Applicants to the Documentary Film Producers Track will be considered for the Producers Lab and Fellowship (yearlong program commencing July 2026) 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 2026–2027 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.
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 webpage.
Application Open: Thursday, November 20, 2025, 9 a.m. PT
Application Deadline: Wednesday, February 11, 2026, 9 a.m. PT
Producers Lab Dates: July 20–25, 2026
Number of Fellows: 5
Location: Ucross Foundation — Clearmont, WY
Fellowship Year: July 2026–June 2027
Eligibility Criteria:
Candidates may not be the director of the submitted project.
Candidates must have produced at least one documentary short film as lead producer and no more than two features as a lead producer (experience as an executive producer, co-producer, associate producer, or line producer does not qualify).
Candidates must be lead producer on the project they are applying with.
Candidates must exemplify intention to evolve their producing practice as a lead nonfiction producer beyond the project they are applying with.
Candidates must possess a distinct cinematic vision.
Candidates must be in active production/post-production on a project.
Candidates must live in the United States, though the project may be filmed internationally.
Candidates must be available for all fellowship events.
Costs
Sundance Institute will provide round-trip economy travel, ground transfer, and lodging for the selected fellows for the specific dates of lab attendance.
Deliverables
Fellows are required to acknowledge Sundance Institute and the Producers Program support verbally where possible as well as within the end credits of the supported project. Fellows should be willing to give back to Sundance Institute’s creative community through participation in talks 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 at select events but do not receive the full benefits of lab participation.
Further questions? Visit our 2026 FAQ page.
Still don’t see your question answered? Email us at docproducers@sundance.org with “2026 Documentary Producers Track” in the subject line.
2026 Documentary Producers Track
Applicants to the Documentary Film Producers Track will be considered for the Producers Lab and Fellowship (yearlong program commencing July 2026) 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 2026–2027 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.
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 webpage.
Application Open: Thursday, November 20, 2025, 9 a.m. PT
Application Deadline: Wednesday, February 11, 2026, 9 a.m. PT
Producers Lab Dates: July 20–25, 2026
Number of Fellows: 5
Location: Ucross Foundation — Clearmont, WY
Fellowship Year: July 2026–June 2027
Eligibility Criteria:
Candidates may not be the director of the submitted project.
Candidates must have produced at least one documentary short film as lead producer and no more than two features as a lead producer (experience as an executive producer, co-producer, associate producer, or line producer does not qualify).
Candidates must be lead producer on the project they are applying with.
Candidates must exemplify intention to evolve their producing practice as a lead nonfiction producer beyond the project they are applying with.
Candidates must possess a distinct cinematic vision.
Candidates must be in active production/post-production on a project.
Candidates must live in the United States, though the project may be filmed internationally.
Candidates must be available for all fellowship events.
Costs
Sundance Institute will provide round-trip economy travel, ground transfer, and lodging for the selected fellows for the specific dates of lab attendance.
Deliverables
Fellows are required to acknowledge Sundance Institute and the Producers Program support verbally where possible as well as within the end credits of the supported project. Fellows should be willing to give back to Sundance Institute’s creative community through participation in talks 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 at select events but do not receive the full benefits of lab participation.
Further questions? Visit our 2026 FAQ page.
Still don’t see your question answered? Email us at docproducers@sundance.org with “2026 Documentary Producers Track” in the subject line.