Guidelines >>
How to Apply >>
FAQ >>
Production Agreement Note >>
Proposals must be received at the ITVS office by 5:00 PM Pacific Standard Time on Friday, February 1, 2008. This is not a postmark deadline. We strongly recommend that applicants use a courier service so they can track their packages. Please do not call the office to inquire about the status of your application. You will be notified within one week of receipt of proposal materials.
Visit our glossary for helpful definitions of terms you need to know before applying >>
Required Materials for International Call Application
- Application Cover Sheet (5 copies)
- Program Treatment (5 copies)
- List of Production Personnel (5 copies)
- Work-in-Progress Video (3 copies)
- Completed Sample Work Video (1 copy)
BEFORE COMPLETING AN APPLICATION, PLEASE THOROUGHLY READ THE GUIDELINES AND INSTRUCTIONS BELOW. Applications are immediately disqualified if applicants do not follow the guidelines or do not send the required materials.
1. APPLICATION COVER SHEET & BUDGET INFORMATION
A. APPLICATION COVER SHEET: The first part of the application is filled out and submitted online (http link). After you enter your information in the online application, you must click “Proceed to Confirmation.” At this time, you will have the opportunity to review the completed application and make corrections. Afterward, click “Submit Part 1 to ITVS” and you will receive a printer-friendly version of your application. Print five (5) copies of this application and sign and date all five (5) copies. B. BUDGET INFORMATION INSTRUCTIONS: Please provide estimated budget information only in the budget section of your application cover page. Do not include in-kind costs or support.
- TOTAL BUDGET = the total cost of the completed production (e.g. $200,000)
- TOTAL CASH SPENT TO DATE, IF ANY = money spent by the producer or other contributors prior to ITVS application
- PENDING FUNDS = the total amount of funds that have been requested from other sources but not yet committed; do not include your ITVS request.
- CASH SECURED, but not yet spent = committed grants and funds
- REQUEST TO ITVS FORMULA:
Total Budget ($300,000)
subtract Cash Spent ($100,000)
subtract Cash Secured (50,000)
Request to ITVS ($150, 000) - PENDING FUNDS DETAILS: grants, foundation requests, etc.; do not include your ITVS request (e.g., applied for $10,000 from ARTE; applied for $25,000 from YLE)
- CASH SECURED DETAILS, but not yet spent: committed grants and funds. Please list the amounts, sources and year received. (e.g., $5,000 received from the Jan Vrijman Fund in 2006; $8,000 received from the Sundance Documentary Fund in 2007)
2. PROGRAM TREATMENT
In English, communicate your program idea with as much detail as possible within five pages. Be sure to address the following:
- A brief synopsis of the program
- A treatment illustrating how you will translate your story from page to screen; include theme, format, structure, style and point of view
- How this program will engage an American audience
- The current status of the project and the timeline for completion
3. PRODUCTION PERSONNEL
Applicants (including co-applicants) must submit full CVs or résumés with filmographies. This warrants repeating: Applicants (including co-applicants) must submit full CVs or résumés with filmographies. No summaries or one-paragraph bios will be accepted for the Primary and Co-Applicants. For key production personnel (advisors, editor, cinematographer/videographer and so on), include name, position and a short bio only.
4. WORK-IN-PROGRESS VIDEO & PREVIOUSLY COMPLETED WORK SAMPLE VIDEO WITH DESCRIPTIONS
A. WORK-IN-PROGRESS VIDEO: Proposals must include three copies of a work-in-progress. This sample of the proposed program must be at least five minutes in length. The video can be a full rough cut, a trailer, selects, a clip, etc. If the program is not in English, the work-in-progress must have English subtitles. Research footage is not sufficient and will not be accepted.
B. PREVIOUSLY COMPLETED WORK SAMPLE VIDEO: Include one copy of a previously completed work in its entirety, with credits and English subtitles. The previously completed work must be that of the Applicant or the Co-Applicant, and the applicant’s name must appear in the credits. Demo reels do not qualify (reels containing clips of your past work). Label the spine and case with the applicant's name and title of the program.
C. DESCRIPTION OF WORK-IN-PROGRESS & PREVIOUSLY COMPLETED WORK (1 page) Indicate if the work-in-progress is a rough cut, trailer, selects, etc. Specify the length of the work-in-progress. Also, describe the relevance of the Previously Completed Work to the proposed program and the applicant’s role as credited.
NOTE: Video will be accepted on DVD-R or VHS (NTSC, PAL or SECAM). Videos will not be returned.
Read tips on submitting video to support your application >>
ASSEMBLYING YOUR APPLICATION PACKAGE
An application package is comprised of five (5) sets of the proposal documents, three (3) copies of the work-in-progress, and one copy of the completed work sample.
Please do not bind, spiral or package your proposals in folders. Each set of documents should simply be collated and stapled as such:
- Signed Application Cover Sheet
- Program Treatment (5 pages maximum)
- Production Personnel
- Description of Work-in-Progress & Completed Sample Work (1 page)
Make 5 identical sets.
FINAL REQUIRED MATERIALS CHECKLIST
Five (5) sets of all written materials:
1.) Signed Application Cover Sheet
2.) Program Treatment
3.) Production Personnel
4C.) Description of Work-In Progress & Previously Completed Work
Video Materials:
4A.) Work-in-Progress (3 copies)
4B.) Previously Completed Work (1 copy)

