LPB Public Media Content Fund Grant

LPB Public Media Content Fund Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Latino Public Broadcasting
Amount: US $10,000 - US $100,000
Last Updated: June 18, 2025

Summary

The LPB Public Media Content Fund invites independent filmmakers to submit proposals for documentaries and limited series that align with LPB’s Content Priorities. This year emphasizes arts and cultural documentaries that resonate with a national audience. Funding is primarily available for production and post-production stages, with amounts ranging from $25,000 to $100,000. Eligible applicants must be U.S. citizens or residents, at least 18 years old, and maintain creative control over their projects.

Overview

Public Media Content Fund (PMCF) The Public Media Content Fund (PMCF) is an open invitation to independent filmmakers to submit proposals for documentaries and limited series that meet LPB’s Content Priorities and are appropriate for distribution on national public television and its platforms. Content Priorities Projects applying to the PMCF can be in the genres of the arts, history, science, biography, health, personal storytelling, current events, social issues, and mixed genre. This year we are particularly interested in arts and cultural documentaries. Projects should present a range of subjects, issues and viewpoints that complement and challenge existing public media offerings. Projects should integrate strong storytelling techniques that give voice and provide a lens to the diverse Latino experience. While projects can take creative risks and reflect personal or individual experience, they must resonate and appeal to a national U.S. audience. Funding Categories LPB is primarily interested in funding projects at the production and post-production stage. Requests for research and development (R&D) are not a priority. LPB funding ranges for each category as follows: Research and Development $10,000 – $20,000 Research and Development: Funding to fully develop storylines, identify engaging characters, talent and complete a production proposal and budget. Eligible activities include: (i) research; (ii) clearance of life story rights or other rights necessary to initiate production; (iii) development of a script or treatment, including the hiring of writers; (iv) preliminary filming, if necessary, prior to the commencement of principal photography; (v) completion of a production proposal, budget and sample reel. Production $40,000 – $100,000. Production: Funding to film and produce a program. Eligible activities include: (i) principle photography (including all production activities, hiring of crew, talent, clearance of rights for public media use; (ii) post-production. Post-Production $25,000 – $100,000 Post-Production: Funding to complete a program already in progress. Eligible activities include: (i) post-production (including editing and completion); (ii) clearance of rights required for public media distribution.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. An independent filmmaker or a production entity (i.e., a partnership or organization owned by the individual filmmaker or filmmakers), operating independently from a film studio, commercial broadcast or cable entity.Applicants must retain the copyright, artistic, budgetary and editorial control over the proposed project.Applicants must agree to create only one version of the documentary. A re-edited version of the LPB funded program cannot be re-packaged for another network. Applicants must be at least 18 years of age, be citizens or legal residents of the United States or its territories, and have previous film or television experience demonstrated by detailed personnel bios or resumes. Applicants are only allowed to submit one application for a project per review period.

Ineligibility

Applicants applying to the PMCF are not eligible to apply to the CIF with the same or different project.Not Eligible:Programs/films previously submitted and declined by LPB with no substantial change to the proposal; Thesis projects or student films; Public television stations; Filmmakers or production entities that are foreign based, owned or controlled; Industrial, promotional or advocacy projects; Projects for which the exclusive domestic television broadcast rights are not available; Projects with a primarily commercial interest; Projects whose content or ideas are substantially similar to previously LPB funded programs currently in production or distribution; Current signatories of LPB contracts who have not completed delivery; Current signatories re-applying for the same type of funding originally awarded; and Employees of CPB, PBS, APT, NETA, ITVS and the NMCA.