Call for Applications: Dart Documentary Film Fellowship
The Dart Center Documentary Film Fellowship, designed for senior and mid-career filmmakers who wish to deepen their knowledge of emotional trauma and psychological injury, delve into documentary ethics and craft challenges, and enrich their professional engagement around violence, conflict and tragedy, will be held February 9-15, 2025. The application deadline is October 16, 2024 at 5:00 pm ET.
Applications are now open for the second annual Dart Center Documentary Film Fellowship, an immersive, weeklong fellowship for senior and mid-career documentary filmmakers who wish to deepen their knowledge of emotional trauma and psychological injury, delve into documentary ethics and craft challenges, and enrich their engagement around violence, conflict and tragedy.
Open to professional documentary filmmakers from all over the world, the Dart Center Documentary Film Fellowship will take place February 9-15, 2025 in Orlando, Florida.
“Today’s documentary filmmakers immerse themselves in the most difficult human experiences, bringing audiences into intimate engagement with stories of violence, crisis and tragedy,” said Bruce Shapiro, executive director of the Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma. “This Dart Center fellowship harnesses the energy and innovative spirit of documentarians committed to trauma-aware storytelling, equipping them with the knowledge and skills needed to work with vulnerable individuals and communities ethically and effectively, and to advance the well-being of documentary teams on these demanding and crucial projects.”
The week-long fellowship will bring 14 filmmakers together with leading experts on core issues of trauma science as well as innovators in documentary practice, providing a forum for the exchange of ideas, experiences and challenges in the profession.
Seminars will focus on ethical documentary reporting and engagement of vulnerable people in all stages of production; narrative and craft challenges specific to documentary film; duty of care to subjects and sources; self-care and resilience; as well as organizational and peer support from pre-production through film distribution.
The program will equip filmmakers with the knowledge and skills to approach victims and survivors with sensitivity and depth; understand the complexity of trauma survivors' experiences; tell more insightful, multi-dimensional and nuanced stories about those impacted by trauma; make more informed, ethical choices when covering traumatic events; and create self-care and peer support plans that span development through distribution, awards and streaming runs.
The fellowship covers round trip travel, seven nights of lodging, meals and expenses directly related to participation, such as ground transportation in Florida. The program does not cover health or travel insurance, visa costs, additional nights of lodging beyond the program’s duration or ground transportation in fellows’ home cities.
Application deadline: October 16, 2024 at 5:00pm ET.
Click here for application information and to apply.
Fellowship Testimonials:
The fellowship was like nothing I’ve ever experienced before. Something quite special happens when you spend a week speaking openly and honestly with peers from around the world about how we approach and make more nuanced documentaries about traumatic content in an ethical and responsible way. For one of the first times in my life I felt seen and heard, like there are potential paths through which we can create positive change both in terms of the representation of trauma, but also in how we manage the toll of covering traumatic content as filmmakers. As a bonus, I’m sure I’ve made some friends for life.
The fellowship week was one of those experiences where I stretched my mind and comfort zone to its limits. I learned so much, but I left more aware than ever that I still have much to learn. I cried with the other fellows while we grasped the immense pain and heartache we've all documented. I hope to stay in touch with this group for the rest of my career, and I'll always cherish this experience.
An inspiring and rejuvenating week that made me a smarter filmmaker
About the Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma
The Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma is dedicated to improving media coverage of trauma, conflict and tragedy. The Center also addresses the consequences of such coverage for those working in journalism. A project of Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, the Dart Center also operates programs in Europe, at the University of Washington and in Australia and the Asia-Pacific Region. The Dart Center also maintains a research lab at the University of Tulsa’s Department of Psychology. The Dart Center develops educational resources for use in journalism schools and news organizations, provides training and conducts research about news coverage of violence and trauma. For more information, visit www.dartcenter.org
About the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism
For almost a century, the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism has been preparing journalists in a program that stresses academic rigor, ethics, journalistic inquiry and professional practice. Founded by Joseph Pulitzer in 1912, the school offers Master of Science, Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy degrees. For more information, visit www.journalism.columbia.edu
About the Dart Foundation
Founded in 1984 by William A. and Claire Dart in Mason, Michigan, the Dart Foundation steadfastly strengthens communities through services that enhance the quality of life. The Dart Foundation has a legacy of support for education with emphasis on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), as well as health, workforce development and disaster relief. For more information, visit www.dartfoundation.org
