Dear reader,

This blog is about creative documentaries and about the IDFA Bertha Fund. The IDFA Bertha Fund supports documentary filmmakers in Asia, thus also documentary filmmakers in Indonesia.

Here is an introduction to the IDFA Bertha Fund:

“The IDFA Bertha Fund is designed to stimulate and empower the creative documentary sector in Africa, Asia, Latin America, Middle East and parts of Eastern Europe by supporting innovative documentary projects by talented filmmakers from these regions. The Fund provides development, production and distribution grants through two funding schemes. Filmmakers from and living in the mentioned regions can apply for IBF Classic.”

What is a creative documentary?

“Creative documentaries are films that are interesting from a stylistic point of view, or are particularly innovative, relevant to social issues and successfully manage to communicate with their audiences.

Creative documentaries are are visually striking and express the filmmaker’s vision. The filmmaker makes artistic choices in the use of cinematic means (image, sound and editing) to convey his or her vision on the subject matter and tell the story.

Creative documentaries also offer new insights into society – they open our eyes and stimulate our critical thinking power. They do not reiterate the reality of yesterday or today, as this is the job of the news. News can break us down, but background stories do the opposite. They offer nuance and provide insight, making reflection on current events possible.

The power of a great documentary is when it succeeds in touching us, getting us to feel uncomfortable, softening us up or making us laugh.”

In assessing projects the fund will consider

(1) the strength and originality of the treatment,

(2) the originality and urgency of the story,

(3) the vision and ability of the director and

(4) the financial feasibility of the project.

Projects can be submitted in two categories:

• Project development: The maximum contribution for project development is € 5.000

• Production & post-production: The maximum contribution for production & post-production is € 17.500.

Deadline 2018: 15 May.

See also: https://www.idfa.nl/en/info/ibf-application-categories

Here are some other funds that documentary filmmakers can apply to:

• Just Films Ford Foundation. Deadline: 26 April.

• Miller / Packan documentary Film Fund. Deadline: 8 May.

• Women in Film Finishing Fund. Deadline: 30 June.

• Points North Fellowship. Deadline: 10 June.