Submit Your Film

Alamo Pictures is always on the lookout for proposals to produce documentaries that explore untold stories from America from a European perspective. In particular, we are keen to collaborate with European filmmakers living/working in the U.S. and American filmmakers living/working in Europe.

If this is you and you have a documentary in mind that fits, please use the form on the right to submit your proposal. 

What We Are Looking For

Our objective is to discover captivating and compelling documentaries about America that can appeal to an international audience:

• We aim to find exceptional narratives that stray away from stereotypes and focus on unearthing the real America. 
• We are looking for feature-long documentaries, shorts and docuseries at any stage of development.
• We are open to many themes, including current affairs, history, social issues, true crime and sports.

Proposal Guidelines and Structure

Owing to the high number of submissions that we receive, we ask you to follow our submission guidelines to help us draw the best understanding of the project.

1. Cover page: include strong visuals, your film title, date and name.
2. Table of contents.
3. Format of your film: e.g. digital video, 16mm, etc.; colour or black and white; and proposed length.
4. Log line: descriptively and compellingly introduce your film (maximum of 25 words).
5. Synopsis: use visual language and suggest stylistic approach (maximum of 60 words).
6. Treatment: describe your theme, your story outline, structure, style, documentary mode, point of view, potential interviewees, questions you and the film will be asking, locations, music, etc. Include notes on additional material such as archival images that will you be using, for example, Super 8, photographs, digital imaging, and music. This section should also answer the following questions. Is there a shooting or editing style that will convey your structure or content? Are you using narration? Are you personally in the film? If so, what is your function? Is there a particular genre or convention that you are using?
7. Audience: describe the communities you hope to attract; film festivals and categories; organisations and educational institutions that you hope will use your film; and which broadcasters would be appropriate.
8. Production personnel: include a full résumé for yourself – the director – and a brief résumé/bio for each of your crewmembers: Production Manager (if you have one), Cinematographer, Sound Recordist, Picture Editor, Sound Editor.
9. About you: Written documentation describing your previous work, contributions, etc. You could also include a sample reel.
10. Storyboards or shooting script (optional): include storyboards or visual examples that will help the reader to envisage your project. Visual elements may include paintings, photos of participants, a collage or drawings, for example, that give a feel for your aesthetic approach to your documentary.
11. Production budget: include how you aim to allocate the budget into pre/pro/post-production.
12. Finance plan: indicate where you see potential opportunities for additional grants, regional funds and endorsements.
13. Schedule: An indicative schedule of your film from start to finish.