Call for Documentary Proposals - Public Service Broadcasting Trust

Our Trustees »  Adoor Gopalakrishnan
»  Aruna Vasudev
»  Fali Nariman
»  Kiran Karnik
»  Mrinal Sen
»  Rajiv Mehrotra
»  Shyam Benegal
»  Sharmila Tagore
»  Sunita Narain
   CEO, Prasar Bharati
   (Ex-Officio)
Our Team...

UPDATE ON COMMISSIONING 2011

In response to the call for proposals for documentary films in early 2011, we received more than 900 proposals. Commissioning of films under that round - Grants from the Ministry of I&B/ Films Division and Ministry of External Affairs - was concluded, except for Films with Doordarshan, for which we are still awaiting a sanction letter. Proposals submitted then are still under consideration for the Doordarshan Grant, if and when it is realised.

In case you have any queries, please write to us at proposals@psbt.org

CALL FOR PROPOSALS 2012

THANK YOU ALL FOR SUBMITTING PROPOSALS TO US FOR OUR PROJECT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE PUBLIC DIPLOMACY DIVISION, MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS. THE SUBMISSIONS ARE NOW CLOSED. WE ARE NOT ACCEPTING PROPOSALS ANY MORE. WE ARE IN TALKS WITH THE MINISTRY AND EXPECT TO HAVE A SHORT LIST BY THE END OF MAY 2012.

COMMISSIONING BRIEF
At this time, PSBT invites proposals for documentary films from independent filmmakers for our project with the Public Diplomacy Division, Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India.

The Films are intended to project India’s soft power and image to overseas audiences. A list of indicative themes is provided below, which should not discourage filmmakers from exploring and presenting their own ideas. In fact, we urge this. Before formal approval, all proposals and completed films will be vetted by the Public Diplomacy Division of the MEA and ensure they meet their objectives. Filmmakers are urged to visit the MEA website to look at the Films they have made already.

We will commission around 7 films under the project.

The Films will need to be 26 or 52 minutes duration, shot and post-produced on Full High Definition (1920x1080, 50 mbps).

The average budget will be between 10 and 12.5 lakh.

Proposals submitted earlier will not be reconsidered and filmmakers should submit fresh proposals.

Filmmakers are requested to submit only ONE proposal for consideration.

Proposals will be accepted only in the FORMAT PRESCRIBED by PSBT, available on this website. No hard copies will be accepted.

All fields in the Form are mandatory. Incomplete Forms will not be accepted.

Please ensure that you read all the associated documents – Idea Submission Agreement, Draft Contract, List of Deliverables, etc. before you propose a Film and budget.

Filmmakers will be provided a maximum of seven months to complete the Film.

Shortlisted filmmakers may be required to elaborate on the submitted proposal and budget, for further consideration and meet with us. They may be asked to pitch their proposals before a panel in Delhi. The subject and budget presented in the final detailed proposal should not be at variance with the one being submitted now.

PSBT may, in consultation with the Public Diplomacy Division, at its initiative, invite filmmakers we propose, to submit specific proposals on some themes.

Please do not send any sample work yet. We will request it, if and when required, for further consideration of your Proposal.

PSBT is not liable for any proposals that do not reach us/ or do not reach us on time. If you do not receive a reference number upon submitting your form, assume your Proposal has not reached us. If you do not receive an acknowledgement from us within ten working days of submitting your Proposal, please resend it and contact us at proposals@psbt.org

If you are currently doing a Film for PSBT, you are eligible to apply only if your Rough Cut has already been submitted to us.

PSBT is committed to supporting Indian Filmmakers, ordinarily resident in India.

The last date to submit Proposals is 24 February 2012.

In case you have any queries, please write to us at proposals@psbt.org

INDICATIVE THEMES

This is a suggestive list to give filmmakers a sense of the themes PSBT and PD could be looking at. We are not necessarily committed to producing films on any or all of these ideas. In fact filmmakers are encouraged to develop and propose other ideas keeping in mind that the films will be used to project India’s soft power overseas. They will be used and distributed by Indian Missions abroad and hopefully find their way to international television screens. They will need to meet best international standards technically, intellectually, creatively, be positive and credible without being hagiographic.

The Nalanda Tradition

Meditation – The Indian Art of Mind Training. The Science & Art of Happiness

Tea in India - on the quintessential role tea plays across different parts of India, with its many variations and drinking styles.

Ayurveda – The Indian Art of Healing

India in Hollywood - Shekhar Kapoor/ Meera Nair/ Deepa Mehta, etc.

Indian writing in English for the World.

The Story of Basmati

Varanasi – The Crucible of India’s Civilisation

Women & God – the place of Women in India’s spiritual/religious traditions

India Gems – The Art of Jewellery – the craft, its role & global presence!

Helmswomen – Indian Women CEOs around the World.

Amartya Sen – Nobel Laureate. A Vision for the Poor

Bollywood – a profile of the Indian Film Industry with a focus on its secular traditions where Muslim actors play Hindu Gods.

India Understood – a portrait of The Diversity & Potential of India with Mark Tully/ Pratap Bhanu Mehta / Jagdish Bhagwati / Ashis Nandy

JUGAAR – Indian Innovations – where the tradition of improvisations has evolved into the creation of sophisticated new approaches to meeting the challenges of a new India & impacting lives.

India & Non Proliferation

Muslim Priest – Hindu Temple – at a 900 year old Shiva Temple in Kashmir

Gowhar Jaan – singer, dancer, tawaif, first performer to record a music record in 1900. She also performed at the coronation of King George V.

Along the Border – a journey along the Indo-Chinese border documenting the lives of the communities that inhabit the area & their passion for India.

The Music Room – Amjad Ali Khan & his two sons, continue a tradition.

Shyam Benegal / Mrinal Sen / Adoor Gopalakrishnan – Three winners of The Dada Sahib Phalke Award.Three Legends of Indian Cinema

In The Footsteps of Sankara

Secular Traditions in India
Aakash - the low-cost laptop

COMMISSIONING PROCESS

PSBT encourages the production of innovative documentary films and is committed to expanding the constituency of filmmakers within the genre. We strike a balance among first-time filmmakers, students of recognised media institutions – including recent graduates, women filmmakers and those with achievements and recognition in related fields. More than 60 per cent of our Films are by first-time and starting out filmmakers; 65 per cent by first-time filmmakers for PSBT; 45 per cent by women and 100 per cent are independents – no middlepersons or production companies.

Our commissioning procedure is transparent in which 1) all proposals are circulated amongst all our Trustees and partner organisations. Based on their comments and our expertise, a short list is arrived at. 2) Short listed filmmakers may be invited to pitch their proposals to the Trustees before each other. 3) PSBT actively engages in commissioning and supervision of the production of films in a transparent, credible and professional manner. Any attempts to influence the process will lead to disqualification.

PSBT is not obliged to commission all the films at this time, if, in the opinion of its Trustees, enough high quality proposals are not received. Out of its commitment to expand the constituency of independent documentary filmmakers in India, PSBT particularly encourages filmmakers who have not worked with us before to submit persuasive proposals that will convince our Trustees about their abilities and passion, both for filmmaking and the theme they wish to explore.

An important, interesting or significant subject does not inherently make for a great film. This usually depends on the ability of the filmmaker, the intellectual rigour and clarity with which the subject is approached, the creative treatment and the personal passion for the theme. Our Trustees look primarily for these elements, along with a reasonable budget, time lines, etc.

THANK YOU ALL FOR SUBMITTING PROPOSALS TO US. THE SUBMISSIONS ARE NOW CLOSED. WE ARE NOT ACCEPTING PROPOSALS ANY MORE.