WETA And DC/DOX Partner On New $250,000 Fund To Support Documentary Filmmaking In DC Area

EXCLUSIVE: Nonfiction filmmaking in the Washington DC region is getting a major boost. WETA, the flagship public broadcasting station in the nation’s capital, and the DC/DOX film festival announced a new initiative Monday that will provide $250,000 in grants “supporting documentary filmmakers from, and documentary storytelling connected to, Washington, D.C., Maryland and Northern Virginia.” WETA is funding the initiative, to be called the WETA+ and DC/DOX Film Fund. Applications for the first round of funding open November 16 and close January 31, 2027. “The fund will prioritize the creation of compelling documentary storytelling that reflects the breadth of voices, experiences, communities and perspectives connected to the Washington, D.C. region,” according to a news release. The selected documentaries will be available for viewing in the D.C. Metro area on the WETA+ streaming service at weta.org/wetaplus. “We are proud to be the public media organization for the D.C. area that champions storytelling rooted in our community,” said Devin Karambelas, VP of TV programming and operations at WETA. “The Washington, D.C. area is full of extraordinary stories and storytellers, and we are excited to partner with the wonderful team at DC/DOX on this new initiative. We can’t wait to share the selected films with our viewers on our very own destination for documentaries, WETA+.” Watch on Deadline The fund will support up to six documentary projects at varying stages of production. Filmmakers submitting short projects may request up to $25,000 in funding, and filmmakers submitting feature-length projects may request up to $100,000 in funding. Jamie Shor (left) and Sky Sitney, co-founders of DC/DOX Courtesy of DC/DOX. Photo by Carolina Kroon “This partnership brings together two organizations that care deeply about documentary storytelling,” noted Sky Sitney, co-founder and festival director, DC/DOX. “This fund is about giving filmmakers the opportunity to elevate their stories to a larger audience, and we are grateful to partner with WETA to help achieve that goal.” Support for selected filmmakers will go beyond the initial funding. Per the release, opportunities may include: • An initial cohort convening and ongoing mentorship and rough-cut feedback. • Participation in the DC/DOX Forum, including panels, industry gatherings, and the 1:1 Meetings Program. • Curated meetings with filmmakers, funders, distributors, public media leaders, policymakers, and other potential partners. • Opportunities for works-in-progress and rough-cut screenings and other year-round engagement. • A potential public showcase in partnership with DC/DOX. • Initial streaming and broadcast window on WETA+, the PBS App and WETA’s local PBS and Metro channels with the duration and terms to be negotiated individually with filmmakers. WETA is the second-largest station producer of new content for public television in the U.S., including public affairs programs PBS News Hour and Washington Week with The Atlantic and documentary films from Ken Burns and Henry Louis Gates Jr. WETA+ is a free service offering on-demand and live viewing of WETA and PBS programs. DC/DOX, founded in 2022 by Jamie Shor and Sky Sitney, has established itself as a premiere nonfiction film festival, “showcasing powerful, timely stories in the nation’s capital. DC/DOX brings together bold voices, innovative visions, and truth-seekers in celebration of documentary cinema.”