It’s an especially important time to uplift short documentaries when making features is more challenging than ever. Join Curtis Chin (Director, WARREN KING: KING OF CARDBOARD), Sarita Khurana (Director, THE LAST RESORT), Reaa Puri (Co-Director, HARVEST PARTY AT CAMP TWO) in conversation with Pamela Torno (Senior Manager of Short Form Content, ITVS) to talk about short film funding programs.
This program was made possible in partnership with A-Doc Recorded on May 9, 2026 at the KOHO Creative Hub in San Francisco as part of CAAMFest 2026 Filmmaker Hub and Industry Hub.
“I think with a fifteen minute film or a twenty minute film it’s that sweet spot where people will commit to it one hundred percent. If it’s any longer, they’re multitasking, if it’s anything shorter they’re just skimming through. So, I actually really think that this is where a lot of things is exciting for me and I do think that’s an extra challenge is like how can you take a journey in 20 minutes and have it still be satisfying at the end. ” – Curtis Chin
The notion of personal connection and access became a valuable topic of discussion. The filmmakers describe beginning with a personal question or relationship and then allowing that connection to lead them toward a larger history. For example, Sarita began with questions about her own parents aging and ultimately located that larger immigrant story within one Indian retirement community.
A chunk of time was devoted to fundraising, which reinforced the idea to not expect one source to finance the entire project. The panelists discuss combinations of public grants, private donations, personal creative funds, commissioned work, pitch funds, brand-supported filmmaking, and institutional programs to assist with their films.
Be sure to check out films, festival panels, and more on A-Doc’s YouTube page.