- DISCLOSURE
- STORMING CAESARS PALACE
- FIRST VOTE
- AMERICAN MASTERS: MARIAN ANDERSON: THE WHOLE WORLD IN HER HANDS
- DECADE OF FIRE
- BARTOLO
- BELLY OF THE BEAST
- WHAT WE LEAVE BEHIND
- SIRENS
- TRACES OF HOME
- ALL WE'VE LOST
- CONSCIENCE POINT
- BLACK BARBIE
- A CHASM IN CHINATOWN
- BUSY INSIDE
- SEADRIFT
- THE JUDGE
- BUILDING THE AMERICAN DREAM
- VOICES OF THE SEA
- LAILA AT THE BRIDGE
- MY COUNTRY NO MORE
- WHAT WAS OURS
- AMERICAN SONS
- DAO OF THAO
- GIRL MODEL
- THE DISRUPTED
- OTHER MUSIC
- OLYMPIA
- THE DISABILITY ROAD MAP
- THE AMERICANS
- CREDIBLE FEAR
- NOMADS
- THE NOBLE HALF
- LA QUIMI
- LEFT ON PURPOSE
- FLOOD
- THE ART OF UNWAR
- TRUE BELIEVER
- SERVED LIKE A GIRL
- CROWS ARE WHITE
- YOUR FRIEND, MEMPHIS
- HAVANA, FROM ON HIGH
- SANCTUARY
- THE GUARDIANS
- A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH: A FILM ABOUT CITIES THROUGH THE LENS OF JANE JACOBS
- CALL HER GANDA
- SWIM TEAM
- ALMOST SUNRISE
- DOG WALK HOME
- PAHOKEE
- UNCLE HOWARD
- WRIT WRITER
- UNSEEN
- WORDS WITH GODS
- GIVE UP TOMORROW
- THE HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSE AS TOLD BY WONDER WOMAN
- BECOMING BULLETPROOF
- THE SENSITIVES
- RICH HILL
- TRANSFORMISTAS
- SONATA MULATICCA
- A BUNCH OF AMATEURS
- GIRL WRESTLER
- SOUTHWEST OF SALEM: THE STORY OF THE SAN ANTONIO FOUR
- WHERE SOLDIERS COME FROM
- FACING FORWARD
- Dyslexia-ville Kickstarter campaign
- Inside The Circle
- Invisible Girlfriend
- Flying On One Engine
- The Dressmakers
- Whales of Gold
- The Way North
- Learning To Swallow
- Are the Kids Alright?
- Atomic Ed & The Black Hole
- The Informant
Documentary Film Writing for Funding
Do you need a treatment written fast? A letter of inquiry? A competitive pitch? Film festival submission copy? A Look Book? An NEH proposal? I can help!
Since 2004 I’ve helped filmmakers apply to: NEH; ITVS; IFP/the Gotham; Catapult Film Fund; Sundance Documentary Fund; Just Films; IDA Enterprise Film Fund; Pare Lorentz Film Fund; Vision Maker Media; San Francisco Documentary Film Fund; LEF Moving Image Fund; The Good Pitch; Chicken and Egg; Creative Capital; NEA, and many other philanthropic foundations. Many of the films I’ve written for have been successfully funded. Look me up on the documentary listserve “The D Word” http://www.d-word.com/ and you will see rave reviews of my work.
I’m happy to write as much or as little as you need: a treatment, a synopsis, a logline. I understand distribution, outreach and production/post production plans and timelines, and can present these professionally. I almost always have additional ideas and input. I understand budgets and can help you apply strategically. I can help you develop your ideas and story arcs, and I can give you feedback on your fundraising trailers and help make them sharper. I tailor every proposal carefully for maximum success. Documentary film fundraising is my specialization.
I can also help you in your career development, helping to craft successful proposals for fellowships such as Guggenheim, Open Society, etc.
I’m here to make you and your film look and sound great!
Lastly, I am also an excellent researcher—archival, background and story research—you name it, I can dig it up and track it down.
Joanna has a way of seeing the story even if the story isn’t actually in the film and this film [tentative title GIRL MODEL] will certainly be shaped by her vision and helpful direction […] Joanna Rabiger [is] a close advisor for our projects and someone who understands stories from the inside out.
—David Redmon/Ashley Sabin, Carnivalesque Films
Interviews with Joanna
Joanna was featured on The Documentary Life’s podcast discussing the details of How to Write Your Documentary Grant Proposal in January 2018.
Joanna also featured on Blog Talk Radio’s episode “How to Win Grants” in November 2015.