American Documentary, Inc. | For Producers . Submitting Your Film

POV, public television's premier showcase for independent nonfiction film and video, seeks programs from all perspectives to showcase in its annual national PBS series. All subjects, styles and lengths are welcome.

Please download the complete Guidelines for submitting your film (PDF).

Visit cfe.pov.org for the complete submission guidelines and online submission form.

Eligibility

POV considers work that fits all of the following criteria:

Nonfiction only. Works that integrate some fictional elements or create genre hybrids can be considered. Please do not submit docudramas, reenactments, or performance pieces. When in doubt, please email cfe@pov.org, and include a number where we can reach you.

Works by independent filmmakers. Works produced by filmmakers in association with a station or an organization are acceptable if editorial control was entirely in the hands of the filmmaker. Instructional films, films made for a client, and sponsored films are not eligible.

Works that have not been broadcast nationally. POV expects to provide the broadcast premiere of a program. POV will, however, consider a work when it is of special merit and has had only limited television exposure (such as broadcast on local public TV stations or on cable systems with limited geographical reach).

POV welcomes and encourages submissions from filmmakers worldwide. If your film has not been previously broadcast in the US and meets all other eligibility requirements you may submit your film to POV.

Works released within the past four years. POV will consider exceptional works completed before this date only if they have achieved significant recognition through festivals, awards or reviews. However, the producer or distributor must contact our office to obtain clearance before the work is submitted. Eligibility of films released prior to the four-year cut-off date is solely at the discretion of the Executive Director.

Works that are complete or nearly complete. POV considers completed work or fine cuts for standard acquisition. The series also occasionally provides limited funds for completion costs such as sound editing, mixing, negative cutting, on-line editing, etc. Co-production funds are available in certain circumstances. Completion funding will be applied towards the acquisition fee for broadcast rights. Samples, assemblies or excerpts usually cannot be considered for broadcast in the upcoming season and should be submitted outside of competition. See "Early Introduction" for details.

Works not previously submitted to POV Exceptions will be made for work that was previously submitted in non-final form, and for a small number of producers who are invited to re-submit their films. Producers who have been invited to resubmit should call our office before completing their submission form. Producers whose work has significantly changed since the previous submission should contact our office. All other previously submitted works will be disqualified.

Works of any length will be considered. Short films (30 mins. and under) are welcome and encouraged. Please note that producers may be asked to cut works longer than 51:20 to comply with the POV/PBS broadcast format.

Works that comply with PBS underwriting guidelines. For details on PBS National Program Funding Standards and Practices, please visit the PBS web site at www.pbs.org/producers/ .

Early Introduction. POV's programming team gets to as many markets, festivals and other industry events as we can. Why? Because we are always interested in what is coming down the pike. We review many projects throughout the year but many of these projects are either in development or too early production to be considered in POV's highly competitive selection process. Many projects we encounter at an early stage will eventually submit through out Open Call.

If you have a documentary project you'd like us to know about please submit under the "Early Introduction" category.

Early Introduction is not for films seeking completion funding. If you are seeking completion funding you should submit under that category and follow the instructions for sending supplemental material.

If you're unsure of where your project belongs please email cfe@pov.org.

The executive director reserves the right to make exceptions to these guidelines in special cases.

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