Overview
The Chicago Media Project (CMP) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2013 by Steve Cohen and Paula Froehle to fund and produce social impact documentary films. Based in Chicago, CMP operates the Shifting Voices Film Fund (SVFF), the first national grant program out of Chicago dedicated to supporting Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) documentary filmmakers. The fund is co-presented with Mezcla Media Collective and seeded by the Chicago Community Trust.
CMP's flagship grant program awards a top prize of $50,000 to one filmmaker at the Great Chicago Pitch event, held during the annual Doc10 documentary film festival. Remaining finalists each receive $5,000. In the inaugural 2022 cycle, the Great Chicago Pitch raised over $100,000 in the room for 6 finalist films, with 110+ proposals received and 12 semi-finalists selected for a 16-week workshop program covering fundraising, budget creation, proposal writing, and pitch preparation.
CMP has supported over 170 films and directed $10 million+ to films and filmmakers of color since its founding. CMP-supported films have won every major documentary award including the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature for Icarus in 2018. If you are a BIPOC documentary filmmaker with a feature-length project in any stage of production, the Shifting Voices Film Fund offers one of the few national grant programs explicitly designed to fund underrepresented nonfiction voices.
History
CMP was founded in 2013 by Steve Cohen and Paula Froehle as a community model of philanthropy for documentary film. The organization launched Doc10, an annual documentary film festival in Chicago that has become known as a nonfiction film's first step on the road to awards. The festival screens curated documentaries and hosts industry panels, with the Great Chicago Pitch as its signature event.
The Shifting Voices Film Fund launched in 2022 as CMP's primary grant program. The inaugural cycle received 110+ proposals, selected 12 semi-finalists for a 16-week workshop program, and chose 6 finalists to present at the Great Chicago Pitch. Jennifer Huang won the top $50,000 grant for her film The Long Rescue, with the remaining 5 finalists each receiving $5,000. The 2023 cycle followed a similar structure, with submissions closing January 31, 2023.
The 2025 cycle marked the 4th edition of the Great Chicago Pitch, held during Doc10's anniversary celebration on May 3, 2025. The pitch event awards finalists from the Shifting Voices Film Fund, which champions films that amplify the voices, perspectives, and histories of underrepresented communities across America.
Award Value
The Shifting Voices Film Fund provides grants at multiple levels:
- Top grant: $50,000, awarded by a jury at the Great Chicago Pitch event
- Finalist grants: $5,000 each to the remaining finalists
- Semi-finalist support: Access to workshops, panels, and industry resources throughout a 16-week program
- Audience pledges: Additional funding raised directly from Great Chicago Pitch audience members (over $100,000 in the 2022 cycle alone)
CMP grants are non-recoupable, meaning they do not need to be repaid. They can serve as anchor funding that attracts additional investment. The fund explicitly requires that applicants pay themselves and their key personnel in the budget, rather than deferring all compensation.
Across its history, CMP has distributed $5,459,335 across 135 grants from 56 funders. Key funders include the John Templeton Foundation, Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund, and the Chicago Community Trust.
Eligibility
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Filmmaker identity | BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) filmmakers from underrepresented communities |
| Geography | United States only. International co-productions are eligible if the applicant (director and/or producer) is a US citizen or resides in the US and is a "US Person" with a valid tax ID |
| Film format | Documentary feature-length films (over 40 minutes). Narratives, broadcasts, and web series are not eligible |
| Production stage | All stages accepted, including development, production, and post-production. Films with principal research and development completed are especially encouraged |
| Story focus | Stories that spotlight historically excluded cultures, histories, and experiences in America. Special attention is paid to Chicago-based films and filmmakers |
| Submissions per applicant | One project per applicant |
Past Recipients
Jennifer Huang won the inaugural 2022 top grant of $50,000 for The Long Rescue, a documentary about human trafficking survivors. Huang described the grant as the first institutional production funding she had received after years of self-funding and volunteer collaboration. The 2022 finalists also received $5,000 each, with over $100,000 raised in audience pledges at the Great Chicago Pitch event.
The 2025 cycle marked the 4th edition of the Great Chicago Pitch, with 3 finalists presenting their projects during Doc10's anniversary celebration on May 3, 2025. The festival also featured the 3rd annual Doc10 shorts program, with Chicago premieres of 8 short films curated from top festivals including Sundance, Rotterdam, BlackStar, and IDFA.
CMP-supported films have achieved significant distribution and award recognition beyond the Shifting Voices Film Fund. Icarus (2017) won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature, with CMP providing one-third of the film's funding. Crip Camp (2020) was supported through CMP's impact campaign infrastructure. The Infiltrators (2019) premiered at Sundance and screened at Doc10. All In: The Fight for Democracy (2020) received CMP-funded impact campaign support and was distributed by Amazon Studios.
What Made Their Application Stand Out
Successful Shifting Voices applicants submit proposals with a clear social impact goal and a compelling work sample. The fund reviews up to 5 minutes of submitted video material, so the opening of the work sample needs to grab attention immediately. Applicants who demonstrate that their project amplifies historically excluded voices tend to advance.
CMP values realistic, equitable budgets that pay the filmmaker and key personnel. The application explicitly warns against the common mistake of not paying yourself in the budget. A well-structured financing plan that shows where the CMP grant fits within the overall budget gives applicants an edge.
Semi-finalists who excel in the 16-week workshop program tend to perform better at the Great Chicago Pitch. The workshops cover budget creation, proposal writing, and pitch preparation with industry professionals. Finalists who deliver a confident, clear pitch at the live event have the best chance of winning the top grant.
Renewal Requirements
The Shifting Voices Film Fund grant is a one-time award for a specific project. Recipients cannot reapply for the same project in subsequent cycles. However, filmmakers with a new project may apply again if they meet all eligibility requirements.
CMP maintains ongoing relationships with grantees beyond the cash award. Recipients gain access to the CMP community, which includes networking opportunities with funders, distributors, and fellow filmmakers. The organization also provides impact campaign support for selected films.
Application Process
Applications are submitted through the CMP website at wearecmp.org. The application requires:
- Project description: A proposal outlining the film, its story, and its social impact goals
- Work sample: 5 minutes suggested (minimum 2 minutes). Only the first 5 minutes of longer samples will be reviewed. The sample can be a scene, string-out of scenes, interview, or rough cut
- Budget: Using the provided budget template. In-kind contributions should be included and marked as in-kind. CMP explicitly requires that you pay yourself and key personnel in the budget
- Video or audio responses: The application accepts video and audio responses to questions for accessibility. Video quality is not part of judging
CMP offers a free virtual workshop covering building realistic budgets and writing effective grant proposals. Applicants can email info@wearecmp.org with specific questions before applying.
| Milestone | Timing |
|---|---|
| Application deadline | February 14 (2025 cycle) |
| Round 1 notifications | March 2025 |
| Semi-finalists selected | April 2025 |
| Great Chicago Pitch | May 2025 (during Doc10) |
| Grant funding delivered | Throughout 2025 |
What Filmmakers Should Know
For BIPOC documentary filmmakers, the Shifting Voices Film Fund is one of the few national grant programs explicitly restricted to BIPOC creators. The $50,000 top grant is substantial for documentary production, and the $5,000 finalist grants provide meaningful support even if you do not win the top prize. The 16-week workshop program for semi-finalists covers practical skills like budget creation and pitch preparation with industry professionals.
For Chicago-based filmmakers, CMP gives special attention to Chicago-based films and filmmakers. At least one Chicago filmmaker is guaranteed a finalist slot in each cycle. The Doc10 festival provides a local exhibition platform, and CMP's network connects Chicago filmmakers to national funders and distributors.
For budget planning, CMP grants are non-recoupable and can serve as anchor funding. The fund requires that you pay yourself and your key personnel in the budget. Use the Indie Film Budget Calculator to model your production budget and identify where a CMP grant fits in your financing structure.
For international co-productions, you are eligible only if the director or producer is a US citizen or US Person with a valid tax ID. The film itself can be an international co-production, but the applicant must meet the US person requirement.
Watch
See Also
For understanding how grants fit into a funding strategy, see Film Grants and Funding. For documentary distribution strategies, see Film Distribution Deals Explained. To estimate production costs for a grant-supported project, use the Budget Breakdown. For evaluating which distributor fits your documentary, use the Distributor Comparison.
