DECLARE YOUR INDEPENDENCE
A&E IndieFilms, Heineken and the International Documentary Association announce the 3rd Annual Documentary Finishing Grant We're looking for the next great documentary -- unique, character-driven stories; told with a distinctive vision, shot in a dynamic, cinema verite style. One winner will receive a grant of $50,000. Submissions must be works in progress. A tape or trailer of no fewer than two minutes and no more than seven minutes must be submitted to:

International Documentary Association/ A&E IndieFilms/Heineken Finishing Fund
1201 West 5th Street
Suite M320
Los Angeles, CA 90017
Download Entry Form

Early Bird Deadline: (Submissions that are postmarked by July 13, 2007)
ida Members: $10.00
Non Members: $15.00

Late Deadline: (Submissions that are postmarked by September 14, 2007)
ida Members $15.00
Non Members: $20.00

RULES and ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
To qualify as an eligible documentary for purposes of the Finishing Grant competition, entrants must comply with ALL of the following Rules and Eligibility Requirements. Failure to comply with these rules will render a Submission ineligible.

• Submissions must be motion pictures that creatively document non-fictional subjects. Submissions may be photographed in actual occurrence, may employ partial re-enactment, incorporate stock footage, stills, animation, stop-motion, or other techniques.
• Submissions may not emphasize fiction.
• Submissions may not be primarily promotional films, purely technical instructional films, or essentially unfiltered records of a performance.
• Submissions will be graded for their originality of subject; their access to the subject, as well as the filmmaker's vision. We are seeking documentaries that have broad, popular appeal. We are not looking for issue-oriented films; or films about historical subjects.
• Submissions must be in English or have English subtitles.
• Submissions must not have aired on any form of television or have been distributed in theaters or via the internet.
• The competition is open to all U.S. and foreign entrants age 21 or over, except as expressly excluded below.
• Only one (1) Submission per entrant.
• Submissions must be accompanied by (i) a single-page synopsis; (ii) two non-returnable DVD or VHS viewing tapes; (iii) a fully completed and signed entry form (DOWNLOAD ENTRY FORM above); and (iv) the applicable fee as detailed above. The fee is payable by credit card, personal check, money order or cashier's check in U.S. dollars and is not refundable under any circumstances.
• Submissions must be shipped pre-paid, including any duties or customs fees.
• A&E and the ida will make every effort to safeguard materials submitted; however, neither A&E nor the ida will be responsible for loss or damage to Submissions. Submissions will not be returned to the entrant.
• The following information must be clearly visible on the single-page synopsis, as well as on each DVD or VHS viewing tape:
  Submission Title
  Entrant's full name, telephone number(s) and email address
• The winner will receive a grant of $50,000 toward the production. The winner will be announced in December 2007.
• Each submission must be the property of the entrant and must be original work created by the entrant. By submitting a film for the Grant competition, entrants promise and agree that, for no additional consideration, (1) entrants shall provide not unreasonably withheld consent for the use of clips of any length, including the entire submission, for public viewing via webcast, telecast, broadcast and/or any other method of transmission; (2) if their submission wins the competition, they grant A&E and the ida a six (6) month option to the premiere telecast [1] of the completed film (the "Option") as well as a right of first negotiation with regard to additional funding for development and the future exploitation of the film (provided that all exhibition rights are made exclusively available to A&E [and the ida]) ; (3) they either own or have cleared, at their own expense, all necessary film rights and make such rights available to A&E and the ida for unlimited exhibition by A&E [and the ida] and any and all uses in connection with the Finishing Grant competition; and (4) A&E and the ida shall have the unlimited right to use the winner's name, picture, likeness and city and state of residence for purposes of trade, publicity or promotion, in all print and electronic media. The winner of the competition will be required to execute an affidavit of eligibility, compliance with the competition rules and a release of liability.
• If the submission is a student film made with funding from a university or other institution and the university or other institution holds the rights to the film, they must sign the entry form giving permission for the film to be submitted in this competition and agreeing to the competition rules.
• Any disputes that may arise out of the competition shall be determined according to the laws of the State of New York. Neither A&E, Heineken nor the ida makes any warranty or representation regarding the prize, and winner agrees to accept the prize "as is." All entrants release A&E, Heineken and the ida and their respective affiliates, subsidiaries, directors, trustees, officers, employees, agents and all others associated with the development and execution of the competition from any and all liability from injury, loss or damage of any kind resulting from participation in this competition or acceptance or use of the prize. All reasonable effort will be made to contact the winner. Failure to execute and return any requested document within sixty days of postmark, or return of notification of prize as undeliverable, may result in forfeiture of the prize. An alternate potential winner may be selected at the sole discretion of A&E, Heineken and the ida. Void where prohibited by law. All federal, state and local laws and regulations apply.
• Employees, officers, directors or trustees of A&E, Heineken or the ida and any of their subsidiaries, affiliates and advertising and promotion agencies and any of their immediate family/household members are not eligible to apply.