Points North Fellowship (Camden International Film Festival)

Overview

The Points North Fellowship is a professional development program for emerging nonfiction filmmakers, administered by the Points North Institute as part of the Camden International Film Festival (CIFF). The fellowship supports documentary filmmakers who are developing or completing their first or second feature-length documentary through mentorship, industry introductions, and participation in the CIFF's industry programming.

The Camden International Film Festival is one of the most respected documentary-focused festivals in the United States, attracting programmers, distributors, funders, and fellow filmmakers who specialize in nonfiction work. The Points North Fellowship connects emerging documentarians with this community at a critical stage of their career development.

Fellows attend the festival, participate in industry meetings and workshops, and receive year-round mentorship from established documentary professionals. The program's focus on relationship-building and professional development (rather than solely on funding) reflects the reality that documentary careers are built through sustained connections and community engagement.

What It Covers

• Festival access at the Camden International Film Festival with full industry accreditation
• Year-round mentorship from established documentary professionals
• Industry meetings with funders, distributors, and festival programmers
• Workshops and panels on documentary craft, distribution, and impact
• Community membership in the Points North network of documentary filmmakers

Eligibility

Applicants must be emerging documentary filmmakers working on their first or second feature-length documentary. The project should be in development, production, or post-production. Both US and international filmmakers are eligible. Applicants must be available to attend the Camden International Film Festival.

How to Apply

Applications are submitted through the Points North Institute website. Submissions include a project description, work sample, filmmaker bio, and personal statement. The deadline is typically in the spring. There is no application fee.

Who Should Apply

Emerging documentary filmmakers working on their first or second feature-length documentary who want mentorship, industry connections, and community within the documentary field. The fellowship is particularly valuable for filmmakers who are navigating the documentary financing and distribution landscape for the first time.

See Also

For documentary filmmaking guidance, see Documentary Filmmaking Guide. To plan your documentary budget, use the Production Budget Calculator.