Eligible applicants will be emerging or sophomore storytellers, with a demonstrated interest in podcasting. Applicants may have previously created independent podcasts or may have worked on podcasts that have been released on a major podcasting network, however eligible applicants may not have helmed or created a podcast that has been released on a major podcasting network (CBC, Canadaland, Gimlet, Radiotopia, Frequency, etc.).
Applicants should be ready to launch or already working on building their careers. Applicants should not be currently enrolled as full-time students.
Applicants who are new to podcasting and have been working in other storytelling mediums are also eligible for the program but experience with a linear editing Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) that edits non-destructively (ProTools, Adobe Audition, Reaper, Logic) is highly recommended.
Hot Docs recognizes that podcasting is a collaborative art form and will consider admitting up to two podcast creators to the lab for each selected project. In this case, the primary applicant must meet all listed eligibility requirements, and they should be the one to complete the application form. Please indicate in the application form if you have a co-creator who should join you in the lab. In cases where two creators are admitted to the lab only one creator’s grant of $1,000 will be issued per project. Admission of a second creator will be a Hot Docs’ discretion.