The Asian American Documentary Network and Asian American Futures are seeking proposals from Impact Producers with documentary films they are currently working on and actively engaged in an impact campaign to participate in the AAPI Futures Impact Producer Fellowship.
Donor Name: Asian American Documentary Network (A-Doc)
State: All States
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Fellowship
Deadline: 02/28/2025
Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000
Grant Duration: Less than 1 Year
Details:
A-Doc sees the vital value of cultural production alongside movement work, and are looking for Impact Producers who seek to position documentary films—both features and shorts—at the intersection of political organizing and narrative change, that organize within and support Asian American and Pacific Islander communities towards long-term, equitable impact and change.
A-Doc is looking for films that:
- Fit the theme of legacy in AAPI communities, which encompasses historical contributions, social and political impact, and addressing present and future challenges.
- Will reach and resonate with broad AAPI audiences, including people who are earlier on in their political development.
Identifying a need for more training and expansion in the Impact Producing space, the Fellowship is designed for the Impact Producers to level-up in a community of peers, collaborators, and leaders within the documentary film and social justice ecosystem. The AAPI Futures Impact Producer Fellowship will be tailored towards each Fellow’s needs and provide the optimal amount of support and mentorship required. Impact Producer Fellows are expected to complete their proposed Impact Campaigns by the end of the fellowship.
Theme: AAPI Legacy
The AAPI Futures Impact Producer Fellowship aims to support Impact Producers attached to a film—currently in post-production or recently completed—with a built-in impact campaign that aims to bring about long-term, equitable social change within AAPI communities.
Some examples of stories that advance the theme of AAPI legacy include:
- Interdependence: AAPIs look out for each other. They work to ensure people and the environment are safe, healthy, and thriving.
- Solidarity: AAPIs can connect to the struggles and experiences of people within and outside the communities. They are stronger and more powerful when they act in solidarity with others.
- Pride: AAPIs are not a monolith. They can be proud of the diversity in language, culture, ethnicity, and experience. How they unite and build strength in numbers may depend on the issues at hand.
- Belonging: AAPIs deserve to be included, with intersectionality in mind, in politics, in pop culture, news, social justice, and more.
- Self-determination: AAPI communities deserve to govern themselves beyond war, imperialism, and violence.
Funding Information
Four (4) Fellows will be awarded a grant ($17,000) towards their film’s impact campaign and a fellowship program from April-December 2025.
Eligibility Criteria
Ideal Impact Producers have some experience with developing collaborative or community-based projects that involve the AAPI community and incorporate key elements of film, narrative strategies, or storytelling. They can be experienced in Impact Producing work or be interested in and committed to becoming one. Candidates are in alignment with A-Doc values and promise to contribute to a collaborative learning environment. They value applications with diverse backgrounds, experiences, abilities, and expertise.
- Eligible AAPI Futures Impact Producer Fellow Candidates:
- Have been working in the capacity of an Impact Producer on a film, OR are interested in or committed to becoming an Impact Producer, OR have some experience with developing collaborative or community-based projects that involve the AAPI community.
- Are attached to a film project and actively designing or executing an impact campaign for the film. These films should be recently completed or very close to completion.
- You may hold additional roles with a film (including Director/Producer) if you are applying. You will need to make the case of your role as Impact Producer of the film and impact campaign, and the overall intention of this fellowship to support and build up Impact Producers within the field.
- Intend to use the grant towards execution of the film’s Impact Campaign (e.g. payment of Impact Producer fee, event space rental, travel costs for film team or protagonists, etc).
- Are in alignment with A-Doc values.
- Demonstrate a practice or deep interest in supporting the AAPI community through film, art, and storytelling.
- Are familiar with the cultural history and issues impacting the AAPI community.
- Projects must focus and center AAPI communities and/or participants.
- Participants must be prepared for their participation in the AAPI Futures Impact Producer Fellowship, including the in-person cohort retreat in May 2025. See below for more information.
- Only one proposal per applicant will be accepted.
- Must be based in the U.S.
- Are at least 21 years of age.
- Applications that are NOT eligible:
- The film does not focus on social issue topics relevant to the AAPI experience, or does not advance the theme of AAPI legacy.
- The film does not center Asian and/or Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities and/or participants.
- The film does not demonstrate intended impact with nonfiction film, narrative strategies, or storytelling.
- Applicants that intend to use the grant towards production or post-production costs of a film.
- Applications will be evaluated on the following criteria:
- Intended impact of the film.
- The issue the project is addressing.
- Exhibits a high level of demonstrative skills of impact producing.
- Can be accomplished within the proposed budget and timeline.
- Connection to the community.
For more information, visit A-Doc.
