Digital Media Fund

Latino Public Broadcasting (LPB), a national leader in the development and dissemination of non-commercial media content about Latino experiences in the U.S., administers the Digital Media Fund (DMF) to support short-form digital storytelling. This initiative invites independent filmmakers to submit proposals for fiction or non-fiction digital short programs, such as short films, web series, or mixed digital media content, each not exceeding 15 minutes in length. These projects are intended for distribution through existing public television platforms, including PBS.org and affiliated public media outlets. LPB's mission underscores its commitment to elevating diverse Latino voices, and this fund serves as a core mechanism for advancing that mission in the digital landscape. The DMF supports content in a broad range of genres including arts, biography, cultural documentary, history, health, science, personal storytelling, and narrative fiction. The emphasis is on strong storytelling that connects with a national audience while reflecting the complexities of Latino communities. Funded programs are expected to take creative risks and provide perspectives that challenge or complement current public media offerings. Importantly, selected projects must demonstrate the potential to attract new viewers to public media and must be suitable for national distribution, not limited to regional or niche audiences. Applicants must be independent filmmakers or production entities operating without affiliations to film studios or commercial broadcasters. They are required to retain full copyright and editorial control over their projects and must demonstrate a meaningful connection to the Latino subject matter they propose to cover. All applicants must be at least 18 years old, U.S. citizens or legal residents, and have at least two prior short film credits. First-time long-form filmmakers must provide samples of previous short-form visual work. Only one application per review period is allowed, and filmmakers may not submit the same or similar project to LPB’s Public Media Content Fund (PMCF). Funding awards range from $10,000 to $30,000, and recipients are expected to complete and deliver their projects with the awarded amount. Funding may be used for rights clearance, production, post-production, and standard packaging activities. Projects must be delivered in high-definition (HD) format and must include closed captioning, liability and E&O insurance, a trailer, promotional stills, and necessary licensing for PBS distribution. LPB funding cannot be used for marketing, promotion, or festival entry fees, and budget contingencies are not permitted. The application process is divided into several sections including the Application Form, Application Summary, Budget Summary, Detailed Project Budget, Project Description, Key Personnel, and a Work Sample. LPB reviews all proposals through a two-phase evaluation process. In the first phase, projects undergo external peer review and internal assessment. In the second phase, selected projects are reviewed by LPB’s programming staff. Projects advancing to phase two may be updated prior to final selection. Awards are announced approximately five to six months after the submission deadline. Projects funded in the 2026 cycle will likely receive initial funding disbursements by the end of Q1 2027. Evaluation criteria include the project's alignment with LPB’s mission, creative structure, originality, engagement strategy, and the experience of the production team. Filmmakers retain final editorial control, though LPB reserves consultation rights and may assign mentors or script consultants if necessary. Projects are subject to distribution restrictions, requiring exclusivity in the U.S. for a specified term. LPB retains the right to stream and distribute the funded program across its own and PBS's digital platforms. Filmmakers are required to comply with detailed recordkeeping, reporting, and delivery requirements to maintain eligibility and avoid funding clawback provisions.

Emphasize strong storytelling, cultural relevance, visual structure, and feasibility based on experience and budget.