Before You Begin 

Thank you for your interest in Film Independent's Documentary Producing Lab. 

The 2025 Documentary Producing Lab, held in September, is designed for producers working primarily in the nonfiction space. 

For one week, Fellows participate in workshops designed to help them navigate the ever-changing documentary landscape, with a focus on financing, finishing and distributing their films.  Please note that the Lab will take place in person, at our office in Los Angeles.  A small stipend will be available per project to assist with travel costs.

The Documentary Producing Lab accepts projects in active development, production or post-production. Applicants must submit a work sample of their current project.  If they do not have a work sample of their current project, please include a work sample of a previous project.

Applicants must have at least one other producing credit, not including executive or associate producer credits, on a completed project, in any genre or format.

The applicant cannot be the director on the project they are submitting.

Please complete and submit the following electronic application form. You will be able to save your application and add documents or information until the application deadline. 

Once you click "submit," the application will be considered final and no additional information will be accepted. If you do not click "submit," the application will not be considered. At the end of the submission form, you will be asked for your payment information.     

Please be advised: the application may time out if you keep it open for a long time. It is recommended that you keep a backup of your answers in a separate document. Save early and often. You can verify that your application has saved by logging out and logging back in. 

Film Independent Membership is not required when applying to Artist Development programs. However, all participants accepted into the programs are required to join Film Independent at the standard annual General Membership rate of $105.

All applicants will be notified 3-4 weeks before the program start date.  If you don't receive a notification, please check your spam folder.

Applications Open: March 10, 2025

Regular Deadline: May 5, 2025

Extended Member Deadline: May 19, 2025

Accessibility Film Independent is committed to hosting events that are accessible. For inquiries regarding accessibility, or to request an accommodation, please contact us at accessibility@filmindependent.org.

Program Questions?  Please contact the Artist Development team at artistdevelopment@filmindependent.org.

Technical Questions?  Check out the Submitter Resource Center or contact Submittable Customer Support.

Before You Begin 

Thank you for your interest in Film Independent's Fiction Producing Lab. The 2025 Fiction Producing Lab is a full-time program that will take place in person at our Los Angeles offices for 2 weeks in October 2025. Selected producers will workshop a fiction feature project in development or post-production.   

Please complete and submit the following electronic application form. You will be able to save your application and add documents or information until the application deadline. Once you click "submit," the application will be considered final and no additional information will be accepted. If you do not click "submit," the application will not be considered. At the end of the submission form, you will be asked for your payment information.     

Please be advised: the application may time out if you keep it open for a long time. It is recommended that you keep a backup of your answers in a separate document. Save early and often. You can verify that your application has saved by logging out and logging back in. 

Film Independent Membership is not required when applying to Artist Development programs. However, all participants accepted into the programs are required to join Film Independent at the standard annual General Membership rate of $105.

Applicants will be notified 2-3 weeks before the start of the program. If you don't receive a notification, please check your spam folder. 

Applications Open: March 10, 2025

Regular Deadline: May 5, 2025

Extended Member Deadline: May 19, 2025

Accessibility Film Independent is committed to hosting events that are accessible. For inquiries regarding accessibility, or to request an accommodation, please contact us at accessibility@filmindependent.org.

Program Questions? Please contact the Artist Development team at artistdevelopment@filmindependent.org. 

Technical Questions? Check out the Submitter Resource Center or contact Submittable Customer Support.

Film Independent will provide grants to Film Independent Fellows, Spirit Award nominees and Los Angeles Film Festival alumni whose livelihoods have been disproportionately impacted by the Los Angeles wildfires through our Emergency Filmmaker Relief Fund. Grants will range from $500 to $5,000 to offer immediate relief – with priority going to those who have lost or sustained significant damage to their homes and are displaced during this devastating time. 

Film Independent will accept applications and distribute grants on a rolling basis as funds are available.

Film Independent will provide support to as many filmmakers in our community as we are able to and are actively fundraising for this purpose. Please contact artistdevelopment@filmindependent.org with any questions. 

Before You Begin 

Thank you for your interest in Film Independent's Nonfiction Works-in-Progress Series

The Film Independent Works-in-Progress Series gives members of the film community and the public advance access to new documentaries, including the opportunity to participate in in-depth conversations with filmmakers.

The series offers nonfiction filmmakers a place to share stories that are still being developed in a safe and supportive environment, and receive constructive feedback that will get their projects ready for festivals and distribution.

Taking place in the Film Independent theatre, general public audiences and invited guests can watch films as they enter the final stages of editing, offering feedback via in-depth surveys and a moderated discussion 

Though the program is open to filmmakers located anywhere, the director and/or key members of the creative team must be able to attend the screening in person.

We accept nonfiction projects with a minimum run time of 40 minutes and no longer than 120 minutes.

Please complete and submit the following electronic application form. You will be able to save your application and add documents or information until the application deadline. 

Once you click "submit," the application will be considered final and no additional information will be accepted. If you do not click "submit," the application will not be considered. At the end of the submission form, you will be asked for your payment information.     

Please be advised: the application may time out if you keep it open for a long time. It is recommended that you keep a backup of your answers in a separate document. Save early and often. You can verify that your application has saved by logging out and logging back in. 

All applicants will be notified minimum 4 weeks before the screening date.  If you don't receive a notification, please check your spam folder.

Applications for the program are rolling.  Dates will be updated for the coming year in November.

Accessibility Film Independent is committed to hosting events that are accessible. For inquiries regarding accessibility, or to request an accommodation, please contact us at accessibility@filmindependent.org or 323 556 9305.

Program Questions?  Please contact the Artist Development team at artistdevelopment@filmindependent.org.

Technical Questions?  Check out the Submitter Resource Center or contact Submittable Customer Support.

Thank you for your interest in Film Independent's Fiscal Sponsorship.

  Please complete and submit the following electronic application form.  Note that applications can take approximately 6 - 8 weeks to be assessed.

You must be a current Film Independent Member to apply for fiscal sponsorship.

Once you click "submit," the application will be considered final and no additional information will be accepted. If you do not click "submit," the application will not be considered.

It is recommended that you keep a backup of your answers in a separate document. 

Information and guidelines to answering each question is provided under the questions.  Please read them and follow the outlines provided.

 A $45 fee will be charged to submit this application unless you provide a valid waiver code.

 For more information please contact fiscalsponsorship@filmindependent.org.

  ** We advise all applicants to make sure they have selected "Yes, I want to receive email notifications" in their Submitter Profile here: https://manager.submittable.com/user/settings **