Chicken and Egg to hatch Indian Documentary Foundation grant

The Indian Documentary Foundation announced that it will be launching its first grant funding for Indian film-makers. The new fund will support two women non-fiction film-makers from India with grants to the value of $10,000, and is being launched in partnership with Chicken and Egg Pictures, the American non-profit dedicated to supporting women filmmakers. The American not-for-profit which is dedicated to supporting women nonfiction filmmakers, whose diverse voices and dynamic storytelling have the power to catalyse change, at home and around the globe. The Fund, to be called the IDF-Chicken & Egg Fund for women directors will make its first call for proposals in September this year.

This fund for female non-fiction filmmakers in India is a combination of cash and services, such as editing, post-production and mixing. The filmmakers will also have a chance to attend one North American market event, where they will receive one-on-one mentoring from Chicken and Egg. The Fund will make its first call for proposals in September, with the final decision jointly levied between IDF and Chicken and Egg.

Applicants must have samples of their work to show their artistic vision and ability to tell a story, but can be at any stage of their career. The fund will support film, hybrid and transmedia storytelling for both television and theatrical release, with filmmakers’ stories focusing on social, environmental or political themes.

The co-founders of Chicken and Egg – Wendy Ettinger, Judith Helfland and Julie Parker Benello – said in a joint statement: “India is full of very creative filmmakers who have struggled to find enough funding to develop their projects. We are thrilled to be working with IDF and developing female talent with a combination of funding and mentoring.”

IDF director Sophy Sivaraman added: “We are so delighted to be working with Chicken and Egg, whose work I have admired for a long time. Their presence and support at our Good Pitch India event this year was extremely important, and we are excited about this new initiative.”