"The Illinois Humanities Council's support of documentary films is often that critical first grant. Ranging from Academy Award winners and nationally broadcast events, to films used in educational institutions and local communities, these documentaries tell our stories and are rich and emotional commentaries on our history and culture." -- Gordon Quinn, President and founding member, Kartemquin Films
Since its founding in 1973, the Illinois Humanities Council has provided key support to filmmakers striving to tell the stories of our state, the nation and the world through documentary film. Council-funded films have been broadcast nationally on public television, toured film festivals around the globe, and won many honors and accolades, including Academy Awards. The Council particularly prides itself on providing the crucial seed money for documentary film projects to generate momentum for future funding.
Grants for Documentary Filmmakers
If you are a filmmaker in search of funding for your film, the IHC is one place to look. We provide two types of grants for documentary film projects (eligibility requirements and application instructions can be found by following the links below):
- Media Development: A grant of no more than $4,000 to assist in the pre-production, research and planning stages of a documentary film.
- Media Production: A grant of no more than $5,000 to assist in the production and post-production stages of a documentary film.
IHC-Supported Documentary Films*
Below, please find information about more than 70 films made and completed with the support of the Illinois Humanities Council. In addition to synopses of each film, included are links to web resources where the film is available for purchase. Many of these films are also accessible on VHS and/or DVD from the Illinois State Library, via the ILLNET catalog online.
Excellent resources for finding documentary films also include:
Facets Multimedia, Chicago IL
Films Media Group
DocumentaryFilms.Net
SnagFilms.com
*If you have received a media grant from the Illinois Humanities Council and do not see your film listed here, please email the Council or call us at 312.422.5580.
