The Ellis-Beauregard Foundation, in collaboration with Points North Institute, has launched the Ellis-Beauregard Foundation Documentary Film Award, a new annual initiative designed to support visionary nonfiction filmmakers working at the post-production stage.

Ellis-Beauregard Foundation will provide one $50,000 unrestricted grant to a feature-length documentary currently in post-production, supporting ambitious, artist-driven work that challenges convention and expands the language of nonfiction cinema. Applications will be open March 1 through March 31, 2026.

Rooted in the Ellis-Beauregard Foundation’s commitment to bold artistic practice, the Award seeks to advance films with a strong cinematic point of view, a critical engagement with their subject matter, and an openness to experimentation in form and process. Projects from both emerging and established filmmakers are encouraged to apply.

“This Award reflects our belief in documentary as both a living art form and a vital act of truth telling,” said Donna McNeil, Executive Director of the Ellis-Beauregard Foundation, in a news release. “In an era when truth is contested and clarity is urgently needed, we are proud to support filmmakers who are taking creative risks and advancing their work at a pivotal moment in post-production—when sustained attention and investment can have an outsized impact.”

In addition to financial support, the Award includes a creative retreat opportunity hosted by Points North Institute in conjunction with the 2026 Camden International Film Festival (CIFF). The selected film’s director and editor will be invited to attend an intimate retreat focused on craft, collaboration, and creative development. Transportation from a location in the US and lodging will be provided.

During the retreat, the filmmaking team will share a work-in-progress cut in a supportive, peer-driven environment with leading documentary editors, producers, and creative advisers. 

The goal is to provide rigorous feedback, space for reflection, and meaningful dialogue around the creative challenges of post-production.

“Points North exists to create time, space, and community for filmmakers to do their most ambitious work,” said Elise McCave, Executive Director of Points North Institute. “This Award is deeply aligned with that mission. By pairing substantial unrestricted funding with a retreat rooted in trust and craft, and timed to coincide with the 22nd Camden International Film Festival, we hope to support films at a moment when focused attention can help unlock their full creative potential.”

Projects anticipated to be completed by Summer 2027 are preferred. Finished films will be considered for inclusion in the 2027 Camden International Film Festival.

Finalists will be reviewed by a panel of invited industry leaders, with selection based on artistic excellence, originality, clarity of vision, and creative potential.

Applications open March 1 and close March 31, 2026.

For full application guidelines and details go to ellis-beauregardfoundation.org 

ABOUT ELLIS-BEAUREGARD FOUNDATION

The Ellis-Beauregard Foundation provides resources and support for artists, engages with the community, and sustains the legacy of its founding artists, Joan Beauregard and David Ellis.

The vision of the Ellis-Beauregard Foundation is to encourage, expand and sustain the courageous and imaginative dialogue that is fundamental to the arts. The Ellis-Beauregard Foundation celebrates the value of art to transcend cultures and engage with diverse communities. Through its programs, the Ellis-Beauregard Foundation supports the exploration of the common ground that art occupies, the way it engages people, and its ability to reveal our shared human experience. ellis-beauregardfoundation.org

ABOUT POINTS NORTH

Points North is the launching pad for the next generation of nonfiction storytellers.

Our programs include the annual Camden International Film Festival (CIFF) and Points North Forum, as well as a growing suite of artist development initiatives: retreats, residencies, workshops and fellowships that nurture the careers of diverse nonfiction storytellers and help them develop a stronger artistic voice. 

CIFF's 22nd edition takes place September 17-20, 2026 at venues throughout Camden, Rockport, and Rockland, Maine. pointsnorthinstitute.org