active production or post-production on the submitted project.
Candidates must live in the United States, though the project may be filmed outside of the country.
Candidates must be able to attend all fellowship events, as listed above.
Costs
The Sundance Institute will provide round-trip economy travel, ground transfer, and lodging for the selected fellows for the specific dates of attendance.
Deliverables
Fellows are required to acknowledge the Sundance Institute and the Producers Initiative support verbally where possible as well as within the end credits of the supported project. Fellows should be willing to give back to the Sundance Institute’s creative community through participation in panels and labs and possible peer-to-peer mentorship. Accepted fellows must also provide a current producer’s agreement or memo of understanding for the project they have applied with.
NOTE: Only one application should be submitted per project. We will consider only the lead producer on the submitted project. If there are additional producers, they must also be disclosed on the application. Additional producers are welcome to select events but do not receive the full benefits of lab participation.
Further questions? Visit our 2024 FAQ page.
Still don’t see your question answered? Email us at docproducers@sundance.org with “2024 Documentary Producers Track” in the subject line.
2024 Documentary Film Producers Track Application
Applicants to the Documentary Film Producers Track will be considered for the Producers Lab and Fellowship (yearlong program, commencing June 2024) by invitation only. If you meet the application requirements and are interested in applying to the lab, please contact docproducers@sundance.org for further information.
The 2024–2025 Documentary Producers Lab and Fellowship is a yearlong program designed to nurture emerging producers with project-specific support through the Producers Lab, year-round mentorship from a dedicated industry mentor, film industry networking opportunities, professional development and project advancement strategy workshops, and ongoing support from Sundance Institute staff. The program is designed to hone emerging producers’ creative instincts and evolve their communication and problem-solving skills at all stages of their next feature film.
For three years (2021–2023), we piloted a Producers Intensive to broaden our support for emerging independent feature film producers. This pilot has ended, and we will not be hosting a Producers Intensive in 2024, though we are exploring future iterations of this program.
There is a separate Producers Track application for producers working on a scripted fiction feature film. More information can be found about support for fiction projects on the Producers Program page.
Application Open: Wednesday, October 25, 2023, 9 a.m. PT
Application Deadline: Wednesday, January 3, 2024, 5 p.m. PT
Producers Lab Dates: June 10–15, 2024
Number of Fellows: 5
Location: Ucross – Clearmont, WY
Fellowship Year: June 2024–May 2025
Eligibility Criteria:
Candidates are required to have produced or co-produced at least one documentary short (experience as an executive producer only does not qualify). Candidates must be the lead producer on the project they are applying with.
Candidates should not be the director of their submitted project.
Candidates must have a director attached to the submitted project.
Candidates’ submitted project must be for a feature-length format; no series work is accepted at this time. (Note: Nonfiction series projects are considered through the Episodic Lab. For more information, visit the program’s page here.)
Candidates must be in active production or post-production on the submitted project.
Candidates must live in the United States, though the project may be filmed outside of the country.
Candidates must be able to attend all fellowship events, as listed above.
Costs
The Sundance Institute will provide round-trip economy travel, ground transfer, and lodging for the selected fellows for the specific dates of attendance.
Deliverables
Fellows are required to acknowledge the Sundance Institute and the Producers Initiative support verbally where possible as well as within the end credits of the supported project. Fellows should be willing to give back to the Sundance Institute’s creative community through participation in panels and labs and possible peer-to-peer mentorship. Accepted fellows must also provide a current producer’s agreement or memo of understanding for the project they have applied with.
NOTE: Only one application should be submitted per project. We will consider only the lead producer on the submitted project. If there are additional producers, they must also be disclosed on the application. Additional producers are welcome to select events but do not receive the full benefits of lab participation.
Further questions? Visit our 2024 FAQ page.
Still don’t see your question answered? Email us at docproducers@sundance.org with “2024 Documentary Producers Track” in the subject line.