Chicago-based
documentary production group Kartemquin Films ("The interrupters," "Hoop Dreams," "Life itself," "The Homestretch," "The Trails of Muhammad Ali") has announced that it
is currently accepting applications for their 2016 Diverse Voices in Docs program.

Diverse Voices in Docs alum, Raymond Lambert, is a producer on Chicago’s Media Process Group’s "Maya Angelou: And Still I Rise," a feature documentary which will make its world premiere at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival.

The Diverse Voices program,
which is done in association with the Community Film Workshop in Chicago,
will mentor 20 emerging documentary filmmakers over the course of 6 months, as
they work on their respective projects.

According to
Margaret Caples, the Executive Director of the Community Film Workshop: “Our goal is to empower ordinary citizens in
the use of media and to provide them access to resources to produce first-voice
social issue documentaries.”

"We really want filmmakers of color to consider applying for our 2016 Diverse Voices in Docs cohort and take their stories to the next level,” said Justin Williams, Diverse Voices in Docs Coordinator.

The
fellowship, which is organized by Beckie Stocchetti, Kartemquin’s Community Engagement Manager,.will consist of 6 three-hour workshops at the Community Film
Workshop, with creative advice provided by Kartemquin Films’ world-class staff
and associates. Each session will provide practical skill-enrichment designed
to help incubate your next documentary project, as well as time to network and
share experience with your cohort of participants.

The deadline
for next year’s program is December 19^th. Application information and submission form here: www.kartemquin.com/diversevoices.

Eligibility Criteria:

Applicants should have played a principal role in a completed production (producer, writer, director, editor, etc.) and have experience or work history that demonstrated their commitment to social issue documentary.

Applicants are evaluated solely by their application

Applicants must be a legal US resident

Applicants must NOT be a full-time student

Applicants commit to participating in all aspects of the program and attending all 6 classes.

There is no application fee. An enrollment fee of $110 is due upon acceptance to the program.

Decisions will be based on finalist interviews and work samples.

The Diverse Voices in Docs program will not provide: project funding, legal advice, equipment or post-production access.