Mission Statement

The Documentary Film Fund is dedicated to the development, production, and dissemination of documentary films that illuminate overlooked or misunderstood chapters of American cultural history. Through rigorously researched, artistically crafted works, the Fund supports films that contribute to the public record and foster a deeper understanding of the forces that have shaped American identity.

The Fund prioritizes projects that engage with music, art, literature, and social history, particularly those that recover marginalized voices or re-examine canonical narratives with nuance and historical integrity. Its mission is not to advocate ideology, but to preserve complexity—encouraging reflection, dialogue, and informed citizenship through film.

Beyond production, the Documentary Film Fund is committed to access and educational outreach. It underwrites the costs necessary to bring completed works to public audiences through museums, universities, libraries, festivals, and public broadcasting platforms such as PBS, ensuring that these films function as tools of public memory rather than commercial artifacts.

By supporting filmmakers whose work bridges scholarship and storytelling, the Documentary Film Fund affirms documentary cinema as a vital cultural instrument—one capable of expanding historical awareness, strengthening civic discourse, and preserving the cultural heritage of the United States for future generations.