Filmmakers Without Borders supports independent filmmakers around the world via grants and

other funding initiatives. Supported projects include narrative films, documentary films, and new
media projects that align with themes of social justice, empowerment, and cultural exchange.

FILMMAKERS WITHOUT BORDERS (FWB) is a 501c3 nonprofit organization that is

dedicated to empowering the next generation of digital storytellers. FWB filmmaking grants
provide funding and support for independent filmmakers to share their stories. Funds are
available for narrative, documentary, experimental, and new media projects in various stages of
production.

Goals & Objectives

to empower the next generation of digital storytellers

to promote diverse communities and cultures
to share unique perspectives and stories
to support independent voices from around the world

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants from any country are encouraged to apply.

Applicants should be 18+ years old.
Applicants should be proficient in relevant digital technologies.
Applicants should be able to provide samples of their work.
Applications and supporting materials must be produced in English.
NOTE: Completed films may be in any language.
FWB is committed to diversity and equality.

FWB provides equal consideration for all qualified candidates. FWB does not discriminate on
the basis of race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin,
ancestry, age, veteran status, disability, genetic information, military service, or other protected
status.
Guidelines

Proposed projects should address one of the following themes:

social justice
women’s voices
youth voices
identity
cultural exchange
climate change

You always need a Film Business Plan to get funding from investors.

Proposed projects should be aligned with the following guidelines:

demonstrated commitment to cultural diversity
demonstrated commitment to cultural sustainability
demonstrated commitment to empowerment
adherence to the American Anthropological Association’s Code of Ethics

Proposed projects should meet the following requirements:

100% of funds dedicated to the film project (not to salaries or large equipment purchases)
scheduled for completion within 365 days of application deadline
subtitled in English

Types of Grants

Grants are available for all of the following stages of production:

Development
Production
Post-production
Film Festival Applications

Grants are available for all of the following types of projects:

Short Film Projects (6-40 minutes)

Narrative
Documentary
Animation
Experimental
Feature Film Projects (90+ minutes)
Narrative
Documentary
New Media Projects (various)
Narrative
Documentary
Experimental
Funding & Support
Grants are available in the following amounts:
Development: $250, $500, or $1000
Production: $500, $1000, $2500, or $5000
Post-production: $250, $500, $1000, or $2500
Film Festival Applications: $100, $250, or $500
Additional Funding
Please note that additional specialized grants are also available for alumni of the following
initiatives: Tribeca All Access, Women in Film Finishing Fund, Sundance Native Program,
NYWIFT Disability Awareness Grant, National Geographic Explorer, & the Fulbright Scholars
Program.
Grant Deadline: 1 January

2. The IDFA Bertha Fund is the only fund in the world dedicated solely to stimulating and
empowering the creative documentary sector in Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and
parts of Eastern Europe.

By supporting both documentary filmmakers and organisations that promote documentaries, the
IDFA Bertha Fund (formerly known as the Jan Vrijman Fund) enables documentary practitioners
in these developing countries to find their own unique voice. The Fund not only provides
financial support to realize this endeavour, but plays a crucial advisory role as well.

IDFA Bertha Fund 2017 Deadlines: IBF Classic: May 15, 2017
IBF Europe International Co-Production Support: May 1, 2017
IBF Europe Distribution Support For International Co-Productions: no application deadline - the
IBF will accept and grant to documentary

The Bertha Foundation dreams of a more just world and supports forms of activism that aim to
bring about change. They champion those using media, law and enterprise as tools to achieve
their vision. By investing in the IDFA Bertha Fund the Foundation makes it possible for the fund
to carry on supporting filmmakers and documentaries that make a difference.

Since its inception in 1997, the IDFA Bertha Fund has supported more than 500 projects.
Because the selection criteria are so rigorous, based as they are on a project’s originality,
cinematic quality and market potential, Fund support is generally considered to be a seal of
approval. One of the strengths therefore is the catalytic effect that the Funds involvement with a
project can have in terms of attracting additional finance.

In short, the IDFA Bertha Fund supports documentaries that make a difference. Documentaries
are not only a creative form of artistic expression, but also an expression of a world-view and a
lifestyle. These documentaries therefore often tackle controversial issues in developing countries
covering such themes as social injustice, freedom of expression, human rights, poverty,
economic justice and education.

Films supported by the IDFA Bertha Fund therefore often serve to reinforce these values.

Each year, the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA) screens a large part
of the year's harvest of completed films supported by the IDFA Bertha Fund. These may be
selected in Competition or in the sections Panorama, Masters or Best of Fests. And every year
we work with numerous international film festivals, including Cannes, Berlinale, Thessaloniki,
Locarno, Toronto and Pusan, to screen the films that have received IDFA Bertha Fund support.

All of this is done in order to generate maximum attention for filmmakers from the developing
world, to stimulate local film cultures and to turn the creative documentary into a truly global
film art.
You always need a Film Business Plan to get funding from investors.

Who was Jan Vrijman?

The fund originally bore the name of the man who inspired the formation of IDFA, Jan Vrijman.
Born in Amsterdam in 1925, the then Jan Hulsebos took the name Vrijman (Freeman) after
joining the Dutch Resistance during World War II. He continually tried, as he himself put it, to
“expose informal reality”. This he did successfully as a journalist, director and columnist.

Having directed and produced almost 50 films, in 1986 Jan Vrijman decided to give up making
them. From that moment on, he would devote himself entirely to his daily column in
Amsterdam's Het Parool newspaper and to the recently-founded IDFA, which he considered a
wonderful and important event.

He was Co-Director of IDFA from 1989-1991, and remained a member of its Board until his
death. Plans for the establishment of a fund for filmmakers from developing countries had
already been initiated during his lifetime.

The Fund not only provides financial support to realize this endeavour, but plays a crucial
advisory role as well. Interested filmmakers can contact idfaberthafund@idfa.nl or +31 20
6273329 for further information.

Managing director:
Isabel Arrate Fernandez

Project Manager:
Mélanie de Vocht

Producer:
Marloes den Hoed

ANBI
IDFA Bertha Fund / Stichting Jan Vrijman Fonds

Grant Deadline: 15 May