Kartemquin Films offering $30,000 for Native, Indigenous stories, first-look opp with Hulu

Through this fund, two filmmakers will receive $30,000 in direct funding and travel/festival/conference support, plus mentorship support and a first-look opportunity with Hulu

Kartemquin Films has launched the next round of their Hulu/Kartemquin Accelerator funding program, with a focus on Native American and Indigenous stories and experiences.

Through this fund, two filmmakers will receive $30,000 in direct funding and travel/festival/conference support, plus mentorship support and a first-look opportunity with Hulu. Applications for the Hulu/Kartemquin Accelerator are now open through July 31, 2024.

What is the Hulu/Kartemquin Accelerator Program?

Kartemquin Films is a documentary filmmaking company that has worked for over 50 years, producing documentaries on a wide range of issues. For the 2024/2025 season, the company is focusing on Native American and Indigenous-based stories.

In terms of the Accelerator program, and according to their website, they offer assistance to new filmmakers in the following ways:

“Providing a pathway to first look consideration as a Hulu Original, Kartemquin supports documentary features in production, specifically encouraging filmmakers who are working on at least their second feature film to apply. The Accelerator provides structured, supportive guidance and consultation from Kartemquin staff and invites external filmmakers and industry consultants as guest speakers.”

“Selected participants will receive $30,000 in funding, mentorship, a custom-designed “braintrust lab” to give an intense deep dive into their projects, and an opportunity to pitch to Hulu executives. For selection, we prioritize filmmakers who have been historically excluded from the documentary space, and we have a continued interest in supporting Midwest-based makers and stories.”

Applications for the 2024/25 program are OPEN NOW, with a focus on films that feature Indigenous and Native American stories and experiences.

This round offers a year-long Fellowship that includes structured support and expert guidance from Kartemquin in the following areas:

• Planning and managing production budgets and schedules 
• Working with film tax credits
• Production accounting 
• Navigating fair use and copyright
• Finding and working with suitable partners, including field crews, producers, and partner organizations 
• Developing treatments, pitch decks, demos, and trailers
• Editorial/creative support, including 2 rough cut reviews along with access to the KTQ Labs 
• Navigating distribution and impact + community engagement

Fellows will have access to additional Kartemquin programming resources and will be connected to KTQ’s expansive film community. This Fellowship is also a pathway to a potential co-production with Kartemquin Films. APPLY FOR THE 2025 ACCELERATOR HERE; applications are open until July 31st.

Kartemquin and Hulu will be hosting an informational and Q&A session on July 9th; sign up here!

Eligibility

Are you interested in applying for the Hulu/Kartemquin Accelerator? You’re good to go if you meet the following requirements:

• You’re applying with a project that reflects the varied experiences of Indigenous and Native American communities.
• The project you’re applying with is a nonfiction feature or series in production or post-production.
• You are either the director or producer of the project for which you’re applying.
• You’re applying as an individual, not as a collective or organization. (Please note: principal collaborators, such as directing/producing partners, will also be able to participate in key meetings and consultations.)
• You’ve completed at least one feature film that was screened or broadcast nationally.
• You’re able to meet at least one of the following criteria:
  • Primarily based in the Midwest for the duration of the program, OR
  • A Midwest native, OR
  • Telling a story of a community in the Midwest in the project which you are submitting for participation in this program.
• Priority consideration will be given to filmmakers who identify as Indigenous or Native American.

*Midwest, for the purposes of this program, is defined as these states: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin.

Applications for the next round of the Hulu/Kartemquin Accelerator Program will open in early summer.  Watch here for updated information.

Questions? Email accelerator@kartemquin.com. 

About Hulu

Hulu is the leading premium streaming service offering live and on-demand TV and movies, with and without commercials, both in and outside the home. As part of Disney’s Media and Entertainment Distribution segment, Hulu is the only service that gives viewers instant access to current shows from every major U.S. broadcast network; libraries of hit TV series and films; and acclaimed Hulu Originals like Emmy® and Golden Globe® Award-winning series The Handmaid’s Tale and The Act; Golden Globe Award-winning, Emmy Award-nominated and Peabody-winning series Ramy; and Emmy Award-series Pen15 alongside hit series Little Fires Everywhere from Reese Witherspoon and Kerry Washington, Normal People, The Great, Hillary and Solar Opposites; Oscar® and Emmy nominated documentary film Minding the Gap, Golden Globe-Award winning and Oscar-nominated The United States Vs. Billie Holiday, and critically acclaimed Hulu Original films Palm Springs, Runand Happiest Season. The service also streams live news, entertainment and sports from 20th Television, The Walt Disney Company, NBCUniversal, CBS Corporation, The CW, Turner Networks, A+E Networks and Discovery Networks – available all in one place. Upcoming Original releases include true-crime-inspired comedy Only Murders in the Building starring Steve Martin, Martin Short and Selena Gomez and the book-to-screen adaptation of Nine Perfect Strangers starring Nicole Kidman and Melissa McCarthy.

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