WILL THE 2022 (EGG)CELERATOR LAB PROGRAM CHANGE DUE TO COVID-19?

Over the past year, we adapted the 2020 (Egg)celerator Lab to a  virtual program, with retreats and mentorship taking place online. The 2021 (Egg)celerator Lab has continued to take place virtually, and we are evaluating the possibility of an in-person retreat in  2021. Our hope for the 2022 (Egg)celerator Lab is to resume in-person gatherings, dependent on global safety conditions.

Who can apply?

Anyone can apply. Men filmmakers are encouraged to partner with a woman or gender nonconforming co-director.

Does Chicken & Egg Pictures support political films?

As a 501(c)(3), Chicken & Egg Pictures is not able to support films or projects relating to influencing, directly or indirectly, a political campaign for public office in the US or internationally, regardless of timing of release of the film.

If you are unsure about your film’s eligibility based on the above, you can email us at info@chickeneggpics.org with a description of your film project.

Does the (Egg)celerator Lab use the Documentary Core Application?

Since 2016, Chicken & Egg Pictures has opted into the Documentary Core Application. Our hope is that your responses to these questions will result in material that may be used for other applications as you move forward with your fundraising goals. In an effort to simplify the application process, you will only be asked to answer some of the questions of the Core Application for the first round. If your application moves forward, you will be notified and asked to submit responses for additional questions of the Core Application in mid-October 2021. 

What if we are co-directors and one of us is a first-time director, but the other has made more than two feature-length films?

Co-directing teams with one first- or second-time co-director and one more experienced co-director are allowed to apply, but priority will be given to first- and second-time filmmaking teams. Please note that the prior work sample of co-directing teams that consist of a first- or second-time director and a more experienced director must be representative of the first- or second-time director’s experience.

How do you define feature-length?

We consider feature-length films to be projects over 50 minutes, including those that may be aiming for a PBS hour (56:40), or a classic feature-length (over 72 minutes). Combined web series or any shorts that could be counted as a feature when added together do not qualify as feature-length for this Open Call.

What if I have previously made a feature-length fiction film, but this is my first feature-length nonfiction film?

If you’ve made one or more feature-length fiction film(s) but no feature-length nonfiction film(s), you are eligible to apply as a first-time filmmaker (see our definition for first- and second-time filmmakers).

If I am selected for the (Egg)celerator Lab, would Chicken & Egg Pictures request a credit on my film?

The standard credit we’ll request of grantees in the (Egg)celerator Lab will be “In Association with Chicken & Egg Pictures.”

How do you define first-time filmmakers? How do you define second-time filmmakers?

We define a first-time filmmaker as someone who has never completed a feature-length documentary film. An applicant still qualifies as a first-time filmmaker if they have made multiple shorts or a web series. We don’t consider anything less than 48 minutes to be a feature-length film. We consider anything over 48 minutes to be a feature-length film.

We define a second-time filmmaker as someone who has not completed more than one feature-length documentary film.

What production stages are eligible?

To be eligible for the (Egg)celerator Lab, applicants must be between early-production and mid-production, with no less than 10% and no more than 60% of their footage shot by the date of the application deadline. We’re only accepting projects between these stages because we want to ensure that we have the greatest opportunity possible to make an impact on the production of the project and on the development of the director’s career during the 2022 program year.

Note: The program will take place from February to December 2022. If you are planning to have a rough cut by the end of 2021 or by the first quarter of 2022, your project is too advanced and not eligible to apply.