It’s everyone’s favorite time of year: the POV Call for Entries is now open! Films submitted to this open call will be considered for the 2016 broadcast season and beyond. The deadline for submission is Monday, June 15, 2015.

POV continues to accept digital content delivery via download-enabled links or content on flash drives. It is not required, but we strongly encourage every filmmaker who can deliver digitally to do so. Why? Over 1,400 entries will be considered in this submission round and digital submissions help us be more efficient. Digital submissions allow us to work with pre-screeners across the country and around the world, and enable the programming team to travel a bit lighter.

If you submit a link, the video MUST BE DOWNLOAD ENABLED. If you don’t feel comfortable enabling download, then please submit your film on a DVD or thumb drive. You can password protect to ensure the privacy of your link, but don’t forget to send POV the password (look for the password field on the form).

Our updated Call For Entries Guidelines explain everything you need to know about how to submit to POV, no matter which format you choose.

Do note that any materials sent to us will not be returned, so please don’t ship us any fancy thumb drives, or original source materials. Additionally, we cannot accept uncompressed, full HD files for submission. Our digital specs are similar to DVD specs in order to keep the playing field (and our servers) level.

We are excited to see what filmmakers from around the world have been working on! The full Call For Entries cycle at POV begins with the June 15, 2015 deadline and lasts about six months — we appreciate your patience during this process!

Have questions? Please send an email to cfe[at]pov.org and thanks, as always, for your interest in POV.

If you want better idea of whether the film you’ve made is a good fit for POV and to learn more about what POV looks for in a film during our selection process, check out a past blog post from 2007, “For Filmmakers: What Does POV Look For in a Film?”. If you want to inquire with someone who is currently in our programming department, drop us a line at cfe[at]pov.org or call 212-989-8121 x380. Please keep in mind that with 1,400 submissions last year, it might take us a bit to respond. We encourage you to use the resources provided in our blog posts and guideline documents.

Go to the POV Call for Entries online submission system »

For specific tips on how to navigate our online form, read on…

Standard: Finished films, or films that are at rough/fine cut stage. (Will be ready for broadcast in 2016.)

Shorts: Finished films, or films that are at rough/fine cut stage AND whose final running time is 30 minutes or less. (Will be ready for broadcast in 2016.)

Early Introduction: This category is exclusively for projects that are either too early in development or production to be considered in POV’s highly competitive selection process. If you plan on submitting to our open call in the future but would like to introduce your project to POV’s programming team now, this is the way to do it.

If you’re ready to begin your application please visit http://cfe.pov.org, read the guidelines, then follow the instructions to complete the entry form.

Here is a quick primer on how to use the online POV submission form:

Add cfe[at]pov.org to your email address book so that none of our correspondence to you is lost in a spam folder.

Make sure your browser will accept pop-up windows, and visit http://cfe.pov.org.

Click either of the two “Register” links (at the top and middle of the page) and complete the registration page.

Check your email for your registration confirmation. The confirmation email will usually arrive instantly, but may take up to 24 hours. Check your spam folder as well.

Click on the link within the confirmation email to activate your account. This is an obvious, but important step.

Once you’ve activated your account, log in at http://cfe.pov.org to complete your application. Enter your film’s title and click the button that says “Create New Call for Entries form.”

And that’s it! You’ve started a new entry! The rest of the form is pretty self-explanatory.

All films must be submitted through our online submission system. The arrival deadline is June 15, 2015. We grant extensions on a case-by-case basis. If you need an extension please email cfe[at]pov[dot]org with the subject line “Extension.”

Published by

POV Staff
POV (a cinema term for "point of view") is television's longest-running showcase for independent non-fiction films. POV premieres 14-16 of the best, boldest and most innovative programs every year on PBS. Since 1988, POV has presented over 400 films to public television audiences across the country. POV films are known for their intimacy, their unforgettable storytelling and their timeliness, putting a human face on contemporary social issues.