Travel Bursary Scheme

The DocC Travel Bursary Scheme is specifically designed to supplement travel for independent documentary professionals that do not reside in the city where the DocC takes place. It is directed at persons who with their contribution can enrich the DocC, as well as benefit from attending the convention for their future career development.

The bursary can only be used to cover travel and accommodation related expenses.
Individual bursary amounts granted are selected and determined by an  selection committee based on the information provided by the applicant and the assessment of the genuine need of the bursary. The number of bursaries granted depends on the funds available to this scheme.

To apply submit a registration application for the Documentary Convention 2020 now!

Eligibility

Eligible candidates to be considered for receiving travel bursaries:
  • are documentary professionals, not living in Berlin (location of DocC ‘20) from the Arab region/ Africa and Europe
  • are independent documentary professionals, audiovisual artists or researchers
  • can demonstrate a track record of actively working and contributing to the local, regional or international documentary industries be it as documentary practitioner, member of a support or training initiative or researcher

Members of DOX BOX staff team, board or General Assembly are not eligible.

Terms & Conditions

Introduction & Purpose
  • The DocC bursary scheme is intended to support participation at the DocC for independent documentary professionals, artists and researchers. Residents of the city in which the DocC takes place are not eligible.
  • Intended to be offered each year, the size of the bursary fund will however vary from one year to the next, depending on funds available to the organisers and number of paying participants attending the convention. As a result the total number of individual awards will vary and always depends upon the number of applicants across which it is to be spread.
Application & Selection Procedures
  • Applications are attached to the general DC participation form and  must be submitted via the DC website by the official deadline: 25th of February 2020 in English. Late or incomplete applications will be automatically rejected.
  • All applications received will be reviewed for eligibility and then be forwarded to a selection committee for evaluation and selection. The selection decision of the committee is final. The organisers of the DocC will not enter into any communication with applicants regarding unsuccessful applications.
  • Applications will be accepted where the request for a bursary is deemed to be reasonable and fair, the status of the applicant can be verified and the applicant fulfills the basic eligibility criteria.
  • At the discretion of the Selection Committee, late or emergency applications due to unforeseen circumstances may be considered in exceptional cases.
  • Successful applicants will be informed within one week following the application deadline.
  • Individual bursary amounts granted are determined by the selection committee based on the information provided by the applicant and the assessment of the genuine need of the bursary.
  • We strongly advice applicants requiring a visa to travel to Germany to book an appointment at the German consulate/ visa service in their c0untry.
Grantees regulations & Duties
  • Award recipients must provide full information about the travel arrangements they are planning to make.
  • The bursary amount can be:
    • transferred in full to the grantee’s upon on presentation of receipts within four weeks following the convention.
    • handled by the organisers, i.e. the organisers book a hotel room and flights for the award recipient. No funds are dispersed.
    • reimbursed in cash upon presentation of receipt during the DocC.
  • It is the grantees responsibility to obtain the relevant visas.
  • By the time of applying to the travel bursary, it is highly encouraged to have already obtained a visa appointment and present proof of the appointment with the application.
  • The DocC organisers can provide invitation and support letters upon request. Such requests must be made in writing upon accepting the bursary.
  • Award recipients agree to actively contribute to and attend the full programme of the DocC.
  • The organisers retain the right to revoke funds deemed to have been awarded under false pretense. This includes failure to attend the activities of the convention. Recipients that fail to attend the convention without evidence of acceptable outstanding circumstances (force majeure), will have to repay all funds they received.
  • Award recipients that are prevented from attending the convention after securing the bursary must notify the organisers immediately, so as to ensure that another applicant can be considered instead.
  • Award recipients agree to the use of their name and image in any publicity material related to Documentary Convention.
  • A bursary may only be made once to any individual.

Submitting an online application will be deemed as acceptance of these terms and conditions.

FAQs

What is the DC travel bursary scheme?

The bursary scheme is supports travel to participate in the annual Documentary Convention.

Who is eligible to apply for a bursary?

The scheme is designed for independent documentary professionals. Applicants must demonstrate a track record of actively working and contributing to the local, regional or international documentary industries be it as documentary practitioner, member of a support or training initiative or researcher. Eligible candidates are form the Arab World or Europe.

Which nationalities are eligible?

Eligible countries from Europe:

Albania, Armenia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro, Macedonia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Kosovo, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Cyprus, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, the UK, Turkey, the Republic of Serbia

Eligible Countries from the Arab World:

Algeria, Bahrain, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, UAE, Yemen and the Diaspora

How many bursaries are you dispersing?

The number of bursaries depends on the funds available and the number of applicants upon which the amount has to be spread.

May I apply as a team?

No. Only applications by individuals will be considered.

When may I apply?

The call for applications is published eight (12) weeks prior to the convention date. The deadline is around six (6) weeks prior to the convention dates. For DC’19 the deadline of applying for the travel bursary will be 4th of March 2019.

How long does the application process take?

Upon receipt all application are checked for eligibility and then forwarded to the selection committee.The whole process usually takes around one weeks.

How will I find out the result of my application?

All applicants will be informed by email about the outcome of their application.

May I request feedback on my application?

The decision of the selection committee is final. While the time and energy you put into filling the application is much appreciated, we cannot give feedback on individual applications.

What is the maximum bursary amount?

The maximum bursary awards will not exceed 300 Euro for applicants residing in Europe (in both schemes) and 750 Euro for applicants residing in the Arab region.

How do you determine how much is awarded to applicant?

The selection committee will assess the merits of the application based on the personal statement and supporting information. Applications will be accepted where the request for a bursary is deemed to be reasonable and fair, the status of the applicant can be verified and the applicant fulfills the basic eligibility criteria.

What is included/ can be covered by the bursary?

The bursary covers travel related costs, such as airfares and accommodation at the convention location. In cases where applicants arrange their travels, the fund is dispersed upon presentation of valid receipts, regardless of whether the awarded bursary covers the whole amount or only a part of it.

Why do I have to present receipts?

Eligible expenses are travel costs only. The bursary must not be used to cover any other expenses. As a proof the organisers require booking receipts from recipient.

How do you make payments to successful applicants?

The bursary can be managed in three ways:

  • transferred in full to the grantee’s upon on presentation of receipts within four weeks following the convention.
  • handled by the organisers, i.e. the organisers book a hotel room and flights for the award recipient. No funds are dispersed.
  • reimbursed in cash upon presentation of receipt during the DC.
What happens if I cannot attend the convention?

Award recipients, who cannot attend the convention have to inform the organisers immediately, so as to ensure that their place can be given to another applicant. Last minute cancellations and/or absence without evidence of acceptable outstanding circumstances (force majeure), will have to repay all funds they received.

How do you define independent in the context of the bursary scheme?

Independent are such documentary professionals, who are working as freelancers, are not representing a commercial company or major organisation. Active members of training initiatives or media collectives are considered independent in the context of this bursary scheme.

Why do I have to specify what I can bring to the DC?

The DC is a professional-to-professional event. Not a classical conference but a convention that gathers professionals to benefit of each others knowledge and experience, and a creative think tank, where solution to some of the major challenges in documentary are being explored and discussed. To avoid disappointment and as spaces are limited we need to ensure that attending the DC will benefit you and the convention alike.

What do you mean by “documentary professional”?

A documentary professional in this case is someone who has a career in documentary and who is actively contributing to documentary industries in his/her country, region or internationally.

I am a documentary professional interested to attend the DC but I am not from any of the eligible countries. May I apply?

Unfortunately not. Currently we can only support applicants from the eligible countries.

I am staying with a friend, can I still request money for accommodation?

Unfortunately not. Remember, the funds available to this scheme are limited so we very much appreciate if you can contribute in saving funds so that more applicants can benefit from the grant.  

Is there a conference hotel?

Yes. Contributing experts and partners stay at the ibis City and ibis Budget hotels in the center of Leipzig. We have a limited allocations of rooms with special rates at both hotels. We cannot guarantee a booking for you at one of these hotels due to limited capacity but our team is happy to support you with finding alternatives in Leipzig if needed. All information about the DC’19 hotels can be found here

Do you provide pick-up from the airport?

Unfortunately not. Directions and further information can be found here.

I lost my receipts, can I still receive the bursary amount?

Unfortunately not. We can only transfer the bursary amount upon presentation of receipts of flight and/or hotel booking.

Do I have to submit a report?

There is no standard report. You may be requested to take part in an evaluation.