HBO Documentary Films Launches New Development Initiative

HBO Documentary Films and The Gotham Film & Media Institute’s Expanding Communities program have aligned for the Documentary Development Initiative, created for storytellers who identify as BIPOC, LGBTQ+ and/or storytellers with disabilities.

The initiative will see up to ten selected filmmakers given grants of $50,000 for research and creative development at an early stage. HBO and The Gotham will provide resources and mentorship to support the development of documentary projects, and select grantees will have the opportunity to receive additional funding.

Funding for these grants is sponsored by HBO Documentary Films, OneFifty and WBD Access.

Ideas generated through the Initiative will be offered to HBO on a first-look basis, giving the network the first opportunity to make an offer to develop them further.

“We are excited to collaborate with The Gotham and work closely with the Documentary Development Initiative filmmakers at the ideation stage of the development process,” said Sara Rodriguez, senior VP of HBO Documentary Films. “It will be a privilege to help support the creative ambitions of the grantees.”

“We are honored to partner with HBO Documentary Films on this new initiative with our Expanding Communities program,” said Kia Brooks, deputy director of The Gotham Film & Media Institute. “Expanding Communities seeks to uplift historically excluded voices and organizations that support them. We look forward to being able to provide these nonfiction storytellers with the necessary tools and resources to help propel their careers forward.”