Whether you are a beginner, emerging, or somewhere in-between we have a documentary program for you.

Our Doc U program is for first time media makers. This 16 week program takes you through the process of story construction, learning our cameras and field gear (while shooting your documentary) and Adobe Premiere (while editing your doc). You (and your fellow participants) will screen your five minute documentary at our community screening. This program runs May-mid August. Applications are open March 1-March 31. This program is made possible through a grant from the McKnight Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts. 

In Spotlight Shorts you will learn more advanced media making skills while working in a team. Unlike in our other programs, the Spotlight Shorts team selects the topic of the documentary and you and three others will work with a mentor artists to create a short documentary. This program runs October through February. Applications are open September 1-September 30. This program is made possible with a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board.

Emerging artists who are looking to build skills in pitching, story development, funding, and marketing can do so in our New Angle Fellows program. This seven month program runs November through May. We meet every other week. Applications are open October 1-October 31. This program is made possible with a grant from the Jerome Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts. 

With a grant from the Raymond J Christensen Foundation of the St. Paul & Minnesota Foundation SPNN is able to offer $15,000 post production grants to emerging artists through our Fresh Vantage Program. This eleven month program runs April through February. Applications are open February 1-February 28.