The submission portal for this year’s Open Call for climate stories opens Friday, Sept.1.  If you’re a newcomer to our Open Call and want to learn about how the process works, everything you need to know is currently on our website. Still have questions after reviewing that material? Then I invite you to attend one of our two remaining information sessions (one of which starts this afternoon, Tues., Aug. 29, at 4p.m. ET), or you can check out our FAQ’s document. 

Here’s Why You Should Apply

We are thrilled to offer this opportunity to filmmakers who are working on climate projects that meet our eligibility criteria. Those who have responded to our past Open Calls include established filmmakers as well as those who are still in the early stages of their careers. Many have gone on to produce groundbreaking work that both informs and entertains public media audiences. Even those who have never received a BPM grant, have found the process of submitting a project for consideration beneficial. The networking and feedback opportunities, alone, can be helpful.

This year, we are excited to have formed a partnership with the Redford Center, which is one of the only US-based nonprofits solely dedicated to environmental impact filmmaking. Redford is providing the BPM programming team with invaluable insight and guidance drawn from their many years of experience working with filmmakers to produce these types of climate stories. 

Don’t Delay

So, if you’re someone with a climate story to share, we hope to hear from you. Remember, we welcome stories in ALL stages of production: research and development, pre-production, production, and post-production. And we invite a wide range of approaches to telling these stories. 

You’ll have until Sept. 25 to submit your project. But it is best not to dawdle. The sooner you submit, the sooner you can relax and just wait to hear from us.

—Denise Greene is the director of programs at Black Public Media