Points North Fellowship

Meet the 2021 Points North Fellows on September 18 during the 12th annual Points North Pitch

A launching pad for the next generation of nonfiction storytellers

The Points North Fellowship invites up to six teams of early- and mid-career filmmakers to Maine to accelerate the development of their feature documentary, culminating in the public presentation of works-in-progress at the Points North Pitch. The Points North Fellowship aims to strengthen filmmakers’ artistic voices and propel their careers forward by facilitating new relationships with mentors, collaborators and funders. We believe that a strong community of support is vital for independent filmmakers who are taking bold creative risks and expanding the possibilities of documentary cinema.

The Fellowship begins during the week leading up to the annual Camden International Film Festival. In private workshops, Fellows receive rigorous feedback from mentors and peers as they practice their pitches, hone their vision for their film, and develop their funding and distribution strategies. These workshops culminate at the Points North Pitch, where each team pitches their project to leading funders, broadcasters, producers and distributors before a live audience – both in-person and streaming online.

In the weeks after the fellowship week, the filmmaking teams will have an opportunity to be paired for virtual industry meetings with key industry members, distributors, and programmers to help bridge critical gaps and build relationships with decision makers within the industry. In addition, leading up to and in the weeks after the pitch, fellows will get tailored advertisement and mentorship from the Points North team to help advise on the goals and strategies around their projects.

This program has continued to be a cornerstone of our artist programs, serving as an important launchpad for filmmakers and projects who are taking bold risks on their films, reaffirming our commitment to bridging important gaps between filmmakers and industry.

The Points North Fellowship supports six teams of documentary filmmakers with the development of their feature documentary projects through a combination of mentorship, workshops, industry meetings, and a public pitch session that connects them to influential funders, broadcasters, distributors, and producers. 

2024 Mentors: 

Assia Boundaoui – Director, The Feeling of Being Watched, 2016 Points North Fellow

Kristin Feeley – Deputy Director, Documentary Film Program, Sundance Institute

Tereza Simikova – Producer, Caliber Pictures

The Points North Fellowship supports six teams of documentary filmmakers with the development of their feature documentary projects through a combination of mentorship, workshops, industry meetings, and a public pitch session that connects them to influential funders, broadcasters, distributors, and producers. 

Join us in celebrating this year’s class of Fellows at the Points North Pitch  – Saturday, September 14, 10:00 AM at the Camden Opera House

Mentors: 

Assia Boundaoui – Director, The Feeling of Being Watched, 2016 Points North Fellow

Kristin Feeley – Deputy Director, Documentary Film Program, Sundance Institute

Tereza Simikova – Producer, Caliber Pictures

The Points North Fellowship invites up to six teams of early- and mid-career filmmakers to Maine to accelerate the development of their feature documentary, culminating in the public presentation of works-in-progress at the Points North Pitch. The Points North Fellowship aims to strengthen filmmakers’ artistic voices and propel their careers forward by facilitating new relationships with mentors, collaborators and funders. We believe that a strong community of support is vital for independent filmmakers who are taking bold creative risks and expanding the possibilities of documentary cinema. The Points North Fellowship is presented by the deNovo Initiative.

The Fellowship begins during the week leading up to the annual Camden International Film Festival. In private workshops, Fellows receive rigorous feedback from mentors and peers as they practice their pitches, hone their vision for their film, and develop their funding and distribution strategies. These workshops culminate at the Points North Pitch, where each team pitches their project to leading funders, broadcasters, producers and distributors before a live audience – both in-person and streaming online.

Since 2010, the program has championed 74 creative documentary features and has become recognized industry-wide as one of the most vital platforms for new artistic voices in the documentary field. Many alumni have gone on to receive support from major funders like the Ford Foundation, Macarthur Foundation and ITVS, premiered at festivals like Sundance, Berlin and Tribeca, and secured distribution from major platforms like Netflix, CNN Films, Magnolia Films and POV.

The Points North Fellowship will take place in person in Maine in conjunction with the Camden International Film Festival, September 12-15, 2024. The exact dates of the Fellowship will be announced soon. 

“Sample statement about how much the participant loved this program. The program was rewarding and gave the participant a once in a lifetime experience. Everyone should support this program.”

Fellow 1, Grantee of American Stories

“Sample statement about how much the participant loved this program. The program was rewarding and gave the participant a once in a lifetime experience. Everyone should support this program. Sample statement about how much the participant loved this program. The program was rewarding and gave the participant a once in a lifetime experience. Everyone should support this program.”

Fellow 2, Grantee of American Stories

HOW TO APPLY

ELIGIBILITY

  • The Points North Fellowship is open to all filmmakers worldwide, regardless of nationality or citizenship status.
    Submitted projects must be feature-length, with an intended runtime of 60 minutes or more.
  • Projects in all stages of production and post-production are accepted. Typically, films either in early development and those about to submit to festivals are not an ideal match for the program.
  • Applicants must be able to convey a clear vision for the completed film, including story and artistic approach, in the written proposal and in an edited work sample at least 5 minutes in length. (Selected projects will be required to show a 3-4 minute trailer live during the Points North Pitch.)
  • The Points North Fellowship does NOT support short films, fiction films, educational/advocacy films, or films commissioned by NGOs or brands.
  • Projects that have not secured access to characters or subjects, and those that aren’t yet ready to articulate a story, structure and themes, are discouraged.

POINTS NORTH FELLOWS WILL RECEIVE

  • (1) Round-trip flight to Maine
  • (2) All Access passes to the Camden International Film Festival
  • (6) nights of accommodations (one room with a double bed) during the festival

SUBMISSIONS ARE OPEN

Early Bird Deadline: February 3rd @ 11:59pm Eastern | $25

Regular Deadline: February 24th @ 11:59pm Eastern | $35

Late Deadline: March 24th @ 11:59pm Eastern | $45

Apply Here

LIVE INFO SESSION + Q&A

Curious to learn more about the fellowships we offer at Points North? Not sure if you’re eligible to apply, what kind of work we’re seeking, what time spent on the ground will be like? Register for our Artist Programs Info Session, on April 14, 2023 at 1 p.m. EST! We’ll be gathering virtually to discuss our 2023 Artist Programs offerings – the Points North Fellowship, North Star Fellowship, and LEF/CIFF Fellowship – and answer questions for interested applicants.

Please reach out to [email protected] with the subject line “INFO SESSION” with any questions.

REGISTER NOW

HOW TO APPLY

ELIGIBILITY

  • The Points North Fellowship is open to all filmmakers worldwide.
  • Submitted projects must be feature-length, with an intended runtime of 60 minutes or more.
  • Projects in all stages of production and post-production are accepted. The only requirement is that you submit 5 minutes of edited footage. (Selected projects are required to show a 3-4 minute trailer at the Points North Pitch.)

Points North Fellows will receive:

  • a $1000 stipend per project to support travel to Camden*
  • (2) All Access passes to the Camden International Film Festival and Points North Forum
  • (5) nights of accommodations for two during the festival

SUBMISSIONS ARE NOW CLOSED

EARLYBIRD DEADLINE   February 28 | CLOSED

REGULAR DEADLINE  March 28 | CLOSED

EXTENDED DEADLINE  May 16 @ 11:59pm | $45

APPLY NOW

2024 FELLOWS

Vestibule
House No. 7
Burning Daddy
Green is the Fire's Tint (working title)
With Time
Fenced (working title)

ALUMNI

Vestibule – Riley Hooper, Caitlin Mae Burke, Bryn Silverman 

Green is the Fire’s Tint (working title) – Arya Rothe, Isabella Rinaldi, Cristina Hanes

House No. 7 – Rama Abdi, Hazar Alyazji 

With Time – Brit Fryer, Noah Schamus, Jesse Miller

Fenced (working title) – Gabriella Garcia-Pardo, Jonna McKone

Burning Daddy – Tana Gilbert F., Paola Castillo

Natchez – Suzannah Herbert, Darcy McKinnon

A Distant Call – Andrea Suwito, Finbar Somers

Second World Second Sex – Carine Chichkowsky, Mila Turajlić

Letters from Home – Chenyu Kou, Xin Fang, Nicole Tsien 

Milpa – Efraín Mojica, Rebecca Zweig 

My First Brush With Infinity – Alex Westfall, Tavi Gevinson 

Women of My Life – Zahraa Ghandour

Between the Rains – Moses Thuranira, Andrew H Brown

Somebody’s Gone – Hubert Taylor, Cyrus Moussavi 

Time Hunter – Mark Mushiva, Daniel Chein 

Gross National Happiness – Arun Bhattarai, Dorottya Zurbó 

The Inventory – Ilana Coleman 

Flying Cows – Ilana Coleman

Untitled Underground Railroad Ride – Fiz Olajide 

La Flaca – Jessica Chermayeff, Ana Veselic, Alba Jaramillo 

Night Fight – Khary Saeed Jones 

EVO, the Burnt Palace – Noah Friedman-Rudovsky, Martín Sivak

Untitled Sam & Omar Project – Nadav Kurtz 

Time Bomb Y2K – Marley McDonald, Brian Becker

ق (Q) – Jude Chehab 

Exu e o Universo (Esu and the Universe) – Thiago Zanato Tripodi, Adriana Barbosa

The Tuba Thieves – Alison O’Daniel 

River of Grass – Sasha Wortzel

I Didn’t See You There – Reid Davenport 

Seeking Mavis Beacon – Jazmin Jones

Rejeito (Tailings) – Pedro de Filippis, Bronte Stahl

To Use A Mountain – Colleen Cassingham, Casey Carter

In Another Life – Grace Harper

Roleplay – Katie Mathews

Deep Inside the Shaman’s Den – Keith Wilson 

DRIVER – Nesa Azimi

The Ark – Madeline Gordon, Paul Gallash

The In Between – Robie Flores, Alejandro Flores

The Sacred and the Snake – Romin Lee Johnson, Jonathan Klett

Plan C for Civilization (feature) – Jennifer Schneider, Ben Kalina

Joonam – Sierra Urich 

Light Darkness Light – Landon Van Soest

Hwangsta – Adam Pajot Gendron, Claire Sanford

Ghost Wives – Eva Weber

Area 2 – James Sorrels, Joshua Simon

Midnight Traveler – Emelie Mahdavian, Su Kim, Hassan Fazili

Jacinta – Jessica Earnshaw, Holly Meehl

Bulletproof – Todd Chandler

Victoria – Sofie Benoot, Liesbeth De Ceulaer, Isabelle Tollenaere 

The Mountain and the Magic City – Bridget Besaw, Ben Severance 

The Feeling of Being Watched – Assia Boundaoui, Jessica Devaney, Daniel Chalfen 

Midnight Family – Luke Lorentzen 

Recovery Boys – Elaine McMillion Sheldon

A Taste of Sky – Michael Yuchen Lei

The Blessing – Hunter Baker, Jordan Fein

Massacre River – Suzan Beraza

Whose Streets – sabaah folayan, Damon Davis

The Family I Had – Katie Green, Tina Grapenthin, Carlye Rubin

Dawnland – Adam Mazo, Ben Pender-Cudlip

Fourth Wall – Luke Meyer, Tom Davis

No Place for Children – Carlye Rubin, Katie Green

The Cage Fighter – Jeff Unay, James Orara

Drawing the Tiger – Amy Benson, Scott Squire, Kristin Ougendal

American Warlord – Tony Gerber

Sweetheart Deal – Elisa Haradon, Gabriel Miller 

Soledad – Carmen Osterlye, Cassidy Friedman

The Reagan Show – Pacho Velez, Daniel Garber, Sierra L Pettengill

The Bolivian Case – Dan Fallshaw, Violeta Ayala 

The Sensitives – David Hartstein, Drew Xanthopoulos

What Tomorrow Brings – Beth Murphy 

Mateo – Aaron Naar, Benjamin Dohrmann 

Rainbow Farm – JP Sniadecki 

América – Chase Whiteside, Erick Stoll

In Country – Mike Attie, Meghan O’Hara

The Peacemaker – James Demo

All That Passes By Through a Window That Doesn’t Open – Martin DiCicco 

A Defiant Dude – Jim Lantz

Containment – Rob Moss, Peter Galison 

Peace Has No Borders – Denias Mueller, Deb Ellis

Some Kind of Spark –  Ben Niles 

East of Salinas – Laura Pacheco, Jackie Mow

Secundaria – Mary Jane Doherty

Mosquito – Jesse Epstein, Hannah Rosenzweig

Leviathan – Verena Paravel, Lucien Castaing-Taylor

Desert Stars – Raouf Zaki

La Vigilia – Jenny Alexander 

Holy Ghetto – iLan Azoulai 

Betting the Farm – Jason Mann, Cecily Pingree 

The Biosphere Experiment – Shawn Rosenheim

Angkor’s Children – Lauren Shaw

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