For more than 129 years, National Geographic has harnessed the power of storytelling to share science, adventure and exploration content from all reaches of the world. As part of its commitment to premium entertainment that inspires and enlightens, National Geographic Global Networks CEO Courteney Monroe announced today the Further Filmmaker Fellowship in partnership with Sundance Institute. The fellowship, announced during National Geographic’s Second Annual Filmmakers Reception at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival, will provide a grant to a rising filmmaker who embodies the core values of the National Geographic brand.

“At National Geographic, we believe in empowering visionaries who take risks to tell compelling stories that break through and matter,” says Monroe. “We are excited to partner with an emerging filmmaker to take us even further in our quest to explore the world and all that’s in it - whether big or small. We are thrilled to collaborate with Sundance Institute in a way that contributes to the next generation of storytellers.”

In the coming months, National Geographic will work closely with Sundance Institute to identify a short list of deserving filmmakers who embody the network’s FURTHER identity. Announced in October of 2016, FURTHER is both the tagline for National Geographic and serves as the network’s internal inspiration and aspirational message to the world. It is synonymous with content that inspires, enlightens and entertains. FURTHER exemplifies the desire to take risks, never settle, be radical about facts and always be hungry for more.

Working with Sundance Institute, the Fellowship will target a filmmaker who embodies the FURTHER ethos – a filmmaker who celebrates the unexpected stories that take us the extra mile.

The official selection will be made in coordination with Sundance Institute and National Geographic’s award-winning team of executive producers and will be announced later this year.

The fellowship announcement comes on the heels of National Geographic’s newly created banner National Geographic Documentary Films, which was announced Jan. 13, during the network’s presentation at the Television Critics Association Press Tour.

The first film to be released under the new banner, Water & Power: A California Heist, from Emmy Award-winning director Marina Zenovich and Academy Award-winning executive producer Alex Gibney and his production company Jigsaw Productions, premieres Monday, Jan. 23, at the Sundance Film Festival.

Previously announced feature documentaries, which are produced under National Geographic Documentary Films, include Hell on Earth: The Fall of Syria and the Rise of ISIS from Sebastian Junger and Nick Quested; LA 92 (working title), produced by double Academy Award winner Simon Chinn and his cousin, Emmy Award winner Jonathan Chinn, and directed by the Academy Award-winning team Dan Lindsay and TJ Martin; and the Untitled Jane Goodall Project from Emmy Award- and Academy Award-nominated executive producer, director and writer Brett Morgen.

About National Geographic Partners LLC:

National Geographic Partners LLC (NGP), a joint venture between National Geographic and 21st Century Fox, is committed to bringing the world premium science, adventure and exploration content across an unrivaled portfolio of media assets. NGP combines the global National Geographic television channels (National Geographic Channel, Nat Geo WILD, Nat Geo MUNDO, Nat Geo PEOPLE) with National Geographic’s media and consumer-oriented assets, including National Geographic magazines; National Geographic studios; related digital and social media platforms; books; maps; children’s media; and ancillary activities that include travel, global experiences and events, archival sales, licensing and e-commerce businesses. Furthering knowledge and understanding of our world has been the core purpose of National Geographic for 129 years, and now we are committed to going deeper, pushing boundaries, going further for our consumers … and reaching over 730 million people around the world in 172 countries and 43 languages every month as we do it. NGP returns 27 percent of our proceeds to the nonprofit National Geographic Society to fund work in the areas of science, exploration, conservation and education. For more information visit natgeotv.com or nationalgeographic.com, or find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google+, YouTube, LinkedIn and Pinterest.