Chinese Art Documentary Open Call

Tyrus Wong painting in his studio from the CAAM-funded documentary "Tyrus" (2015). Photo courtesy of the Tyrus Wong family.

CAAM is announcing a new initiative to provide funding to independent documentary films about Chinese Art for public television. Documentaries are eligible for production or post-production funding and must be intended for public television broadcast. Awards typically range between $50,000 to $100,000. As such, please note that in the event your project gets recommended for funding, CAAM is required to ask for certain rights through a licensing agreement, including exclusive U.S. television rights for four years after the completion of the project.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS To be eligible, applicants must meet the following criteria: 

• Applicant must hold artistic, budgetary and editorial control and must own the copyright of the proposed project.
• Applicants must be 18 years of age, be citizens or legal residents of the United States or its territories.
• All projects in the post-production phase or further must have a full-length rough or fine cut to be considered. Projects in the production phase must include a maximum 15-minute sample of the project that is being submitted.
• Applicants must have previous film or television experience. If this is your first media project, you must provide a video sample that demonstrates your ability to tell a story well through a visual medium.
• In some cases, CAAM may require a Fiscal Sponsor, which is a non-profit 501(c)(3) IRS tax-exempt entity. Your sponsor would agree to accept funds from CAAM on your behalf and is responsible for redistributing funds to the project accordingly.
• Projects must be delivered according to PBS standard lengths (26:46, 56:46, 1:26:46 or 1:56:46).
• Only one proposal per applicant will be accepted.

 Projects NOT eligible: 

• Projects not intended for a public television audience.
• Projects not intended to be at standard PBS broadcast length (26:46, 56:46, 1:26:46 or 1:56:46). 
• Projects for which the U.S. television broadcast rights are not available.
• Projects in the script development stage.
• Projects intended solely for theatrical release or commercial in nature.
• Projects in which applicant is commissioned, employed or hired by a commercial or public television station.
• Thesis projects or student films which are co- or solely-owned or copy-written, or otherwise editorially or fiscally controlled by the school.
• Projects or production entities which are foreign-based, owned or controlled.
• Industrial or promotional projects.

 Our funding process will use the following guidelines in awarding funds: 

• Is the project a good match for American public television and its national audience?
• Is the story idea compelling, engaging, original and well-conceived?
• Is the visual/stylistic treatment effective and distinctive?
• Can the project be completed within a realistic timeline based on the applicant’s production and fundraising plans, personnel and budget?
• Will the project appeal not only to Asian American viewers, but also to a broader television audience?
• Does the sample demonstrate the skills and/or potential of the applicant to complete the proposed project?
• Has CAAM recently funded a similar topic, issue or treatment?
• Why are you or your team best suited to tell this story and do this project?

 Have more questions? You may visit our Funding FAQ page or email us at mediafund@caamedia.org.