Opportunity Information: Apply for ND NOFO 18 109
The U.S. Department of State, through the Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi, announced a discretionary cooperative agreement opportunity called "Documentary Film Making for Social Activism" (Funding Opportunity Number: ND NOFO 18 109). The project is designed to train and support young documentary filmmakers, generally ages 20 to 35, so they can produce short films that engage with social issues relevant to both India and the United States. The focus is not only on filmmaking technique, but on using documentary storytelling as a tool for civic engagement and public discussion.
The core of the grant is a structured program of instruction, mentorship, and production support. The selected grantee is expected to run a blended model that combines in-person learning (such as seminars, workshops, and intensive courses) with virtual support, including one-on-one mentorship and live online instructional sessions (for example, webinars or real-time chat-based teaching). This setup is meant to give participants both practical training and ongoing guidance as they move from idea development to research, filming, editing, and final delivery.
Participants will create a set of 15 short documentary films, each roughly 5 to 15 minutes long. These films must be packaged for international audiences, which typically means ensuring clear context for non-local viewers and providing English subtitles when needed. While each group of filmmakers may choose specific themes within the program's scope, the grant highlights several major issue areas: sustainable development, education and skills development, women's empowerment, diversity and pluralism, freedom of expression, and challenges tied to urbanization and smart cities. Across all topics, the project is expected to emphasize broader, cross-cutting ideas such as civic activism, the value of informed discussion in an open society, giving youth a platform to express their views, and the importance of investigative reporting and journalism standards.
Dissemination and public engagement are central expectations of the award. The completed documentaries are intended to be shared widely through multiple channels, including local broadcasters, YouTube, social media, a web portal, and film festivals. The project also includes a public-facing festival component where press are invited, and where the grantee, working alongside the U.S. Embassy and relevant U.S. Consulates, will organize press conferences featuring the filmmakers and their mentors. Beyond local screenings, the films and filmmakers are expected to gain additional visibility through submissions to national and international short documentary festivals and competitions, extending the program's reach and credibility.
In terms of eligibility and funding details, the opportunity is open to public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (that are not higher education institutions). The award ceiling listed is $200,000, and the Embassy anticipated making one award. The opportunity was posted with a creation date of April 10, 2018, and an original closing date of June 11, 2018. Overall, the grant supports a training-to-production pipeline that aims to strengthen documentary capacity among young creators while generating a portfolio of socially relevant films intended for broad public consumption and dialogue.Apply for ND NOFO 18 109
- The Department of State, U.S. Mission to India in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Documentary Film Making for Social Activism" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.040.
- This funding opportunity was created on Apr 10, 2018.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 11, 2018. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $200,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Documentary Film Making for Social Activism (ND NOFO 18 109)
What is the "Documentary Film Making for Social Activism" opportunity?
It is a discretionary cooperative agreement opportunity announced by the U.S. Department of State through the Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi. The program is designed to train and support young documentary filmmakers so they can produce short documentary films that engage with social issues relevant to both India and the United States.
Who is offering this grant?
The opportunity is offered by the U.S. Department of State, through the Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is ND NOFO 18 109.
What is the primary goal of the project?
The goal is to build documentary filmmaking capacity among young creators while using documentary storytelling as a tool for civic engagement and public discussion. The program emphasizes both practical filmmaking skills and the ability to engage thoughtfully with social issues.
Who are the intended participants (filmmakers) for the training?
The program is intended for young documentary filmmakers, generally ages 20 to 35.
What types of organizations are eligible to apply?
Eligibility is open to: (1) public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, (2) private institutions of higher education, and (3) nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status that are not higher education institutions.
Is this a grant or a cooperative agreement?
The announcement describes it as a discretionary cooperative agreement opportunity.
How much funding is available?
The award ceiling listed for the opportunity is $200,000.
How many awards does the Embassy expect to make?
The Embassy anticipated making one award.
What are the key activities the selected grantee is expected to run?
The grantee is expected to implement a structured program that includes instruction, mentorship, and production support. This includes a blended model of in-person learning (seminars, workshops, intensive courses) plus virtual support such as one-on-one mentorship and live online instructional sessions (for example, webinars or real-time chat-based teaching).
What does the blended training model include?
Based on the description, the model combines in-person learning (seminars, workshops, and intensive courses) with virtual components such as individual mentorship and live online teaching sessions (including webinars or real-time chat-based instruction).
How many films are participants expected to produce?
Participants are expected to produce a set of 15 short documentary films.
What is the expected length of each documentary film?
Each film is expected to be roughly 5 to 15 minutes long.
What does "packaged for international audiences" mean in this program?
The program indicates that films should be understandable for non-local viewers, which typically includes providing clear context and adding English subtitles when needed.
What thematic areas can the documentaries focus on?
The opportunity highlights several major issue areas: sustainable development; education and skills development; women's empowerment; diversity and pluralism; freedom of expression; and challenges tied to urbanization and smart cities.
Are there cross-cutting themes the project is expected to emphasize?
Yes. The project is expected to emphasize civic activism, the value of informed discussion in an open society, giving youth a platform to express their views, and the importance of investigative reporting and journalism standards.
Does the program focus only on filmmaking technique?
No. While filmmaking technique is a key part of the training, the opportunity also focuses on documentary storytelling as a tool for civic engagement and public discussion around social issues.
What stages of the filmmaking process does the support cover?
The description indicates ongoing guidance across the full pipeline, from idea development to research, filming, editing, and final delivery.
How are the finished documentaries expected to be shared with the public?
Dissemination is a central expectation. The films are intended to be shared widely through multiple channels such as local broadcasters, YouTube, social media, a web portal, and film festivals.
Is there an in-person public event or festival component?
Yes. The project includes a public-facing festival component where press are invited.
What role do press conferences play in the program?
The grantee, working alongside the U.S. Embassy and relevant U.S. Consulates, is expected to organize press conferences featuring the filmmakers and their mentors.
Are the films expected to be submitted to other festivals or competitions?
Yes. Beyond local screenings, the films and filmmakers are expected to gain additional visibility through submissions to national and international short documentary festivals and competitions.
Why is broad dissemination emphasized in this opportunity?
The opportunity frames the films as tools for public consumption and dialogue, with the goal of encouraging civic engagement and informed discussion. Wide distribution and festival submissions are described as ways to extend reach and credibility.
When was the opportunity posted, and what was the original closing date?
The opportunity was posted with a creation date of April 10, 2018, and an original closing date of June 11, 2018.
Is the program meant to connect India- and U.S.-relevant social issues?
Yes. The opportunity states that participants will produce short films that engage with social issues relevant to both India and the United States.
What types of training formats are mentioned as examples?
Examples mentioned include in-person seminars, workshops, and intensive courses, along with virtual formats such as webinars and real-time chat-based teaching, plus one-on-one mentorship.
What is the overall expected outcome of the grant?
The expected outcome is a training-to-production pipeline that strengthens documentary capacity among young creators and results in a portfolio of 15 short documentaries intended to spur public discussion and broad engagement.
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