My documentary is complete; it’s not a work-in-progress. Does the Gotham Week Project Market accept completed features?
No. Spotlight on Documentaries only accepts documentary projects that are not yet complete and have not screened in any other public forum. We can consider a documentary at any stage of production or post-production, but the goal of the section is to help filmmakers looking for production and finishing funds, and those ready to meet with broadcasters and distributors or attract festival interest before their film is completed. At minimum, your project should be three to six months away from being completed or submitting to festivals, though many selected projects are still years from completion.
Can I submit if I’ve already submitted my documentary rough cut to festivals and am still waiting to hear back?
As noted, Spotlight on Documentaries is for works-in-progress that will still be in production or post-production as of September 2024. Projects cannot have screened publicly in any previous event or been submitted to festivals prior to June 2024, and cannot be screened as completed films anywhere prior to November 2024.
How old can my project be and still qualify for submission?
There is no limit on how long a documentary has been in production in order to be eligible for the Gotham Week Project Market.
Must I obtain rights clearance for music or other copyrighted material in my documentary?
No, not for the purpose of this program.
Can I save my application?
This year, we have two separate applications for Spotlight on Documentaries – one for Gotham members and one for non-members. The member application is saveable, the non-member application is not. For both applications, we encourage you to compose your responses in a separate document and copy-paste your answers once you are ready to submit.
How many projects may I submit, and can they be to different sections?
Yes, you may submit as many projects as you want to all sections.
Feature or series? I am early in production on a long-term project, and I’m not sure yet what format is best for it. What should I submit it as?
To a degree, it depends on what you see as the primary goal of what you are doing; you could be too early at this time to say it could be a series. You should likely submit as a feature, but in the narrative part of the application say that it could potentially be serialized. The “series” categories are for those who are intentionally planning a multi-part work, or who have reached a stage where they realize the project needs to be multi-part.
How much of my work-in-progress do I need to submit to you at the application stage?
For a feature film, we can receive anything from a few scenes or a trailer to a significant sample from a rough cut or fine cut, but it is the primary element on which selection is made. Selection for the documentary section is very competitive, so your submitted sample should be the very best presentation of your project that you can do by the deadline. For the Documentary Series – Short Form, ideally we would see at least one episode from a proposed series; more episodes if available. For the Long Form Series, it would be good to see as much material as you have to show – similar to what we look for in a feature. A series “bible” or deck would be advisable if you have no filmed sample material. If you are proposing a Long Form Series for which you have not yet shot anything and still have questions, contact [email protected] before beginning an application.
I have a great 3-minute trailer for my feature project – is this adequate for submission?
While a good 3-minute teaser trailer might be effective for catching an industry representative’s initial interest and getting a meeting, it alone is not enough material for us to evaluate and consider at the application and selection stage. We request that you submit a work sample of at least 6 minutes and no more than 20 minutes. Projects already in the rough cut stage can submit a maximum 30 minutes of edited scenes or identify (timecode) the 30 minutes of a longer cut the committee should watch.
I’m working on a short for which I’m seeking finishing money and would like to submit a trailer sample of the short – is that OK?
No. Spotlight on Documentaries is designed for projects meant to be feature-length (at minimum, a TV hour) or is part of a proposed series, not for a standalone short work.
I made a short documentary that has played festivals, and I now wish to continue the story in a feature documentary. Can I submit the completed short as my sample?
No, not by itself. If you are truly using the short as a point of departure for a feature, you must already be in production on the feature with new material available to show us. You could submit the short and additional new material. Similarly, if you are proposing the short as inspiration for a new series treatment of the story, it could be used as a sample, but preferably in combination with additional material.
My work-in-progress sample is not as technically polished as it will eventually be – where do I note that on the application?
At the end of your “Project Summary” or “Artistic Statement,” include anything you think the screening committee should take into consideration while viewing your submission. The documentary committee is experienced with seeing work at all stages of completion.
I’m reluctant to list my financing on the application. Do I have to?
The financing you already have in place, regardless of the source, is one of the elements that comes into play in our evaluation of projects for acceptance. Some amount of financing must be listed there, even if it is only your personal funds invested to date. Naturally, additional sources of financing show the interest of other support for your project, which will increase its interest to most buyers. We are looking for active documentary projects that are moving forward. Projects with no financing information listed might not get serious consideration for this selective program.
How important is the written application in the selection process?
Very important. The most important element in the selection is the quality of the visual sample that you submit. However, the written application conveys to us how you are thinking about your work and how you will potentially talk about it to others in the future. You should take the time to make this the best presentation that you can. Ideally, your written application in combination with your visual sample should leave us with no questions about the content and purpose of the project. If your project is selected, this material will be used in our online portal available to industry in August to help them decide which projects are of interest to them for meeting requests.”
I am an American producer/filmmaker working overseas. May I still apply to Spotlight on Documentaries?
Yes. The program is open to any U.S. citizen or anyone working and living in the U.S. International filmmakers may only submit projects by invitation or through a relationship with one of the Gotham’s international partners.
I submitted my project before. May I apply with the same project?
Yes. You can reapply to Spotlight on Documentaries. However, we would like to see significant progression from previous submission samples, and new footage should show that your project is moving forward.
My video work sample will not be ready by the deadline. Can I submit the written application by the deadline and send the link with my work-in-progress sample later?
No. A submission is not reviewed until the application – including the work sample – is complete. You should hold off submitting your application until all materials are complete.
If you have any questions not addressed here, send an email to [email protected]