The Documentary Producers Lab and Fellowship is a yearlong program designed to nurture emerging producers with project-specific support through the Producers Lab, Producers Summit, year-round mentorship from industry mentors, and ongoing support from Sundance Institute staff. The program is designed to hone emerging producers' creative instincts and evolve their communication and problem-solving skills at all stages of production. The Documentary Producers Lab is part of the Producers Track, which also includes the Producers Intensive.

The Producers Intensive provides emerging producers with the opportunity to hone their craft in a two-day concentrated workshop. The program provides creative, strategic, and professional development support for 10 fiction and nonfiction producers from traditionally underrepresented communities who are poised to take the next step in their filmmaking career. Like the residency lab, the Intensive features interactive group sessions and round table conversations with producer and industry advisors on topics including the producer/director collaboration, pitching, legal and business affairs, packaging and financing, budgeting, and fostering community among the participants.

There is a separate Producers Track application for producers working on a feature film. More information can be found about support for fiction projects on the Producers Program page.

Application Open: Wednesday, November 16, 2022, 9 a.m. PT

Application Deadline: Wednesday, February 15, 2023, 5 p.m. PT

Producers Lab Dates: July 24–27, 2023; Producers Summit: July 28–July 30, 2023

Number of Fellows: 5

Location: Sundance Mountain Resort

Producers Intensive dates: Late October 2023

Number of Fellows: 5

Location: Zoom

Eligibility Criteria:

• Candidates are required to have produced or co-produced at least one documentary short (experience as an executive producer only does not qualify). Candidates must be lead producer on the project they are applying with.

• Candidates should not be the director of their submitted project.

• Candidates must have a director attached to the submitted project.

• Candidates’ submitted project must be for a feature-length format; no series work accepted at this time. (Note: Nonfiction series projects are considered through the Episodic Lab. For more information, visit the program’s page here.)

• Candidates must be in active production or post-production on the submitted project.

• Candidates must live in the United States, though the project may be filmed outside of the country.

• Candidates must be able to attend all fellowship events, as listed above.

More details can be found here: https://apply.sundance.org/prog/2023_documentary_film_producers_track_application/