Applications must be submitted through the online application process by June 26, 2024 at 5 PM PST. Applications received after this date will not be accepted.
The online instructions and applications are available by clicking here.
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- What is the Digital Media Fund?
- Does LPB Still offer the Current Issue Fund (CIF)?
- What is the Documentary Core Application?
- How do I decide whether my project qualifies for the Digital Media Fund?
- Can I apply for both the PMCF and DMF?
- Do you only have one submission period per year?
- Can I reapply if my application has been declined in the past?
- What is the selection process?
- When will I be notified of being selected for funding and when would I receive the first installment of funding?
- What kind of programs is LPB looking for?
- Do all of the projects have to be Latino themed or relate to Latinos?
- Am I still eligible if I have no Latino/a on the team?
- Does LPB fund all types of genres?
- Do I need to submit a sample tape with the proposal?
- How many projects does LPB fund a year?
- Can an applicant submit more than one project at a time?
- What if a filmmaker is involved in more than one project?
- Can public television stations apply to the PMCF or DMF?
- Does LPB fund at various stages of production for Digital projects?
- Can LPB review and give feedback on the proposal prior to the deadline?
- Where can I find out about E&O insurance and closed captioning?
- How much money can I apply for?
- Must I raise a certain amount of money before I submit funds with LPB?
- Am I required to have a fiscal sponsor?
- How long do I have to complete my funded project?
- Who has editorial control of the project?
- Can my program be distributed in other areas beside public television?
- When producing for PBS are there any standards or requirements that one must follow?
- Can my program be distributed in other areas beside public television?
- On the “Budget Summary Form,” what is the difference between “Amount to Raise” and “Expected Income”?
- Can LPB take a look at my budget to let me know if it is satisfactory?
- What does LPB look for in a good sample tape?
- Can I still serve as Producer/Director/Editor for my project?
- Am I allowed to work with non-professional actors?
- Is it possible for LPB to assign a mentor to my project?
WHAT IS THE DIGITAL MEDIA FUND?
The Digital Media Fund (DMF) is an open invitation to independent filmmakers to submit proposals for digital short form programs, fiction or nonfiction (no longer than 15 minutes), for distribution online via a then-existing public television platform, and can be in the form of a short film, web series, or other mixed digital media content.
DOES LPB STILL OFFER THE CURRENT ISSUES FUND (CIF)?
LPB is consolidating the Current Issues Fund (CIF) into the Public Media Content Fund (PMCF). Proposals for feature-length documentaries dealing with current or social issues will now be considered under PMCF. Only short documentaries are eligible for the Digital Media Fund.
WHAT IS THE DOCUMENTARY CORE APPLICATION?
The Documentary Core Application is a collaborative effort by grantors who regularly fund documentary projects to standardize application requirements, with the aim of fostering greater access and a more sustainable documentary field.
The Documentary Core Application asks funders who support independent documentary film projects to adopt a common proposal format and a standard list of proposal questions in their grant applications. For frequently asked questions about the Documentary Core Application, please click here. Fiction projects are also required to follow this format.
HOW DO I DECIDE WHETHER MY PROJECT QUALIFIES FOR THE DIGITAL MEDIA FUND?
Projects in the genre of the arts, history, science, biography, health, personal storytelling, cultural documentary, mixed genre, narrative (no longer than 15 minutes) for online distribution should be submitted to the Digital Media Fund.
CAN I APPLY FOR BOTH THE PMCF AND DMF?
No, you can only apply to one funding initiative.
DO YOU ONLY HAVE ONE SUBMISSION PERIOD PER YEAR?
Yes, LPB only has one submission period per year.
CAN I REAPPLY IF MY APPLICATION HAS BEEN DECLINED IN THE PAST?
Programs previously submitted and declined by LPB will only be reconsidered if the filmmaker has made substantial changes to the proposal.
WHAT IS THE SELECTION PROCESS?
Proposals submitted to the Digital Media Fund go through a two-phase review process. In Phase One, each submission is reviewed internally and sent to professionals in the field for initial evaluation and recommendations. In Phase Two, projects recommended to move forward are reviewed by LPB programming staff. If a project advances to Phase Two, the applicant will have the opportunity to submit updates to the project before it advances to the final round. Final selections are announced 5-6 months after the deadline.
WHEN WILL I BE NOTIFIED OF BEING SELECTED FOR FUNDING AND WHEN WOULD I RECEIVE THE FIRST INSTALLMENT OF FUNDING?
Final selections are usually announced by December 2024. Do not expect to see initial disbursement of funds until the end of first quarter of the 2025 calendar year, after executing a production funding agreement with LPB.
WHAT KIND OF PROGRAMS IS LPB LOOKING FOR?
LPB is looking for compelling stories that have resonance with a national audience. LPB is interested in biographies, arts, history, character-driven documentaries, fiction and stories that reflect the diverse Latino experience primarily in the United States. LPB is especially interested in projects that focus on Latino arts and culture including music, dance and visual arts.
DO ALL OF THE PROJECTS HAVE TO BE LATINO THEMED OR RELATE TO LATINOS?
Yes, LPB’s mission is to support programs that are representative of Latino people or culture or that address issues that explore the diverse Latino American experience.
AM I STILL ELIGIBLE IF I HAVE NO LATINO/A ON THE TEAM?
Yes, applicants would still be eligible but must demonstrate they have knowledge, experience and/or significant connection to the specific Latino issue(s) and/or community on which the film is based.
DOES LPB FUND ALL TYPES OF GENRES?
LPB funds both fiction and non-fiction short form programs including mixed genre and animation.
DO I NEED TO SUBMIT A SAMPLE TAPE WITH THE PROPOSAL?
No, sample tapes are not required with the initial submission of the proposal, though they are strongly encouraged. However, you do have the option to include a link to any previous sample work in your application summary form.
HOW MANY PROJECTS DOES LPB FUND A YEAR?
The number of proposals funded varies every year. On average, LPB funds about 3-6 digital projects per year.
CAN AN APPLICANT SUBMIT MORE THAN ONE PROJECT AT A TIME?
No, an applicant can only submit one (1) project per year.
WHAT IF A FILMMAKER IS INVOLVED IN MORE THAN ONE PROJECT?
A filmmaker can submit only one (1) application per review period. That same applicant can serve on the production team of another project, but cannot be an applicant.
CAN PUBLIC TELEVISION STATIONS APPLY TO THE PMF OR DMF?
LPB does not accept applications from public media stations. If a station has a project that aligns with LPB’s mission, the station representative should contact LPB’s executive team for discussion. However, the project would not be eligible to apply to the PMCF or the DMF.
DOES LPB FUND AT VARIOUS STAGES OF PRODUCTION FOR DIGITAL PROJECTS?
The Digital Media Fund does not provide funding for research and development or pre-production for digital projects. Projects that are selected for funding must be delivered completed and fully packaged with the funds awarded from LPB.
CAN LPB REVIEW AND GIVE FEEDBACK ON THE PROPOSAL PRIOR TO DEADLINE?
LPB cannot review or comment on proposals prior to the deadline. We suggest that applicants have other filmmakers or mentors review the proposal for feedback prior to submitting to LPB.
LPB does not automatically provide feedback to applicants on proposals not funded after the process has been completed. The filmmaker must submit a written request for feedback after receiving their notification letter from LPB.
WHERE CAN I FIND OUT ABOUT E&O INSURANCE AND CLOSED CAPTIONING?
For information about closed captioning visit the National Captioning Institute at www.ncicap.org or Rev Speech-to-Text Services at www.rev.com.
There are several insurance companies that offer E & O insurance but there is no specific company that is recommended. The following is a brief list of companies that offer E&O insurance:
D. R. Reiff & Associates, Inc.
New York, NY
(800) 827-7363
www.reiffinsurance.com
Walterry Insurance Brokers
Clinton, Maryland
(800) 638-8791
www.walterry.com
HOW MUCH MONEY CAN I APPLY FOR?
Applicants can apply for up to thirty thousand dollars ($30,000) for the Digital Media Fund.
MUST I RAISE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF MONEY BEFORE I SUBMIT FOR FUNDS WITH LPB?
No, it isn’t necessary to have raised a certain level of funding to submit. However, if the project is selected for funding, it must be ready to be completed and delivered with the funds awarded from LPB within 12 to 15 months after receiving funds.
AM I REQUIRED TO HAVE A FISCAL SPONSOR?
A fiscal sponsor is not mandatory. It is up to the filmmaker whether or not they feel a fiscal sponsor is necessary.
HOW LONG DO I HAVE TO COMPLETE MY FUNDED PROJECT?
The filmmaker will be required to complete the project within twelve (12) to fifteen (15) months in accordance with the LPB Web Content Agreement which outlines a project description, budget and delivery schedule. If a filmmaker fails to comply with the terms and conditions of the production agreement, LPB may require the filmmaker to return funds provided for the project. Filmmakers will also be required to deobligate any portion of funding contemplated under an agreement which has not been spent or paid out by LPB to a filmmaker within four (4) years from the end of the fiscal year in which the agreement is entered into with filmmaker.
WHO HAS EDITORIAL CONTROL OF THE PROJECT?
LPB will have a right of consultation and the filmmaker will be required to give good faith consideration to LPB’s suggestions, but the filmmaker retains final editorial, creative and financial control. The filmmaker owns the copyright. LPB serves as a presenter and co-producer of the program to PBS and/or other public television entities.
DOES LPB HELP SECURE PLACEMENT ON PUBLIC TELEVISION PLATFORMS?
LPB makes every effort to get its projects on PBS.org and/or secondary public media platforms. LPB offers the project to these entities and works with PBS programmers in securing an online premiere.
WHEN PRODUCING FOR PBS ARE THERE ANY STANDARDS OR REQUIREMENTS THAT ONE MUST FOLLOW?
Yes, PBS has comprehensive production standards and practices that must be followed by those producing for PBS. Applicants are encouraged to review the PBS Producers handbook that is available online at www.pbs.org/about/producing-pbs/red-book.
CAN MY PROGRAM BE DISTRIBUTED IN OTHER AREAS BESIDE PUBLIC TELEVISION?
All programs must be distributed on a public television platform within the U.S and its territories. Except as otherwise agreed to by the parties, the rights granted to LPB shall be exclusive against distribution on any other platform in the “LPB Territory” (the United States and its territories, possessions and military bases) during the term of the LPB Agreement (the “LPB Term”). Filmmakers looking to secure distribution during the LPB Term outside the LPB Territory on foreign television and/or platforms must receive prior approval from LPB. If your project is selected for funding, you will be required to grant certain rights to LPB, including the right: (i) to stream over the Internet and other web-based and wireless platforms; (ii) to distribute on LPB’s websites and social media accounts; (iii) to authorize distribution on PBS’s and PBS member stations’ websites and social media accounts. The LPB Agreement shall also grant to LPB a no-cost option to acquire the exclusive domestic public television distribution rights. The LPB Term is typically for a three (3) year period but LPB has some discretion to accept Terms of different lengths.
ON THE “BUDGET SUMMARY FORM,” WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN “AMOUNT TO RAISE” AND “EXPECTED INCOME”?
The Budget should contain a funding summary and must clearly indicate whether each source of funding is “confirmed/committed” or “pending/projected.” The “Amount to Raise” is the total amount of funding that still needs to be raised for the overall project. The “Amount to Raise” can be calculated by subtracting the “Income to Date” from the “Total Project Cost.” “Expected Income” is the total amount of funding that is anticipated from other pending grants, but has not been awarded yet.
CAN LPB REVIEW MY BUDGET TO LET ME KNOW IF IT IS SATISFACTORY?
LPB cannot review or comment on proposal budgets prior to the deadline. We suggest having another filmmaker or mentor review your budget before submission.
WHAT DOES LPB LOOK FOR IN A GOOD SAMPLE TAPE?
When evaluating the quality and content of the sample tape, reviewers will consider the production value, presentation of characters, storytelling and visual style For more guidance on creating a strong sample tape, we recommend reading editor Shirley Thompson’s https://www.shirleythompson.com/2017/02/19/5-tips/.
CAN I STILL SERVE AS PRODUCER/DIRECTOR/EDITOR FOR MY PROJECT?
Unfortunately, we no longer allow individuals to hold the roles of Producer/Director/Editor. If you are serving as a Producer/Director, we prefer that you have a separate editor for your project.
AM I ALLOWED TO WORK WITH NON-PROFESSIONAL ACTORS?
While LPB acknowledges the potential talent and authenticity non-professional actors can bring to a project, we strongly advise collaborating with professional actors. Their experience and expertise not only elevates the quality of the production but also contributes to a smoother filming process and overall production success.
IS IT POSSIBLE FOR LPB TO ASSIGN A MENTOR TO MY PROJECT?
LPB reserves the right to assign a mentor and/or script consultant to your project only when deemed necessary.