Update: We have decided to close this fund tonight, April 8 at 11:59 p.m. ET to allow us to immediately respond to the first batch of applications in our queue. Our goal is to support as many applicants as we can with the resources we currently have available. All applicants who submitted by this time will be reviewed and considered for funding. For questions or clarifications, contact programs@amdoc.org.

In addition to distributing basic needs grants through April, we plan to re-open the fund in May with a focus on mental health support and hope to make more aid available in the months ahead. We are part of a growing movement of organizations pooling resources for artists around the country–just this week alone, new funds were announced from Artist Relief and Field of Vision, among others. 

In the face of our global health pandemic and related self-isolating protocols, we have pushed to rapidly to relaunch the Artist Emergency Fund with a revised framework and set of guidelines designed to quickly turn around support to as many filmmakers as possible. This COVID-19 Artist Emergency Fund will provide rapid response grants up to $500 to assist artists with basic needs including food, immediate health needs and insurance premiums. Applications are now open and will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the fund is expired.

These one-time grants are a direct response to concerns about sustainability in the documentary field, with overall lack of adequate healthcare alongside loss of livelihood due to canceled production, festivals and theatricals.

In its pilot year, the fund distributed over $20,000 and directly supported 25 artists with medical bills, housing and stopgap support amidst career instability.