Overview
The Pare Lorentz Documentary Fund is a production grant program administered by the International Documentary Association (IDA). It awards $25,000 to each of three feature-length documentary projects annually, totaling $75,000 in direct grants each year. Since its launch in 2011, the fund has distributed $1,360,000 to 72 projects. The fund is made possible by the New York Community Trust and the estate of Pare Lorentz.
The fund has an annual theme that changes each year. The 2025 theme was "Migration in and to the Americas." The 2024 theme was "Gender Justice." Projects are selected through a nomination process rather than an open call. Key film organizations throughout the Americas nominate projects, and nominated projects are then invited to apply. In 2025, 62 projects were nominated and 3 were selected.
Each selected project also receives a $2,000 consultation stipend for story, edit, or other catalytic support, and one team member receives a free 1-year IDA Doc Maker Membership (value $150). The fund supports both traditional 2D documentary films and immersive nonfiction media projects.
Notable past grantees include Crip Camp (2020 Academy Award nominee), Black Mothers, Hummingbirds, After Sherman, Yintah, and Queer as Punk.
What It Covers
- $25,000 production or post-production grant per project (3 projects selected annually)
- $2,000 consultation stipend per project for story, edit, or other catalytic support
- Free 1-year IDA Doc Maker Membership for one team member per project (value $150)
- IDA artist support: Ongoing professional development guidance and reduced support after the first granting year until the film is complete
- Grant period: One year of concentrated support from the date of award, with continued reduced support until project completion
What the Grant Does Not Cover
The fund explicitly does not support expenses related to:
- Impact campaigns
- Fundraising
- Distribution
- Publicity
- Marketing
- Outreach
Grant funds may be used for: principal photography, travel, equipment purchase or rental, insurance, rights and clearances, editing, and crew salaries (including deferred payments).
Eligibility
- Project length: Feature-length documentaries (60 minutes or longer)
- Subject matter: Must address one or more of Pare Lorentz's central concerns: environmental issues, justice for all, or pressing social problems. Each year's theme further refines this focus
- Project stage: Must be in the production or post-production stage. The fund does not support projects in early development or research stages
- Format: Both 2D documentary films and immersive nonfiction media projects are eligible
- Geography: The fund accepts applications from filmmakers worldwide (not limited to U.S. filmmakers)
- Application method: Projects must be nominated by a participating organization. Direct applications are not accepted
2025 Nominating Organizations
The following organizations nominated projects for the 2025 cycle: IDA, ChileDoc, DocsMX, DocsSP, Femme Frontera, Firelight Media, Guadalajara Film Festival, Hot Docs, Latino Public Broadcasting, Third Horizon Film Festival, and Undocumented Filmmakers Collective.
How to Apply
- Get nominated: A participating organization must nominate your project. Contact one of the nominating organizations directly to inquire about their nomination process. Many of these organizations have their own submission or consideration processes throughout the year.
- Receive invitation: Nominated projects are invited to apply by early June (for the 2025 cycle timeline).
- Submit application: Applications are submitted through the IDA website. Required materials include a project description, director's statement, work sample (trailer or rough cut), budget, and financing plan.
- Review process: Both IDA staff and a committee of distinguished filmmakers review applications. Evaluation criteria include the quality of storytelling, the urgency of the subject matter, and the filmmaker's craft.
- Notification: Selected projects are announced publicly. The 2025 grantees were announced in late 2025.
Who Should Apply
Documentary filmmakers with feature-length projects in production or post-production that engage with social, environmental, or public interest subjects aligned with the year's theme. The fund rewards projects that combine strong filmmaking craft with meaningful subject matter, reflecting the spirit of Pare Lorentz's pioneering work.
Filmmakers who are not already connected to a nominating organization should build relationships with these organizations throughout the year. Many of the nominating organizations (Firelight Media, Latino Public Broadcasting, Hot Docs) have their own funding and fellowship programs that can serve as entry points.
Historical Context
Pare Lorentz (1905-1989) was a pioneering American documentary filmmaker active in the mid-twentieth century. He directed The Plow That Broke the Plains (1936) and The River (1938), two landmark films that used nonfiction storytelling to address the social and environmental crises of the Great Depression. The Plow That Broke the Plains examined the Dust Bowl and agricultural mismanagement, while The River documented the Mississippi River and the need for flood control and soil conservation.
Lorentz was appointed by the U.S. Film Service under the Roosevelt administration, making him one of the first government-sponsored documentary filmmakers in the United States. His films are available to stream on the IDA website.
The Pare Lorentz Documentary Fund began in 2011, making it the IDA's oldest fund. Starting in 2023, the fund began accepting immersive nonfiction projects as part of its slate, expanding beyond traditional 2D documentary filmmaking.
Comparison With Similar Documentary Funds
| Fund | Amount | Stage | Application |
|---|---|---|---|
| IDA Pare Lorentz | $25,000 | Production/Post | Nomination-based |
| Sundance Documentary Fund | $15,000 to $50,000 | Development/Production/Post | Open application |
| Catapult Film Fund | $15,000 to $50,000 | Development | Open application |
| ITVS Open Call | $150,000 to $350,000 | Production | Open application |
The Pare Lorentz Fund's $25,000 grant is smaller than some documentary funds, but the IDA affiliation and the quality signal of being selected from a curated nomination pool carries weight with other funders, festival programmers, and distributors. Receiving a Pare Lorentz grant often makes it easier to secure additional funding from other sources.
Past Recipients by Year and Discipline
The Pare Lorentz Fund has supported 72 projects since 2011. Recent grantees include:
- 2022: Hummingbirds (dirs. Silvia Del Carmen Castanos and Estefania Contreras, USA) - won the Berlinale Generation Grand Jury Prize and broadcast on PBS POV. Standing Above the Clouds (dir. Jalena Keane-Lee, USA) - about Native Hawaiian families defending Mauna Kea. What These Walls Won't Hold (dir. Adamu Chan, USA) - about organizing at San Quentin during COVID-19.
- 2024 (theme: Gender Justice): Matininó (dir. Gabriela Díaz Arp, Puerto Rico/Dominican Republic) - a multi-generational family story about violence transformed into fantasy. Mid Wif (dir. Mia Harvey, UK/USA) - about Black midwives navigating legal challenges. Queer As Punk (dir. Yihwen Chen, Malaysia/Indonesia) - about queer identity through punk culture.
- 2025 (theme: Migration in and to the Americas): Suenos que migran (dir. Juan Javier Perez Perez, Mexico/USA). The Other Side of the Sea (dir. Samuel Suffren, Haiti/France). Untitled Science Project (dir. Emilia Mello, Brazil/USA/Belgium). Selected from 62 nominated projects.
Other notable past grantees include Crip Camp (2020 Academy Award nominee for Best Documentary Feature), Black Mothers, After Sherman, Yintah (about the Wet'suwet'en nation's fight for sovereignty, now streaming on Netflix), and Queer as Punk.
What Made Their Application Stand Out
The IDA evaluates applications using specific criteria reviewed by both staff and a committee of distinguished filmmakers:
- Thematic alignment: The project must substantially address the year's theme. Applications that tangentially relate to the theme do not advance.
- Innovative approach: If the story has been told before, the project must bring something new. Reviewers assess whether the approach reveals new information or uses a fresh perspective.
- Access: The Project Director must demonstrate concrete access to the subjects and story. Proposals without clear access do not compete.
- Community engagement: Reviewers evaluate how the filmmaker thinks about their connection to the community in the film. Ethics, collaboration, and impact on participants are weighted heavily.
- Work sample quality: The 10-to-15-minute sample must show a strong visual style reflecting Pare Lorentz's legacy of high production values, artistic writing, and skillful direction and editing.
- Narrative clarity: The written proposal must give a clear picture of the film's story and themes. Vague or unfocused proposals are eliminated.
- Team capability: The Project Director and production team must have experience completing documentary films. Applicants with limited experience must include highly experienced team members and advisors.
- Audience plan: The proposal must identify a target audience and a realistic plan for reaching them.
Renewal Requirements
The Pare Lorentz grant is a one-time, non-renewable award per project. Key terms:
- Grant period: One year of concentrated support from the date of award. Filmmakers are strongly encouraged to use grant funds within that first year.
- Extended support: The project receives bespoke IDA support after the first granting year until the film is complete. This is advisory support, not additional funding.
- Reporting: The team must send an annual report and updated budget until the project is complete.
- No reapplication: Filmmakers cannot reapply for the same project. However, filmmakers can apply with different projects in future cycles if nominated.
- Grant restrictions: Funds cannot be used for impact campaigns, fundraising, distribution, publicity, marketing, or outreach. Eligible expenses include principal photography, travel, equipment, insurance, rights and clearances, editing, and crew salaries.
Watch
See Also
For documentary production planning, use the Production Budget Calculator. For documentary filmmaking guidance, see Documentary Filmmaking Guide. To calculate return on festival submissions for documentary projects, use the Festival Entry Fee ROI Calculator.
