Deadline: January 5, 2024.

The Hot Docs-Blue Ice Docs Fund (HDBID) is a fund for filmmakers who live and work on the African continent. The Fund offers grants in Development and Production for feature or broadcast-length documentaries. Approximately 4 to 10 projects are awarded each year. All successful applications will also be considered for a mentorship program.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

The applicant must:

• Be the producer and primary rights holder of the project
• Have a registered production company that is associated with the project in a country on the African continent listed in our FAQ section

In all cases both the director and producer must:

• Hold citizenship, or have legal permanent residency, and primarily live and work in Africa. A complete list of funded countries can be found in the FAQ section
• Have at least one previous professional credit to their name
• Be in good standing with Hot Docs by application date

The project must:

• Be produced and shot in Africa
• Be either a high-quality feature or broadcast-hour length documentary to audiences both locally and internationally (school work, series, and fiction pieces are not eligible)
• Be in development, production or post-production as of April 2024. The Fund will not consider projects that will be completed by Hot Docs 2024.

Eligibility for re-application:

• A project can submit to the Development Fund and, then submit to the Production Fund at a later deadline, whether or not the Development Fund application was successful.
• Submitted projects that do not receive funding may submit a maximum of one additional time only in another stream within the fund. Requests for resubmission must be received in writing to funds@hotdocs.ca. In some instances, the selection committee may invite a project to resubmit and they will be notified directly.

GRANT

1. Development grant: Up to $10,000 Grant can reflect up to 100% of the development budget.
2. Production grant: Up to $40,000 Grant can reflect up to 50% of the production budget.

Apply through the OFFICIAL LINK