How does one apply to PSBT to make a documentary film?
PSBT invites proposals from independent filmmakers on general and specific themes, depending upon its commissioning cycles. A commissioning brief is announced and filmmakers are invited to submit proposals for documentaries in keeping with the broad outline provided. Filmmakers can submit proposals by filling the Preliminary Proposal Form on the site. We usually encourage filmmakers to submit proposals in response to the call in order to ensure that they receive fair consideration at a time when PSBT is looking to commissioning films.

How does one get to know if PSBT is inviting proposals?
PSBT’s call for proposals is up on our website and advertised in select national newspapers, journals and magazines. The website is regularly updated and the surest way of knowing about the call.

We also send the call via email to those who subscribe to our mailing list. Kindly subscribe to our mail to receive updated information on PSBT and our events.
 
When does PSBT call for proposals?
We ordinarily invite proposals twice a year. However, there are variations depending upon our grants, projects and current commissioning cycles.

Does PSBT work with first-time filmmakers?
Democratising of the media is the cornerstone of PSBT’s work and we especially encourage first-time filmmakers to submit proposals to us in order to provide them with the opportunity and platform to create powerful films. More than 60 per cent of our Films are by starting out and first-time filmmakers.

What is the average budget for a PSBT film?
We are a not-for-profit body committed to supporting public service documentary films. Ours is a community resource that is limited and finite. We want to use our funds to make possible as large a number of films as is possible without compromising quality.

Ordinarily, we fund projects that cost between Rs 3.5 and 4 lakh for a half hour documentary. At the same time, we are sensitive to the requirements of films and consider higher budgets for films which may necessitate them. In all cases, budgets are reasoned and thought through in detail. Our recent film fellowships with the Public Diplomacy Division, Ministry of External Affairs, offer bigger budgets.

What is the duration of films produced by PSBT?
PSBT films usually 26 or 52 minutes.

Can one submit more than one proposal?
We are not usually comfortable with processing more than one proposal at a time or a proposal from a filmmaker who still has one under production with us, unless it is very close to completion. We invest a lot of time and effort in evaluating each proposal, as much as we know the filmmaker invests in writing one. We look for personal passion and intellectual rigour in the arguments and issues the proposal addresses. Several proposals from the same filmmaker are often indicative of an assembly line pitch as if improving one's odds in a lottery.

What is the average amount of time for production of the film?
Filmmakers ordinarily have up to four to six months in which to complete the film including a turn around time of three weeks for clearance and payment by PSBT at each stage – i.e. contract; comments on script; comments on rough cut; delivery and telecast, if applicable.

Are there are any language constraints? Does the proposed film have to be in Hindi/regional language or can it be in English?

PSBT Films are usually in English. However, filmmakers are free to explore any Indian language for their film, as long as the final film submitted to PSBT is subtitled in English.