FAQ: Hot Docs-Blue Ice Docs Fund

Professional credits include having previously worked on one of the following: a documentary or fiction film commercially released either locally or internationally, a documentary or fiction film and/or series broadcast on television either locally or internationally, a documentary or fiction film that has screened in at least one African or international film festival. Eligible professional credits include but are not limited to: producer, director, associate producer, executive producer, DOP, editor, etc. The Fund will occasionally consider an applicant that does not meet these requirements, provided a senior producer is meaningfully attached to the project as confirmed in writing.

Applicants, including students who live and work outside of Africa for more than two months per year must be approved on a case-by-case basis and should be in touch directly with the fund administration at [email protected] for approval.

The Hot Docs-Blue Ice Docs Fund currently funds the following countries. The list of eligible countries is subject to change.

Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe

African projects with international co-production partners are eligible to apply to the Hot Docs-Blue Ice Docs Fund if the following conditions are met:

• The African partner must be the primary partner and primary rights holder of the film
• The director on the project must be a citizen of an African country who primarily lives and works in Africa
• There must be an African producer on the project who is a citizen of an African country and who primarily lives and works in Africa
• A co-production agreement must be submitted with the application
• The Hot Docs-Blue Ice Docs Fund will enter into an agreement only with the African partner and all grant funds must be spent in the African region of production

Hot Docs-Blue Ice Docs Fund applications will only be accepted in English. All supporting materials can be in the original language. However, if in a language other than English, it should be accompanied by an English translation of the document, or summary of key points in English, signed and dated by the producer. If the footage/trailer is in a language other than English, it must be accompanied by either English subtitles or transcripts.

All applicants will receive confirmation that their submission is complete and has been received by our staff within four weeks of applying. Please do not contact our office to confirm your application within those four weeks.

An agreement that demonstrates you optioned a book or piece of existing intellectual property to make a film (in the case where your project is based on a book or a piece of intellectual property).

An agreement that demonstrates you optioned the life rights for a character in a film (in the case where your project is entirely based around the life story of a central character/ subject).

A Chain of Title is a series of documentation which establishes the proprietary rights of a film (i.e., authorship rights, contributions), which defines who the intellectual property owner is.

• In the case where music is a central focus of your story, and obtaining rights to that music is imperative to the project: Copyright on music.
• In the case where a “brand” or “logo” is a central focus of your story, and obtaining rights to that trademark is imperative to the project: Trademark clearances
• In the case where participation of the central character is imperative to the project: Talent agreements, or releases from subjects, characters, life rights
• In the case that the subject matter of your story increases your chances of risk or liability and protection against this is necessary: Proof of Errors and Omissions Insurance
• Signed copy of Co-Production Agreement: Please provide a Co-Production Agreement only if the project is a co-production.

If you are applying in association with a production company, you should be able to provide official documents to prove the existence of your company as a registered business. If you cannot provide one of the following documents you have the option of explaining why, as we are aware that different incorporation standards exist within each region.

• A certificate of incorporation (a legal document relating to the formation of a company or corporation). It is a licence to form a corporation.
• Any documentation issued by the state government that indicates the existence and recognition of your production company.
• A company chain of title (an agreement indicating the transfer of ownership of a production company into your current holding).

All applicants will be notified of the selection committee’s decision by our staff via email approximately four months after the application deadline, including those invited to the mentorship program. A public announcement of all successful projects will be made shortly thereafter.

In general, we accept teasers, trailers, and sample scenes. For projects in development, supporting footage can come in many different formats. It can be a trailer, a scene, photographs taken on set, or even a collage of image and sound. Whatever format you choose, ensure that the final product conveys the tone, the message or the style that you want your final project to be. You may also submit some past artistic work as an example. We do not accept project dossier or lookbook.