Doc+ 2027 Call for Proposals: Faculty- and Community-Led Documentary Projects

Student records a podcast interview in a studio using headphones, microphones, and an audio mixer.
Local photographer Kate Medley works with a students on creating "Field Notes," a new podcast featuring interviews with documentary photographers. Photo by Doc+ Director Lauren HenschelPhoto: Victoria Guillem

Deadline: Apply here by October 30, 2026.

The Center for Documentary Studies (CDS) at Duke University invites proposals from Duke faculty and external documentary and community collaborators interested in leading documentary projects with Doc+ students during Summer 2027.

Doc+ is a six-week summer immersion program in documentary arts that brings Duke undergraduates together in small project teams to explore creative, community-based approaches to storytelling.

Students work in small project teams led by faculty and/or external documentary collaborators. In a highly communal environment, students gain hands-on experience in research, production, editing and media presentation, while also engaging with critical frameworks from documentary theory. Each student receives a stipend for their full-time work on the project. All teams are provided with dedicated workspace, production resources, and mentorship through CDS staff and graduate students. 

Faculty and Partner Benefits and Expectations

Doc+ does not provide funding for faculty mentors or external partners — participation is understood as a collaborative investment in mentorship, teaching and partnership. Faculty and external partners gain the opportunity to advance their projects with dedicated student collaborators and visibility at the Doc+ Final Showcase, a public event where all teams present their work. The showcase is widely attended by the Duke community and external guests, offering an important platform for projects to gain recognition and spark future opportunities.

The communal atmosphere is essential. Doc+ projects only run during the six-week summer session, and all undergraduate participants must contribute full-time effort (no other classes or employment is permitted). Students are required to be present on campus for the duration of the program. Faculty and external collaborators are expected to remain actively involved throughout the six weeks and meet with their student team at least twice each week.

Eligibility

All Duke faculty, regardless of seniority, and community-based documentary collaborators are eligible to apply.

Call for Proposals

We welcome proposals for:

  • Faculty-led projects that invite undergraduates into works-in-progress, experimental research or creative production
  • External partner projects led by filmmakers, artists, media organizations, community groups, or arts practitioners interested in collaborating with Duke students on documentary work.

We especially encourage proposals that:

  • Explore environmental justice, climate, or related issues
  • Cross disciplines and bring faculty together from different fields
  • Engage community partners outside the university
  • Test new ideas or activate archival materials and underdeveloped stories
  • Create tangible outputs, such as films, podcasts, zines, installations, or public programs, that can be shared beyond Duke.

Doc+ is a student-centered program. Projects should provide students with meaningful opportunities to contribute ideas, make creative decisions, and take ownership of their work rather than positioning students primarily as production assistance.

Deadline and Contact

Applications are due October 30, 2026, at 5 p.m. If you have questions about your proposal, please contact: 
cdsdocplus@duke.edu. 

How to Apply

To apply, submit your application through our online Airtable form.

Applicants will be asked to provide:

  • A brief project description and documentary approach
  • Information about project leads and partners
  • How undergraduate students would meaningfully contribute to the project
  • Plans for student mentorship and collaborator involvement
  • Desired skills or experience for the project's graduate mentor
  • Reachable goals, tangible outputs, and stretch goals for the six-week program
  • Information about materials, resources, access, or permissions required
  • Information about community or organizational partners, if applicable
  • Information about existing or potential project funding.

Application deadline: October 30, 2026.