Spotlight on Documentaries submissions for the 2023 Project Market will open in late March.

A selection of 60 nonfiction films and series, Spotlight on Documentaries offers emerging and established filmmakers the opportunity to introduce new work in production or post-production to the Project Market’s attending industry professionals.

Over the course of the Project Market, selected filmmakers are invited to meet with hundreds of industry representatives from companies such as A24, Cinetic, Dogwoof, Ford Foundation, HBO Documentary Films, IFC Films, Impact Partners, ITVS, MUBI, NEON, POV, Submarine, Sony Pictures Classics, Sundance Institute, SFFilm and more, and festival and market reps from Hot Docs, IDFA, Sheffield Doc/Fest, SXSW, Tribeca Film Festival and more.

Notable recent alumni of Spotlight on Documentaries include:

Other recent Project Market alumni include: Reid Davenport’s I Didn’t See You There, Alex Pritz’s The Territory, Rebeca Huntt’s Beba, Paula Eiselt & Tonya Lewis Lee’s Aftershock, Brett Story’s The Hottest August, Jon-Sesrie Goff’s After Sherman, Jessica Earnshaw’s Jacinta, Luke Lorentzen’s Midnight Family, Stephen Maing’s Crime + Punishment, Catherine Gund’s Chavela, Lyric Cabral & David Felix Sutcliffe’s (T)error, Michael Palmieri & Donal Mosher’s The Gospel of Eureka, Angelo Madsen Minax’s North by Current, Nancy Schwartzman’s Roll Red Roll, and Keith Maitland’s Tower.

Project Market alumni that premiered at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival included: Rebecca Landsberry-Baker & Joe Peeler’s Bad Press, Sierra Urich’s Joonam, Elaine McMillion Sheldon’s King Coal, Milisuthando Bongela’s Milisuthando, and Alison O’Daniel’s The Tuba Thieves.

For more information about participating in the Gotham Week Project Market, visit our Project Market page.

Dates & Deadlines

— Information Session: Thursday, April 26, 6:00 PM ET

— Early Submission Deadline: May 4, 2023 at 11:59 PM HT 11:59 PM HT (Hawaii–Aleutian)

— Final Submission Deadline: May 23, 2023 at 11:59 PM HT 11:59 PM HT (Hawaii–Aleutian)

— Submissions Notifications: mid-July 2023

— 2023 Gotham Week: September 16—22 (Project Market Sept 18—22)

How to Apply

If you are interested in submitting your film to participate in the Project Market, learn more about eligibility, application requirements, and materials below.

Eligibility

Active Gotham Membership: To apply to the Project Market, you must be a member of The Gotham. If you are not currently a member, use the code GWPM23 for 15% off of your annual membership fee when you join at the Pro or Essential level. Pro members receive a submission fee waiver. Learn more and become a member.

Submission Fees: You must pay a submission fee to complete your application. The fee for those who submit by the Early Deadline is $45; the fee for those who submit by the Final Deadline is $60.

U.S.-Based Filmmakers: To be eligible to submit your project for consideration, filmmakers must be U.S.-based, meaning U.S. citizens or living and working in the U.S. International filmmakers can apply through one of The Gotham’s Presenting Partners, see below.

Project Stage: Spotlight on Documentaries is for filmmakers with projects in development, production, or post-production seeking financing partners, broadcast/distribution, and festival invitations.

Application Materials

Please Note: completed films (features, series, or short films) are not eligible for Spotlight on Documentaries. Projects cannot have been screened publicly in any previous event or been submitted to festivals prior to June 2023.

Documentary projects previously selected for inclusion in Spotlight on Documentaries are ineligible to be re-submitted in subsequent years.

It is strongly advised that you first review the application and prepare your materials offline, as many fields have essay-type answers and word count limits. Prepare written application materials in a separate text document, then use this to come back and complete your online application. All projects must be submitted via online application. Applications must be complete and all pertinent materials and fees must be received by The Gotham for your submission to be considered.

A Completed Submission Should Include the Following:

— Submitted Online Application
— A password-protected link to a work sample (within the application)
— Current Gotham membership
— Paid application fee

Submission Formats:

Within the online application, you must submit a password-protected link to the work sample of your project. Viewing links are the required submission format for video material. Work samples should be at least 6 minutes and usually no more than 20 minutes (see below). Projects in Rough Cut stage can submit maximum 30 minutes of edited footage or identify (timecode) the 30 minutes of a longer cut the committee should watch.

— Features (intended 52 mins or longer). Work-in-progress features in production or post-production, but not yet complete, with sample material to submit. Feature-length applicants must have a visual sample to submit (requirements below). Projects need to have a sample of at least 6 minutes and no more than 20 minutes. Projects in the Rough Cut stage can submit a maximum of 30 minutes of edited footage or identify (timecode) the 30 minutes of a longer cut the committee should watch.

— Series: Long Form (episode length 22 mins or longer). Limited or continuing series of two or more episodes; in development or production with sample material to submit preferred. Long-Form Doc Series should ideally have an intended episode length of at least 22 minutes or a significant sample and deck or bible; it can be in development or production but preferably must have a visual sample to submit.

— Series: Short Form (avg episode length 15 mins or less). Limited or continuing series of three or more episodes; in development or production with sample material to submit required. Short-Form Doc Series must have an intended episode length of no more than 15 minutes; it can be in development or production but must have a visual sample to submit. Deck or bible also recommended.

If you have additional comments about your submission that you feel are important for the review committee to know, you should include these as part of the written application at the end of the “Director’s Statement.”

Written applications must be submitted online by midnight (Hawaii-Aleutian Standard Time – HST) on the deadline.

FAQ

Q: My documentary is complete; it’s not a work-in-progress. Does the Gotham Week Project Market accept completed features?
A: 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.

Q: Can I submit if I’ve already submitted my documentary rough cut to festivals and am still waiting to hear back? 
A: As noted, Spotlight on Documentaries is for works-in-progress that will still be in production or post-production as of September 2023. Projects cannot have screened publicly in any previous event or been submitted to festivals prior to June 2023, and cannot be screened as completed films anywhere prior to November 2023.

Q: How old can my project be and still qualify for submission?  
A: There is no limit on how long a documentary has been in production in order to be eligible for the Gotham Week Project Market.

Q: Must I obtain rights clearance for music or other copyrighted material in my documentary?  
A: No, not for the purpose of this program.

Q: How many projects may I submit, and can they be to different sections?  
A: Yes, you may submit as many projects as you want to all sections.

Q: 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?  
A: 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 probably 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.

Q: How much of my work-in-progress do I need to submit to you at the application stage?  
A: 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.

Q: I have a great 3-minute trailer for my feature project – is this adequate for submission? 
A: 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 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.

Q: 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?  
A: 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.

Q: 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?  
A: 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.

Q: My work-in-progress sample is not as technically polished as it will eventually be – where do I note that on the application?  
A: At the end of your “Project Summary” or “Director’s 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.

Q: I’m reluctant to list my financing on the application. Do I have to?  
A: 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.

Q: How important is the written application in the selection process? 
A: Very important. The most important element in the selection is the quality of the work sample (trailer, segment, rough cut, etc.) that you submit. However, the written application conveys to us how you are thinking about your work and how you will potentially be talking about it to others in the future – and during your meetings and networking should the project be selected for Spotlight on Documentaries. The professionalism and thoughtfulness of the written presentation plays a big part. You should take the time at the application stage to make this the best presentation that you can. Ideally, your written application in combination with your submitted video sample from the project should leave us with no questions about the content and purpose of the project you are making. 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 and for meeting requests. Although you will have the opportunity to update what you have written if your project is selected, our deadlines will demand a very quick turnaround.

Q: I am an American producer/filmmaker working overseas. May I still apply to Spotlight on Documentaries?
A:  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.

Q: I submitted my project before. May I apply with the same project?
A: 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.

Q: Is there a benefit to applying before the Early Deadline?
A: Yes, a financial one to the submitter. To encourage early submissions, applicants submitting by the Early Deadline pay a $45 submission fee. Applicants submitting by the Final Deadline pay a $60 submission fee. In terms of final selections, the deadline a submission comes in by has no impact.

Q: My video work sample will not be ready by the early deadline. Can I submit the written application by the early deadline and send the link with my work-in-progress sample later?
A: 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.

Q: What information about my project will be shared with industry members? What information will be shared with  the public?
A: For accepted projects, information entered in the online application, including financial information, will be printed in the Spotlight on Documentaries section of the Project Forum Online, which is made available only to the attending industry interested in meeting with your project. Limited information on key creative team and project summaries will also be printed in The Gotham Week Project Market Catalogue and on The Gotham Week website. The Gotham will NOT make Financial/Development information available to the public.
If your project is accepted into the Project Forum, you will have a limited-time opportunity to make changes no later than July before publication. The Gotham reserves the right to copy-edit synopses and biographical material where necessary.
If your project is accepted to The Gotham Week Project Market, you will be asked to also submit up to two samples which will be made available to registered doc buyers to assist them in planning their meeting requests— a short 2–3 minute trailer, and an up to 20-minute longer sample.

Q: How do I confirm that The Gotham has received my application?
A: Shortly after submitting your online Application Form, you will receive an automated email notification acknowledging that your information has been received, which will include a copy of your written application.

Q: Will my submission remain confidential?
A: Spotlight on Documentary submissions are screened by The Gotham Week Screening Committee. Submissions are confidential and are not made available to anyone outside The Gotham Week Committees. Projects that are finalists for potential awards will be sent to appropriate jury members for consideration.
The Gotham Week is attended by select members of the press but is not open to film/television critics for review purposes. Films are not available for review.

Q: When will I know if my project has been accepted?
A: All applicants will be notified of acceptance status by mid-July. Preliminary calls from The Gotham concerning your entry do not indicate acceptance. If your project is accepted, you grant us permission to showcase your project at The Gotham Week Project Market.

Q: If accepted, what are The Gotham’s crediting requirements?
A: Projects that are selected for The Gotham Week’s Project Market are required to acknowledge The Gotham support by the use of The Gotham Film & Media Institute logo in the end credits and marketing materials of the completed work. Use the form “Supported by The Gotham Film & Media Institute” and include The Gotham logo.

Presenting Partners

Around the world, The Gotham has partnerships with key support organizations and funding bodies that provide the most exciting international projects the opportunity to seek out the resources and connections the Project Forum can provide. Non-U.S. applicants to the Project Market may only submit via these partners.

Contact Us

If you have any questions about eligibility, the application process, or what to expect from participating in Spotlight on Documentaries during the Gotham Week Project Market, please contact Soheil Rezayazdi, Nonfiction Programs Manager, at [email protected].