Library of Congress Lavine/Ken Burns Prize for Film
Eligibility and Application Requirements

1. The film must focus on an American historical subject, issue, or person within a time frame occurring at least twenty years prior to submission (prior to 2005) and must present a variety of perspectives grounded in extensive and thorough research. The majority of the film must be historically focused to qualify. We invite submissions employing all types of storytelling devices and archival materials.
2. At the time of submission, research and principal photography for the film must be completed, with editing and post-production in progress, and a full rough or fine cut completed. (To be considered, the applicant will need to submit a rough or fine cut of at least 50-minutes in length via a private online video link.) The film may not be distributed, in any media (including theatrically, or via the Internet, physical media, or any form of television) before the award event. Limited, non-theatrical screenings, such as at film festivals, are acceptable.
3. Applicant must be the director and/or a producer of the film and be authorized to submit the application without the consent or approval of any other person or entity. Applicants will be required to confirm that they have informed and secured the necessary permissions from all involved parties. Sales agents and distribution partners are not authorized to apply on behalf of filmmakers.
4. Applicant must submit a complete list of all producers, executive producers, writers, directors, lead editors and other department heads and key “above-the-line” personnel involved with the applicant’s film, i.e., those individuals bearing material responsibility for the creative development, production, and direction of the film, and/or with a financial interest in any commercial benefit to be derived from the film (“Key Persons”). A film shall be deemed ineligible if any Key Person (i) is a member of the Prize’s National Jury or Internal Review Committee; (ii) has a close professional or personal relationship with Ken Burns, the Librarian of Congress, any member of the Prize’s Internal Review Committee or National Jury, the Prize funders (Jeannie and Jonathan Lavine) or their family members, or any other person or entity in an evaluative or decision-making role related to the Prize; or (iii) is now, or at any time in the past three years, has been employed or contracted by Florentine Films or The Better Angels Society, or is now currently employed or contracted by the Library of Congress. Applicants shall disclose all actual or potential conflicts of interest in the space provided for in the application, and shall update any disclosure if potential conflicts arise following submission of the application. Resolution of potential conflicts of interest will be made at the sole discretion of The Better Angels Society and the Library of Congress, in consultation with Florentine Films.Below are examples of relationships that would preclude Prize eligibility. These examples are not comprehensive, so if you have a question about a potential conflict of interest, please reach out to cstephens@betterangelssociety.org.
   i. A member of the Prize’s Internal Review Committee or National Jury is a consulting producer on the submitted project.
   ii. A writer, producer, a director or lead editor of the submitted project is married to or closely related to a member of the Prize’s Internal Review Committee or National Jury.
   iii. A writer, producer, director or lead editor of the submitted project worked for the Library of Congress or Florentine Films within the past 3 years.
   iv. A part-time editor or producer at Florentine Films is entitled to receive a fixed or contingent fee or profit participation in connection with the submitted project.
5. The applicant must submit a budget showing total production costs required for U.S. distribution (including post-production expenses; the projected cost of third-party rights, such as archival footage; and all customary, technical deliverables), as well as funds received to date or anticipated (including source). Films need not be fully funded or financed in order to be eligible for the Prize.
6. Industrial, promotional, “advertorial”, and instructional films are ineligible. No product placement or paid messaging is permitted.
7. Applicant must agree that, in the event that they become a finalist, they will provide the Library of Congress and The Better Angels Society with a copy of the completed film, and authorize the Library and The Society to use limited clips of the film in connection with the promotion of the Prize or otherwise to further their respective missions. The completed film will be included in the Library or Congress’ permanent collection and made available to researchers at the Moving Image Research Center.
8. A film previously submitted to the Library of Congress Lavine/Ken Burns Prize for Film may be re-submitted for consideration if the film is substantially changed since the last submission.
9. Films previously supported by The Better Angels Society, financially or otherwise, are eligible to submit, if all other eligibility requirements are met.
10. Applicants shall indicate their citizenship and country of residence in the application. Prizes are conditional on payment eligibility.
11. Submissions must be received by May 1, 2025, by 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time. No exceptions will be made. Applicants will not receive feedback on their submissions.