public media fund

VMM seeks public media film and television projects that are intended and appropriate for Public Media Television Broadcasting, including Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) digital and streaming platforms, that represent the cultures, experiences, and perspectives of Native Americans and Alaska Natives.

Image from MANZANAR, DIVERTED.

Public Media Fund

Application periods:

Open
October 1
January 1
July 1

Close
December 31
June 30
December 31

Included in Vision Maker Media’s Production License Agreement (contract) for a funded film or television program, is the assignment of exclusive broadcast rights for four years and one-year off-air recording rights for educators. All funded and completed film and television programs are required to meet the PBS Technical Operating Specifications and Production Guidelines as outlined in the PBS Red Book, online at https://www.pbs.org/about/producing-pbs/.

Image from Decolonizing The Plate.
Image from When They Were Here.

At times, Vision Maker Media may offer additional distribution opportunities to funded film and television programs such as educational and home, as well as possible theatrical, non-theatrical, television (free, pay syndicated and video-on-demand), multimedia and internet broadcasting (including podcasting and streaming).

We believe Native Americans and Alaska Natives play a vital role in the story of the United States. Vision Maker Media works with numerous public television distributors who help our content reach more than 90-million Americans each year. Vision Maker Media films have been featured on Independent Lens, POV, America ReFramed, and American Masters to name a few. Vision Maker Media producers have received several accolades across broadcast television over VMM’s history.

categories:

-Research and Development ($5,000-$25,000)

-Production (up to $150,000)

-Post-Production (up to $30,000)

For more information or questions, contact info@visionmakermedia.org or 402-472-3522.

public media fund

Supporting native media​

Application period:
CLOSED

Vision Maker Media’s call for film and television production proposals for its Public Media Fund was January 4, 2022 to February 11, 2022. VMM seeks public media film and television projects that are intended and appropriate for Public Media Television Broadcasting, including Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) digital and streaming platforms, that represent the cultures, experiences, and perspectives of Native Americans and Alaska Natives.

Support for the Vision Maker Media Public Media Fund is provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

Creative shorts fellowship

Application Period:
Closed

The Creative Shorts Fellowship supports Emerging Native filmmakers to produce a short film: documentary, drama, experimental, or animation piece; and supports a mentorship with a career professional film producer or director.

Emerging Native filmmakers find their own mentor for their project. Film professionals, Native or non-Native, may also submit a proposal—following criteria and eligibility—to mentor an Emerging Native filmmaker in the production of that emerging filmmaker’s short film. Emerging Native filmmakers must choose their mentor prior to applying and film professionals must choose their mentee prior to applying. Topic ideas may be about Native cultures, values, histories, contemporary life, environmental justice, social justice, youth, elders, and/or Native empowerment.

Selected shorts projects will be notified Spring 2022. For more information or questions, contact visionmaker@unl.edu or 402-472-3522.

Finished Acquisitions

Application period:
open year round

Vision Maker Media seeks provocative and engaging completed programs from independent or public television producers that represent the experiences, values and cultures of Native Americans and Alaska Natives.

Applicants will be required to create a user account and sign up. If you have any problems with the online application process, please contact Vision Maker Media at visionmaker@unl.edu or call 402-472-3522.

Walt Pourier

Vice Chair

Walt is Oglala Lakota and created the logo for Urban Rez. He is Creative Director, owner of Nakota Designs Advertising Designs and Graphics. Executive Director of the Stronghold Society nonprofit dedicated to instilling hope and supporting youth movements through Live Life Call To Action Campaigns.

JORDANA BASS

Project Coordinator​

(Hataža Mani Winga)​

"Cinema Aficionado"

Role: Jordana is excited to engage with different Native/Indigenous communities. Her passion for working with youth will help develop the Native Youth Media Project. She will also assist with the Creative Shorts Fellowship (CSF) to help organize deliverables for filmmakers.