IDA Pare Lorentz Documentary Fund

Overview

The Pare Lorentz Documentary Fund is administered by the International Documentary Association (IDA) and provides production grants for feature-length documentary films that reflect the spirit and concerns of the pioneering American documentarian Pare Lorentz. Lorentz directed The Plow That Broke the Plains (1936) and The River (1938), two landmark films that used nonfiction storytelling to address social and environmental challenges during the Great Depression.

The fund supports documentaries that examine issues of social justice, environmental sustainability, and the human condition. Projects selected for funding demonstrate strong storytelling craft alongside a commitment to illuminating subjects that affect communities, ecosystems, and public policy. The fund has supported documentaries that have gone on to premiere at Sundance, Tribeca, SXSW, and other major festivals.

The Pare Lorentz Documentary Fund is one of the most respected sources of documentary production funding in the United States, and receiving a grant from the fund serves as a quality signal to other funders, festival programmers, and distributors.

What It Covers

• Production grants of up to $25,000 for feature-length documentary films
• IDA recognition as a Pare Lorentz Fund grantee
• Industry visibility through the IDA's network of documentary professionals
• Festival positioning -- the grant credential strengthens festival submissions

Eligibility

Projects must be feature-length documentaries (60 minutes or longer) that address issues of social justice, environmental concern, or subjects in the public interest. Both US and international filmmakers are eligible. Projects should be in the production or post-production stage. The fund does not support projects in early development or research stages.

How to Apply

Applications are submitted through the IDA website. The deadline is typically in the spring. Submissions include a project description, director's statement, work sample (trailer or rough cut), budget, and financing plan. There is an application fee.

Who Should Apply

Documentary filmmakers with feature-length projects in production or post-production that engage with social, environmental, or public interest subjects. The fund rewards projects that combine strong filmmaking craft with meaningful subject matter.

See Also

For documentary production planning, use the Production Budget Calculator. For documentary filmmaking guidance, see Documentary Filmmaking Guide.