We’re proud all of our programs are open to all gender-expansive* documentary filmmakers

It’s been a journey! How’d we get here?

We were founded in 2005 to support women filmmakers, and have previously expanded program eligibility to non-binary filmmakers. But it became clear our old eligibility criteria still fell short of allowing us to serve all the filmmakers who’d benefit from our work. We believe that greater gender representation behind the camera disrupts and challenges cultural and systemic barriers, resulting in documentary films that better reflect the diversity and complexity of the human experience.

So we set out to become a more gender-inclusive organization. Knowing that we needed to navigate this evolution thoughtfully, we spent a year engaged in partnership with Reimagine Gender. Our process included listening to filmmakers, exploring the intersection of gender bias with other forms of prejudice and discrimination, and learning about global variations and nuances in the understanding of gender.

Our expanded eligibility strengthens our ongoing commitment to champion filmmakers who tell stories of perseverance and hope, struggle and joy, and the quest for equity in a fractured world—in sum, filmmakers who use the power of documentary film to catalyze social change.

And this is only the beginning. We are committed to ongoing learning and will continue to evolve our work, including revising our program selection criteria and design methodologies, our organizational practices and operations, and our brand identity in order to embrace the full spectrum of filmmakers who are impacted by systemic gender-based inequities.

*Our working definition of gender-expansive is an umbrella term that includes any person whose gender identity or expression does not comply with the socially defined gender norms and roles of their culture. The language of gender continues to evolve, and global differences require us to use language that is as accessible as possible. “Gender-expansive” is the best-understood term, so we will use it until or unless another term gains greater global acceptance.

For a comprehensive guide on gender, visit reimaginegender.org.

Read our announcement made in January 2024 about our expanded eligibility.

download the report

Understanding Gender

Gender is a word you’ve probably heard a thousand times; discussions about gender are everywhere. But if you’re like most people, you may not have thought much about it, and what you’ve read and heard may have left you more bewildered than when you started. We’re here to help. Before we discuss what gender is, let’s start with what it isn’t since that is often a source of confusion.

Sex

People tend to use the terms “sex” and “gender” interchangeably. But, while connected, the two terms are not equivalent. Generally, we determine a newborn’s sex as either male or female (some US states and other countries offer a third option) based on the baby’s genitals, and we assume based on someone’s sex that they will develop certain biological traits (levels of certain hormones, specific physical characteristics appearing around puberty, etc.). While we are often taught that bodies can either be physically “female” or “male,” there are intersex traits that demonstrate that sex exists across a continuum of possibilities.

Sexuality/sexual orientation

Gender and sexual orientation are two distinct, but related, aspects of self. Gender is personal (how we see ourselves), while sexual orientation is interpersonal (who we are physically, emotionally and/or romantically attracted to). While these are two different aspects of who we are, our sexual orientation is related to gender because it is defined by our gender and the gender(s) of people we are attracted to. Because of this relationship, new gender identity terms have expanded the language of sexual identities as well.

gender terms

AGENDER	A person who does not identify with a particular gender.
Gender dysphoria	Dysphoria is a “state of feeling very unhappy, uneasy, or dissatisfied.” So, in the broadest sense, gender dysphoria is when someone feels very unhappy, uneasy, or dissatisfied in relation to their gender. This is something many people experience, including feeling a tension between how someone feels about their body compared to how society genders their body. Gender dysphoria, which can occur in relation to any dimension of gender, can encompass a broad range of feelings, from mild discomfort to unbearable distress; the intensity, pervasiveness, frequency, and triggers of gender dysphoria vary widely from person to person. Feelings of gender dysphoria can change over time.
GENDER EXPANSIVE	An umbrella term used for individuals who broaden their own culture’s commonly held definitions of gender, including expectations for its expression, identities, roles, and/or other perceived gender norms.
GENDER EXPression	This is part of our social gender. How we present our gender in the world and how society, culture, community, and family perceive, interact with, and try to shape our gender. Gender expression is also related to gender roles and how society uses those roles to try to enforce conformity to current gender norms.
GENDER FLUIDITY	People who have a gender or genders that change. Genderfluid people move between genders, experiencing their gender as something dynamic and changing, rather than static.
Gender IDENTITY	Our deeply held, internal sense of self as masculine, feminine, a blend of both, neither, or something else. Identity also includes the name we use to convey our gender. Gender identity can correspond to, or differ from the sex we are assigned at birth. The language a person uses to communicate their gender identity can evolve and shift over time, especially as someone gains access to a broader gender vocabulary.
GENDER Literacy	The ability to participate knowledgeably in discussions of gender and gender-related topics. Gender literacy is not about expertise so much as it is about a stance of openness to the complexity of gender and the idea that each person determines for themself their own identity.
GENDER Role	The set of functions, activities, and behaviors commonly expected of boys/men and girls/women by society.
GENDERQUEER	An umbrella term to describe someone who doesn’t identify with conventional gender identities, roles, expression and/or expectations.
Intersex	Current estimates are that approximately 1.7% of children are born with an intersex trait: chromosomes, hormones, genitalia and/or other sex characteristics that are not exclusively male or female as defined by the medical establishment in our society.
NON-BINARY	An umbrella term for gender identities that are not exclusively masculine or feminine.
Sex	An identifier to indicate whether a person is “male” or “female” (some US states and other countries offer a third option for people with intersex traits) at birth, this term refers to a person’s external genitalia and internal reproductive organs. While sex and gender are terms often used interchangeably, they are different aspects of who we are as people. A person’s gender may, or may not, correspond with their sex.
sexual orientation	An umbrella term for gender identities that Our sexual orientation and our gender are separate, though related, parts of our overall identity. Gender is personal (how we each see ourselves), while sexual orientation is interpersonal (who we are physically, emotionally and/or romantically attracted to).are not exclusively masculine or feminine.
Transgender	Sometimes this term is used broadly as an umbrella term to describe anyone whose gender identity differs from their assigned sex. It can also be used more narrowly as a gender identity that reflects a binary gender identity that is “opposite” or “across from” the sex they were assigned at birth.
transition	“Transitioning” is a term commonly used to refer to the steps a person takes in order to find congruence in their gender. This term can be misleading as it implies that the person’s gender is changing and that there is a moment in time when this takes place. More typically, it is others’ understanding of the person’s gender that shifts. What people see as a “transition” is actually an alignment in one or more dimensions of the individual’s gender as they seek congruence across those dimensions. A transition is taking place, but it is often other people (parents and other family members, support professionals, employers, etc.) who are transitioning in how they see the individual’s gender, and not the person themselves. For the person, these changes are often less of a transition and more of an evolution. Instead of “transitioning,” a more apt phrase is “pursuing congruence measures.”
transition (Cont’d)	A person can seek harmony in many ways: Social congruence measures: e.g. changes in clothing, hairstyle, and other forms of gender expression; Identity congruence measures: e.g. change in gender identity, name and/or pronouns; Medical congruence measures: e.g. the use of hormone “blockers” or hormone therapy to enhance or diminish desired physical traits; Surgical congruence measures: e.g. the addition, removal, or modification of gender-related physical traits; and Legal congruence measures: e.g. changing identification documents such as one’s birth certificate, driver’s license, or passport. It is important to note, though, that a transition experience can be a very significant event in a person’s life. A public declaration of some kind where an individual communicates to others that aspects of themselves are different than others have assumed, and that they are now living consistently with who they know themselves to be, can be an empowering and liberating experience (and moving to those who get to share that moment with them).
TRANSPHOBIA	Fear, dislike of, and/or prejudice against transgender people (and often any person who expresses their gender in ways that don’t conform to societal expectations)

FAQ

Our mission is to support people impacted by gender-based inequities in the documentary filmmaking industry. We believe greater gender representation behind the camera disrupts and challenges cultural and systemic barriers, resulting in documentary films that reflect the diversity and complexity of the human experience. Our decision to support not only women but also gender-expansive filmmakers acknowledges the systemic barriers these filmmakers share.

Our working definition of gender-expansive is an umbrella term that includes any person whose gender identity or expression does not comply with the socially defined gender norms and roles of their culture. We recognize that each individual’s relationship with their own gender is complex and personal, and that how one chooses to identify and express their gender may not fit squarely within any definition we provide.

Our organization supports filmmakers impacted by systemic gender-based inequities in the documentary filmmaking industry. We request that you determine for yourself whether this criteria applies to you. If you are unsure, please refer to reimaginegender.org for additional resources.

Please note that whether or not you choose to identify as gender-expansive for the purposes of this application is solely determined by you as the applicant.

Filmmakers of any sex who identify as a woman (cis or trans) or gender-expansive are eligible for support. However, intersex individuals are not eligible based solely on their sex.

Yes, we welcome trans/masculine filmmakers. All filmmakers impacted by systemic gender-based inequities in the documentary filmmaking industry are eligible.

Filmmakers of any sexual orientation who identify as a woman (cis or trans) or gender-expansive are eligible to apply. Sexual minorities aren’t eligible based on their sexuality alone.

We ask filmmakers to self-identify during the application process. However, we understand that gender is fluid and how you identify or express your gender can change. A change in your gender once you have submitted your application or have begun participation in a program, will not affect your eligibility for a program. All applicants or grantees are welcome to inform our team about any changes.