Showtime Documentary Films Named Presenting Sponsor of Points North Fellowship / Deadline for submissions extended to July 21

July 11, 2017 [Camden, Maine] – The Points North Institute announced that SHOWTIME®, under the Showtime Documentary Films banner, will serve as the Presenting Sponsor for the 2017 Points North Fellowship and a Headliner Sponsor for the Institute’s upcoming Camden International Film Festival. Now in its 8th year, the Points North Fellowship helps six early career filmmakers accelerate the development of their feature-length documentary projects through a combination of funding, mentorship, workshops, industry meetings and participation in the annual Points North Pitch.

In celebration of this new partnership, Points North has extended the deadline for the Fellowship and other artist support programs — including the Shortform Editing Residency and North Star Scholarship — until July 21.

The collaboration is the second year that Showtime Documentary Films has provided major support for the Camden International Film Festival. Over its 13-year history, the Maine-based festival has become a widely respected international showcase of boundary-pushing documentary film. Last year, CIFF announced the launch of a new parent organization, the Points North Institute.

Six alumni of the Points North Fellowship have had their premieres at major festivals in 2017, including WHOSE STREETS (Sundance), THE CAGE FIGHTER (True/False, San Francisco), THE REAGAN SHOW (Tribeca), THE SENSITIVES (Tribeca), THE FAMILY I HAD (Tribeca) and ALL THAT PASSES BY THROUGH A WINDOW THAT DOESN’T OPEN (Visions du Reel).

All six projects selected for the Points North Fellowship will receive a cash stipend, as well as All Access passes to CIFF, accommodations during the festival week, and a round-trip flight to Maine. The program begins with two days of intensive pitch training and industry mentorship, held at the campus of Maine Media Workshops, a longstanding partner of the Points North Fellowship. These sessions are designed to prepare filmmakers to pitch their projects to an international delegation of leading funders, broadcasters, distributors and producers before a live audience at the eighth annual Points North Pitch held during CIFF on Saturday, September 16th.

“We are thrilled to work with SHOWTIME in this field-building capacity to nurture the careers of diverse storytellers and help them develop a stronger artistic voice,” said Program Director Sean Flynn. “This partnership will allow us to continue advancing our mission to create a launching pad for the next generation of nonfiction storytellers.”

Applications will be accepted for the Points North Fellowship, as well as other Points North Institute artist programs, through July 21, 2017. More details are available at: https://pointsnorthinstitute.org/artist-programs/