How often can I apply to International Call?

Applicants may apply for only one project per call. If a person is a Primary Applicant on one project, she/he cannot be a Co-Applicant on another project. There is no limit to the number of calls to which an applicant can apply for funding. If you applied to International Call in 2007 or 2008, you can also apply in 2009.

What is the review process for International Call?

ITVS International staff evaluates all applications to determine eligibility. Eligible applications are then reviewed by ITVS International staff and outside evaluators selected by ITVS International. Evaluators are chosen from a pool of filmmakers, producers, editors, programmers and others who have extensive international experience.

Based on these reviews and further input from ITVS staff, highly rated projects are submitted to an outside panel for final selection. This panel includes a diverse international group of commissioning editors, filmmakers, television professionals, production consultants, academics and regional and/or subject experts. The panel meets with ITVS International and recommends projects for funding.

Selected programs are offered a contract for U.S. broadcast rights in exchange for funding and services. The call is extremely competitive as we are only able to fund approximately five percent of International Call applicants.

When will I be notified regarding my application’s status?

After the submission deadline, all applicants will receive notification by email within two weeks. At this time, applicants will be notified of their eligibility status. They will then be notified of their application’s progress within six to eight weeks of this submission. In April, a small group of finalists will submit additional information and receive a final decision within eight weeks.

What are the most common mistakes that applicants make?

Unfortunately, many applicants do not read the guidelines as carefully as they should. Many producers do not write clear treatments, making them generic and unspecific as to how the story will be told. Other common mistakes are incomplete proposals, no work-in-progress reel or no completed sample work. Applicants also forget to sign their signature at the end of the application. These can make applications ineligible.

What videos must I submit with my application?

All proposals must be accompanied by a video of the applicant’s previously completed work in its entirety, with credits and English subtitles if the program’s language is not English. Demo reels, selected clips of your past work, do not qualify.

In addition, you must provide a work-in-progress video of the proposed project (selects, scenes, rough cut, etc.) with a minimum length of five minutes. Research footage is not sufficient and will not be accepted.

Must the work-in-progress video be five minutes? I have a three-minute trailer, will this do?

International Call is a highly competitive process. In our experience with International Call, no matter how well-written the proposal, projects simply don’t compete when the work-in-progress is too brief. We receive so many compelling proposals that the more developed ones always rise to the top.

What kind of producer feedback does ITVS International give?

ITVS International offers feedback for all applicants to International Call. Feedback consists of a telephone appointment between the Primary Applicant and/or Co-Applicant and staff. We do not send feedback via email.

Does ITVS encourage applicants to resubmit proposals that have been declined?

We provide feedback so producers can improve their proposals for the next submission, or understand why their projects are not right for ITVS in general.