Pretty Wild Fellowship

OVERVIEW

The Pretty Wild Fellowship at Points North will provide financial and creative support for four cinematic, character-driven short documentary films that shine a light on the beauty, grandeur, and vulnerability of the outdoors and the people and stories that live there.

The Fellowship will seek to support both emerging and established filmmakers and will welcome a wide range of creative approaches and styles, amplifying the voices, stories, issues, and narratives from historically underrepresented regions. Whenever possible, the Fellowship will support filmmakers who are from the region they are covering.

The Pretty Wild Fellowship is presented by YETI, and was developed in partnership with Points North and Little Monster Films, the production company founded by Academy Award-winners Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin, who will also serve as mentors for the inaugural crop of Pretty Wild Fellows.

Applications for the 2024 Pretty Wild Fellowship have closed. Selected fellows will be notified in February, 2024.

To stay in touch with the program, or for any questions regarding the application process, please email us here. 

WHAT PRETTY WILD FELLOWS RECEIVE

Over the course of 8 months, selected filmmaker fellows will receive:

  • $50,000 in unrestricted grant support for production costs
  • A three-day creative retreat in Austin, Texas prior to SXSW (March 5-7, 2024)
  • A one-week editing retreat in Maine alongside industry meetings and a work-in-progress screening during the 20th Camden International Film Festival (September 9–15, 2024)
  • Ongoing advising and mentorship from producers, editors, industry leaders and Points North staff – through calls or providing notes on rough cuts—through the duration of the program.

SUBMISSIONS

ELIGIBILITY

Content: Cinematic, short documentaries (40 minutes or less) highlighting the beauty, grandeur and vulnerability of the outdoors and the people and stories that live there.

Project Stage: We’re looking for films between late development and early- to mid-production stages that have access secured, including signed releases, with key participants and a work sample that clearly demonstrates the visual language and style of the film. This can be a trailer or scene selects from material already shot (at least 3 minutes), or a pitch deck or lookbook. Projects should be in a position to be completed and ready for release via festivals in early 2025. The program is open to the development of short films that have evolved from feature-length documentaries currently in production.

Budget: If the total budget exceeds the $50,000 grant, applicants should mention any funds received to date, and/or specific plans to secure the additional funds.  If other funding has been received, applicants must confirm they retain all rights to the film.

Rights: Applicants must have full editorial control and hold 100% of the project’s copyright and distribution rights.

Team: The Fellowship is open for submissions from independent filmmakers across the globe who have completed and released at least one documentary short or feature-length film. We strongly encourage applications from backgrounds that have been historically marginalized in the film industry by virtue of their race, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, ability, class, nationality, or citizenship status.

APPLY NOW

SELECTION PROCESS

  • All applications that pass an eligibility check based on the above criteria will advance to Phase 1 of review.
  • Members of Points North’s curatorial team will select up to 25 finalists to advance to Phase 2. Finalists will be notified and asked to provide any relevant project updates.
  • In Phase 2, a Selection Committee comprised of Points North staff and 3–5 jurors will review all finalist applications and recommend a shortlist based on the following criteria:
    • Artistic Approach: Does the project have a clear creative direction or vision? Does it demonstrate a unique visual language or an innovative approach to the documentary form?
    • Topic: Are the central topics/themes/questions unique to this film, or is the approach to the topic structured in an original way? Does this film ask questions that have a particular moral and ethical urgency? Are the filmmakers approaching their protagonists/participants with nuance and authenticity?
    • Connection to Story/Community: Does the filmmaker have a strong connection or collaborative relationship with the individuals and/or communities they plan to represent on screen? Have they carefully considered their ethical responsibilities, including any potential risks to participants in the film?
    • Feasibility: Are the proposed project timeline and budget realistic? Does the filmmaking team have the experience and/or team necessary to realize the vision outlined? Are there any concerns about roadblocks this project may face in the future?
    • Project and Career Stage: Is the project at a stage where the resources, mentorship, industry connections and exposure provided during this 18-month program will significantly advance its progress? Is the filmmaking team in a place where this opportunity will help them build a more sustainable career in independent documentary filmmaking?
    • Audience: Does the project have the potential to resonate with its target audience(s) and reach audiences across international borders and cultures?
  • In Phase 3, recommended applicants will be interviewed by Points North staff. Final decisions will be made by May 2023.

2022 FELLOWS

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