upcoming funding & filmmaker support opportunities.
TFC adds and removes funding opportunities regularly. Know of one we haven’t yet included? Email us at fiscalsponsorship@thefilmcollaborative.org.
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Our Stories, Our Voices. This microdocs series will contain seven 2-minute videos focusing on actions, initiatives, and participation on urgent issues in the 2024 elections. Selected filmmakers will receive $3,000 production funding and $750 impact support.
Projects Supported: Documentary short
The Alaska Humanities Forum Grants Program funds humanities-based projects that educate the public, get people talking, increase public access, and preserve and promote Alaska’s stories. The Alaska Humanities Forum expects to award five $10,000 grants to fund community-engaged media projects in Alaska. Proposals should be submitted by community stakeholder and journalist/media maker teams.
Projects Supported: Media projects including film
Alpha Female Plus Grant Program will award a $500 micro grant, Sony gear to shoot on, Adobe software to edit with, and the opportunity to have your project seen worldwide by countless creators who will be inspired to create alongside you.
Projects Supported: Photo or short video, female artists
Filmmakers provide detailed story outlines and budgets for their work in progress or new projects. Screen a 3-minute preview before the industry panel and take part in a 10-minute Q & A at the annual Film Fund Pitch Competition in Jihlava, Czech Republic. An amount of $50,000 may be awarded.
Projects Supported: Documentary films, short and feature length
The mission of the American Zoetrope Screenplay Competition is to find and promote new and innovative voices in cinema. The competition considers feature-length film scripts, as well as pilot scripts for television/streaming services. Every script is read closely by a select handful of professional readers, and Francis Ford Coppola chooses a winner from among the ten finalists.
Projects Supported: Feature scripts, pilot scripts
The Andrew Berends Film Fellowship includes a $5,000 grant and a one-on-one mentorship with an experienced filmmaker. The Fellowship accepts applicants, 18 years or older, from all backgrounds and locations, who are currently working on a feature documentary project in the spirit of Andy’s work. Applicants must be working on their first, second or third feature documentary and must have a trailer or sample of their current project in order to apply.
Projects Supported: Feature documentary
The AFAC Documentary Program supports creative documentary films that address social realities in the Arab region with grants up to $50,000.
Projects Supported: Short and medium-length documentary films in production and post-production, feature documentary films in development, production or post-production
The AFAC Cinema funding opportunity is open to film projects (documentary and narrative) with two grants: 1) $15,000 in funding for films in development/scripting phase 2) $50,000 in funding for films in production or post-production.
Projects Supported: Short and medium-length narrative films in production and post-production and feature narrative films in development, production or post-production
The Artadia Awards provide exposure, financial support, and critical validation to artists. The awards are unrestricted, allowing artists to use the funds in any way they choose. Awardees receive unrestricted funds of up to $10,000, as well as access to a lifetime of programs that offer critical dialogue and exposure.
Projects Supported: Artists
Offers support for innovative and captivating projects in documentary film. Applicants may submit their project at whatever stage for consideration. This year’s eligibility is limited to filmmakers of Cuban descent, and non-Cuban individuals with projects about the Cuban diaspora. Awardees will receive up to $25,000.
Projects Supported: Feature and short documentary films
The Awesome Foundation awards $1,000 grants every month for “crazy brilliant ideas.”
Projects Supported: Arts, technology, community development, and more
AXS Film Fund supports documentary filmmakers and non-fiction new media creators of color with disabilities with up to $10,000.
Projects Supported: Feature documentary films, nonfiction new media projects
The Barbara Hammer Lesbian Experimental Filmmaking Grant is an annual grant that will be awarded to self-identified lesbians for making visionary moving-image art.
Projects Supported: Experimental Documentary, Narrative, Cross-Genre, or Solely Experimental.
The 10 month MediaMaker Fellowship is devoted to supporting documentary filmmakers grappling with critical issues of our time through the use of bold cinematic language and innovative impact strategies. Each Fellow will receive $10,000 over the course of the program.
Projects Supported: Feature documentary films
To be considered for this grant, you must work or live in the city of Berkeley, Emeryville, Albany, El Cerrito, Richmond, Oakland or Alameda. You must provide a valid street address for application. PO Box addresses will not be accepted. Berkeley FILM Foundation will provide grants in the pre-production, production, post-production and distribution stages of the narrative short film project. General grants awarded will range between $5,000 - $10,000. This is the first year we are introducing a second Saul Zaentz Award for $25,000.
Projects Supported: Short Form Narratives
On-screen representation affects cultural understanding of BIPOC, women, and LGBTQ+ characters. Barriers need to be broken down until equal representation is achieved on-screen and behind the camera. BendFilm’s Grant will support a BIPOC women artist with $10,000 toward making their short or feature film. The grant supports storytellers who are working to tell creative and complex stories told from a point of view that is unique and authentic. Filmmakers who have been underrepresented are less likely to have the funding support to produce their first films to jumpstart their careers. This grant breaks down the economic barrier to democratize the art form.
Projects Supported: Feature, short films, women
Berlinale Talents is aimed at film and television professionals with an existing track record of work and who are willing to share their experiences with others. You need to have made at least one feature-length film OR two short films OR a high-quality drama series or TV movie that have screened in festivals or been widely streamed.
Projects Supported: All
This annual national prize is designed to provide finishing funds, including outreach and marketing, for feature-length U.S. historical documentaries in the tradition of Ken Burns.
Projects Supported: Feature length documentaries
BIPOC Filmmaker Grant Open Call Presented by Machines for Freedom and Filmed by Bike is open to Black, Indigenous, and POC filmmakers at any point in their careers. In addition to funding, grantees will receive an advisor for one-on-one support as well as have their presented at the Annual Filmed by Bike Festival.
Projects Supported: Short films about or with a bicycle theme
The Black List has partnered with Collective Moxie and Trilith Studios to identify and curate a list of the ten best un-produced features, pilots, plays, and musicals from writers with a connection to Georgia.
Projects Supported: Writers with a connection to Georgia
BPM Open Call supports feature and short documentaries that are currently in pre-production or production and intended for public media distribution, with awards between $20,000 to $50,000.
Projects Supported: Feature and short documentary films
MIT & Black Public Media Fellowship will research and develop an emerging tech documentary or nonfiction project and move the conceptualization or execution of the project forward in some significant way with an honorarium of $7,500 and access to MIT’s network of scholars and artists + Black Public Media’s community of Black filmmakers and creative technologists.
Projects Supported: Primarily feature documentary films and shorts under 30 minutes
The MPAC Hollywood Bureau Filmmaker Grant will award $10,000 to a Black Muslim filmmaker whose project is in development, production or post-production. This award seeks to promote and elevate Black Muslim creatives as they work to tell intersectional stories with nuanced depictions of Black Muslims on screen.
Projects Supported: Films depicting Black Muslims
BlackStar Philadelphia Filmmaker Lab supports four Black, Brown and Indigenous filmmakers by making equipment, space, crew, mentorship, funding and critical feedback available over the course of a 12-month program.
Projects Supported: Short films. Black, Brown and Indigenous filmmakers
The Bloomberg Green Docs competition is open to all eligible filmmakers who would like to compete to win a $25,000 grand prize for a short climate documentary.
Projects Supported: Documentary, Short
When a filmmaker submits to BlueCat, they are guaranteed a complete read of their script, and BlueCat provides a written analysis of the submission at no extra fee. In addition, the cash awards total $18,500.
Projects Supported: Feature screenplay, tv pilot and short film script
This €10,000 Action Grant is open to any feature film Director who experiences marginalization due to their gender, including but not limited to women, non-binary and trans filmmakers. Applicants must demonstrate how the grant funding will allow you to advance in a critical area of development. Films from around the world with strong artistic merit and a bold original vision, ready to go into production within the next 12 months are welcome to apply.
The Program includes a $3,000 stipend for the year; documentary filmmaking courses and professional development workshops; mentorship from BDC staff and visiting filmmakers; documentary film screenings and panel discussions; equipment loans and low-cost rentals; access to free meeting and workspace; and a video editing suite. Must live and work in New York City.
Projects Supported: Documentary
The BGDM Sustainable Artist and Black Directors Fellowships will support members who are working as directors, producers, editors, and/or cinematographers at any career level. All Fellows will receive $10,000 in unrestricted funds as well as professional development opportunities, curated industry connections, and a year of mentorship and community building.
Projects Supported: Documentary short and feature length films
The CAAM Documentaries for Social Change Fund offers grants for social issue documentary films that highlight Asian American narratives. This Fund will provide much needed resources to projects for research and development and in early production.
Projects Supported: About Asian American experience, and PBS standard lengths
CAAM provides production funding to independent producers who make engaging Asian American works for public television. Documentaries are eligible for production or post-production funding and must be intended for public television broadcast. Awards typically range between $10,000 and $50,000.
Projects Supported: Project about Asian American experience
Particularly interested in supporting stories and projects from communities, regions, and individuals whose voices and perspectives have traditionally been excluded from the broader California narrative. Research and Development grants are designed to strengthen the humanities content and approach of documentary media productions in their earliest stages. Eligible applicants may apply for funding up to $15,000. Production grants are designed to strengthen the humanities content and approach of documentary media productions and help propel projects toward completion. Eligible applicants may apply for funding up to $50,000.
Projects Supported: Features, shorts, podcasts, web series, broadcast series, VR (Virtual Reality)
Presented during DocLands Documentary Film Festival, DocPitch is an invitation for filmmakers to submit their unfinished feature-length (70 + minutes) documentary projects currently in early to later stages of completion. There is a total of $100,000 to be awarded to five projects, viewers will be invited to cast one vote per person for their favored project to win the $45,000 Audience Award. The jury of industry professionals will select the winner of the $40,000 Jury Award. Additional $5,000 awards will go to the remaining three projects.
Projects Supported: Feature length documentary
Catapult Film Fund provides development funding to documentary filmmakers who have a compelling story to tell, have secured access to their story and are ready to shoot and edit a piece for production fundraising purposes.
Projects Supported: Nonfiction filmmakers
Interested in films that tackle human rights, social justice, and environmental issues in a nuanced, original, and compelling way. Looking for new voices, powerful stories, and filmmakers who are committed to working in tandem with social movements. Focus on women filmmakers.
Projects Supported: Unsolicited applications are not accepted. Self-identifying woman or non-binary individual
Supporting nonfiction directors working on their first or second feature-length documentary. This program brings together ten projects, with a special focus on self-identifying women and non-binary directors.
Projects Supported: Feature Length Documentary
CJ & TIFF K-Story Fund is accepting applications from Korean Canadian and Korean American filmmakers looking to develop their first or second feature. Eight participants will be selected for a story development mentorship. After the mentorship, three [3] of the projects will be awarded $10,000 CAD to support the development of their feature-length films and their filmmaking careers.
Projects Supported: Narrative, Documentary short and feature length
This emerging filmmaker contest is a worldwide competition to invite talented, emerging filmmakers to make short films about the Holocaust. Films in Development, Production or Post-Production must have wide distribution potential and/or educational value. Films will be evaluated based on historical accuracy, creativity, vision and planning. Development grants are up to $25,000. Production and post-production grants are up to $85,000.
Projects Supported: Short films about the Holocaust
The Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany (Claims Conference) provides film grants as part of their ongoing support for Holocaust research, education, and documentation. The fund supports films in development, production, and post-production phases.
Projects Supported: Films about the Holocaust
Common Pictures is a not-for-profit associated with The Edward E. Haddock, Jr. Family Foundation. They like stories that humanize, inspire and heal our broken world. They look to understand the world as it is and pause to consider how it might be. Through impact films, documentaries, photography and other creative mediums Common Pictures stories affirm social justice, environmental stewardship and the dignity of our shared humanity. There isn't a call for applications but if your film. fits their interest area you can contact them via their website.
Projects Supported: Impact films, documentaries, photography and other creative mediums
Connecticut Humanities Fund Public Presentation Grants support projects that help us understand and appreciate human history, culture, values, and beliefs with grants between $5,000 - $25,000.
Projects Supported: Films that help the humanities sector strengthen communities for all of Connecticut’s residents
Creative Capital provides integrated financial and advisory support to artists pursuing adventurous projects in all disciplines with funding up to $50,000.
Projects Supported: Experimental film, short film, animation, documentary film, narrative film, and socially engaged and/or sustainable film/moving image-based practices
Grants of up to $40,000 are available to artist/organization teams creating new collaborative projects in the media or traditional arts. Letter of Inquiry required by deadline date.
Projects Supported: Films must be in collaboration with a nonprofit organization
The Filmed in NC Fund supports the production of indie film and video projects by artists who are permanent residents or full-time college students in North Carolina with grants between $500 and $3,000.
Projects Supported: Narrative, documentary, and experimental films, by residents of North Carolina
The Cucalorus Works-in-Progress (WiP) Lab, launched in 2008 through a partnership between Working Films, supports social justice documentaries being made by Black filmmakers. Participating artists will receive feedback on their work-in-progress and explore audience engagement strategies through workshops, consultations, and community screenings during a residency at Cucalorus’ campus in Wilmington, NC.
Projects Supported: Black filmmakers working on social justice documentaries
The Dan David Prize recognizes outstanding scholarship that illuminates the past and seeks to anchor public discourse in a deeper understanding of history with up to $300,000.
Projects Supported: Documentary films
The MOFFOM grant provides up to $20,000 annually in finishing funds for scoring, composition, and music licensing efforts for feature-length documentaries in post-production.
Projects Supported: Documentary Feature Length Films
The Department of Education administers grant funding programs the fulfill the Department's mission to promote student achievement and preparation for global competitiveness, to foster educational excellence, and to ensure equal access.
The Diane Weyermann Fellowship at Points North champions filmmaking teams producing cinematic feature documentaries that take artistic risks in highlighting stories of moral and ethical urgency. Up to three original, feature-length documentaries in production from global filmmaking teams will be selected to participate in an 18-month collaborative Fellowship. Resources provided to Fellows include $100,000 in unrestricted, non-recoupable grants, mentorship from veteran filmmakers and industry leaders, festival retreat, and ongoing professional development.
Projects Supported: Feature documentaries
The DGA Awards is our annual opportunity to celebrate outstanding directorial achievement. Feature and television documentary's are eligible. The Director must submit a completed DGA Awards online entry form.
Projects Supported: Documentary feature
Designed to accelerate the path to large-scale filmmaking for directors who give voice to the perspectives of women, trans and non-binary people. The program will provide support for up to 8 filmmakers to make a short film that that is “proof of concept” for a feature film or television project. Short films will be funded at $50,000 and directors will participate in a mentorship and exposure program which connects them with industry leaders.
The Doc Society Climate Story Fund provides up to $100K grants to support completion of production of creative nonfiction projects, and to pilot impact campaigns for completed creative nonfiction and fiction projects that engage audiences who are not typically included in the climate conversation.
Projects Supported: Long form, shorts or episodic documentaries
The BFI Doc Society Fund aims to develop storytellers from all parts of the UK, backing feature projects with bold cultural and social ambitions. The Fund will encourage filmmakers to take risks on form and content, where the more commercial sector cannot. We heart the cinema, but we are also platform agnostic and open to projects that reach audiences in new ways.
Projects Supported: Feature and short documentaries, UK based
The Threshold Foundation looks to support documentaries that address the most important issues facing the world using a plan of action that is powerful, innovative, and unexpected. Doc Society will invite applications from high profile feature documentaries with the ability to create lasting social impact in accordance with Threshold’s priorities.
Projects Supported: Applications are by invitation only
Spotlights contemporary and historical documentaries about our people, places, and events of Maryland, Washington DC, and Northern Virginia. Unfortunately if your film is about some other place, we are not the festival for you.
Projects Supported: Documentary films, short and feature length
Three to five fellows will be selected for this DocX residency program and awarded $20,000 each to support projects in a pivotal stage of late development or production. The residency is an invitation for documentary artists working across disciplines — filmmakers, multimedia artists ... — to take space to breathe and create. At the end of the residency, fellows will participate in a public roundtable discussion about their questions and discoveries and contribute a short written piece about their practice for publication on the Center for Documentary Studies website.
Projects Supported: Documentary films
Evoke Media, created in 2020, is a subsidiary of The Sabrina Merage Foundation. Through non-recoupable grants and program-related investments, we support documentaries, podcasts, and other creative media.
Firelight Media Documentary Lab is an 18-month fellowship program that supports filmmakers in the US from racially and ethnically underrepresented communities working on their first or second feature-length documentary film. The Documentary Lab provides filmmakers with a $25,000 grant toward their projects as well as customized mentorship from prominent leaders in the documentary world, professional development workshops, and networking opportunities.
Projects Supported: Feature documentary films that focus on underrepresented communities
William Greaves Fund from Firelight Media grants up to $25,000 supports storytellers from racially and ethnically underrepresented communities in the US, Mexico, Brasil, Puerto Rico and Colombia with a particular interest in those who identify as being of indigenous and/or of African descent.
Projects Supported: Feature documentaries
IF/Then x The Redford Center Nature Access Pitch celebrates storytellers that spotlight the social, emotional, physical, mental, and community health benefits of time spent outdoors with a first prize award of $25,000 plus a year of wraparound mentorship and a second prize $5,000 plus distribution consultation.
Projects Supported: Short documentary films
The Film Independent Imaginar Producers Residency is a new program created to support Latinx Producers, made possible by The Walt Disney Company and Searchlight Pictures, in collaboration with the National Association of Latino Independent Producers (NALIP). The Residency will support three Latinx Producers during a nine-month period. Each Fellow will receive a $50,000 grant to financially assist the continued development of their projects.
Projects Supported: Feature and short films by Latinx filmmakers
A new program created to support Latinx Creators, made possible by FX Networks, in collaboration with the National Association of Latino Independent Producers (NALIP). Held over two weeks in June at the Film Independent offices in Los Angeles, this innovative new program will sponsor six Latinx Creators as they participate in a series of workshops, conversations and individual meetings designed to provide them with valuable support, insight on the FX Networks drama programming brand and direct access to industry leaders. A $3,000 grant will be awarded to each participant.
Projects Supported: Fiction long and short form
Producers may apply with feature length narrative projects that are in active development or post-production. Through the Lab, Fellows develop strategies and action plans to bring their projects to fruition. The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation will award one participant of the Film Independent Producing Lab the annual Sloan Producers Grant of $30,000 with which to further develop their project.
Projects Supported: Films with scientific, mathematical and/or technological theme
All you need is a log line for this super easy grant application! Grant is $10,000
Projects Supported: Short documentary films
Grants of up to $10,000 are available to Bay Area arts organizations in support of programs within a range of disciplines that includes film and the media arts.
Projects Supported: Post-production films by Bay Area filmmakers
The Ford Foundation seeks to reduce inequality in all of its forms, and artist-driven documentary and emerging media projects are crucial to this effort. As part of the Creativity and Free Expression program, JustFilms funds social justice storytelling and the 21st-century arts infrastructure that supports it. The projects and people supported inspire imaginations, disrupt stereotypes, and help transform the conditions that perpetuate injustice and inequality.
JustFilms focuses on film, video and digital works that show courageous people confronting difficult issues and actively pursuing a more just, secure and sustainable world. JustFilms accepts inquiries for grants year-round, they welcome submissions from any region of the world.
Projects Supported: Documentary films
The Frameline Completion Fund provides grants to emerging and established filmmakers. Grants up to $5,000 are available for the completion of films that represent and reflect LGBTQ+ life in all its complexity and richness. Submissions are accepted for documentary, narrative, experimental, animated, or episodic projects about LGBTQ+ people and their communities.
Projects Supported: Films about LGBTQ+ people and their communities
Supports mid-career journalists/reporters from underrepresented communities who are interested in investigative long-form documentary storytelling. The participants will receive support for the full trajectory of these projects from the award-winning FRONTLINE team. From the earliest stages of research and development to production to distribution and promotion.
Projects Supported: Feature Documentaries dealing with underrepresented communities interested in investigative long-form documentary storytelling
The Fulbright-National Geographic Digital Storytelling Fellowship provides opportunities for U.S. citizens to participate in an academic year of overseas travel and storytelling in one, two, or three countries on a globally significant theme.
Projects Supported: writing, photography, video, audio/podcasts, maps, or graphic illustrations on Oceans, Land, Wildlife, Human History & Cultures, and Human Ingenuity
awards individual financial grants and post-production service in-kind grants twice annually to short films directed by women and non-binary filmmakers.
Projects Supported: Short films directed by women or non-binary filmmakers
Getty Images’ goal is to enable photographers, filmmakers and content creators to bring attention to significant social and cultural issues, as well as to take new and inspiring strides in creative work.
Projects Supported: Film and photography
A 3-year Ghetto Film School Fellows Program for two students. Fellows receive more than 1,000 hours of immersive, college-level cinematic storytelling training while getting the preparation to advance their education at top universities.
Projects Supported: Filmmakers
Google’s first-ever Image Equity Fellowship is a 6-month, application-based Fellowship awarded to 20 early-career image-based creators of color in the U.S. Selected Fellows will receive $20,000 in unrestricted funds to create an image-based project that explores and uplifts community(ies) of color with care and nuance.
Projects Supported: Photography
The program is for storytellers who identify as BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and/or storytellers with disabilities. It seeks to provide resources to develop thought-provoking, character-driven ideas for documentary films and limited series. Through this initiative, filmmakers will receive grants of $50,000 for research and creative development at an early stage.
Projects Supported: Documentary films, short and feature length, series
An intimate gathering taking place each spring in East Hampton, NY, the Lab fosters emerging talent by pairing selected fellows with established writers and creative producers for a weekend of one-on-one mentorship. Over the course of the weekend, these film industry veterans advise the participating fellows on their feature length projects in a series of individual and group development sessions
Projects Supported: Feature screenplay
The Harpo Foundation was established in 2006 to support emerging visual artists. The foundation seeks to stimulate creative inquiry and to encourage new modes of thinking about art. The award provides direct support to under-recognized artists 21 years or older.
Projects Supported: Visual art
The Harnisch Foundation supports media activism, particularly documentary film projects that challenge social norms, elevate diverse perspectives, and create opportunities for action.
Projects Supported: Short films
Supporting interactive, short or feature-length doc projects made by filmmakers from, and telling the stories of, underrepresented and marginalized communities from around the world.
Projects Supported: Shorts and feature documentaries
Provides financial support to African documentary filmmakers for development and production. Development grants of $3000 - $10,000 CAD and Production grants of $5000 - $40,000 CAD are awarded to approximately four to 10 projects annually.
Projects Supported: Short and feature documentaries
Hot Docs Ted Rogers Fund will provide successful Canadian applicants with a grant of up to 20
Projects Supported: of the total production costs to a maximum of $20,000 CAD for documentaries intended for public broadcast.
Hot Docs-Slaight Family Fund is dedicated to feature and short projects celebrating Canadian music. Development and production grants range from $15,000 to $60,000 CAD.
Projects Supported: Short and feature films featuring music
Submit your work in progress, short or feature documentary to the Southern Storytellers WIP Showcase at the Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival's Filmmaker Forum. If selected, you will have the opportunity to share a 3-5 minute clip of your work with fellow filmmakers and industry, followed by a post-screening Q&A. The Filmmaker Forum will cover the cost the travel and accommodation costs.
Projects Supported: Documentary films, short and feature length
The Hulu/Firelight Kindling Fund will resource three filmmakers with a $25,000 award to develop an original, non-fiction documentary feature film or limited series for a first look by Firelight Films and the Hulu streaming service. The Fund is open to filmmakers who are alumni of Firelight Media artist programs.
Projects Supported: Non-Fiction, Documentaries
Humanities DC Grant Program provides post-production financial and capacity building resources to established filmmakers interested in telling a humanities story about Washington, DC through a documentary feature
Projects Supported: Documentary Films
The Ida B. Wells: Disrupting the Master Narrative Fund partners with Artist-Activists across a spectrum of creative disciplines: Short-Form Film, Visual Arts and Creative Placemaking, awards range from $2,000 to $25,000.
Projects Supported: Short films
Production Grants Up to $100,000. The IDA Enterprise Documentary Fund supports independent, long-form filmmakers producing journalistic films in the public interest. In addition to providing production and development grants, its mission is to make the knowledge, tools and resources traditionally afforded to journalists available to filmmakers.
Projects Supported: Feature documentaries
The IDFA Bertha Fund is the only fund in the world dedicated solely to stimulating and empowering the creative documentary sector in Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and parts of Eastern Europe. Looking for new creative documentary projects which can be submitted in project development, production, and post production.
Projects Supported: Short and Feature documentaries
Illinois Arts Council Agency Artist Fellowship Program supports exceptional Illinois artists who have created a substantial body of work throughout their career by providing awards up to $15,000.
Projects Supported: Narrative and Documentary
A set of tools and guides designed to help all of us who are working with film make even greater impact than we do already. Available as interactive PDF download or website.
Projects Supported: Short and Feature Documentarys
The Inclusion Resource Map IS a searchable storehouse of opportunities and programs available to U.S.-based artists from underrepresented communities. Look around, use the filters to narrow your search, and enjoy.
Projects Supported: Narrative and Documentary
Advice and tips from experts in the field
Projects Supported: Short and Feature Documentaries
Elevate Collective empowering mid- and upper-level disabled screenwriters with the mentorship, coaching and connections they need to level-up their careers. $5,000 in funding for professional development, which includes career coaching, professional development, work-from-home equipment, script consultation and/or IP acquisition.
Projects Supported: Fiction writing
The fund supports journalists and journalism projects including, but not limited to, professional development opportunities, investigative reporting and media development initiatives led by women and nonbinary people.
Projects Supported: Women and nonbinary journalists
ISF is proud to sponsor the first American Muslim Film Grant supporting Muslim filmmakers to change the narrative and tell their own stories. All Muslim filmmakers are eligible for consideration.
Projects Supported: Narrative feature length, short film, animation, or documentary
ITVS chooses projects that don’t fit in their normal programs of DDF, LINCS, and Open Call and offers development or production agreements. For development funding, activities may include travel, research, script development, preliminary production for fundraising/work-in-progress reels, or other early-phase activities. For production funding, all production and post-production activities are eligible.
Projects Supported: Short and Feature Documentarys
Open Call provides completion funds for single nonfiction public television programs on any subject, and from any viewpoint. Projects must have begun production as evidenced by a work-in-progress video. Open Call funding is only available to independent producers who are citizens or legal residents of the U.S. and its external territories.
Projects Supported: Nonfiction, Broadcast Length
The Diversity Development Fund (DDF) provides up to $35,000 in research and development funding to producers of color to develop single documentary programs for public television. Funded activities may include travel, research, script development, preliminary production for fundraising/work-in-progress reels, or other early phase activities.
Projects Supported: Nonfictoin and Persons of Color
ITVS’ Short-Form Open Call is rolling and open year-round. Looking for exceptional non-fiction stories that spark dialogue and engage a young and diverse audience on public media’s web-based platforms. Stories of any subject will be considered, though we have a special interest in the following topics: Arts & Humanities, Criminal Justice, Disability, Health, Rural America
Projects Supported: Short or Web Series Documentaries
Jewish Story Partners supports projects which provide insight into some aspect of Jewish experience—contemporary or historical—with an expansive and inclusive range of what this can mean. Jewish Story Partners accepts submissions via two open calls per year, with decisions made in spring and fall.
Projects Supported: Feature Documentary and Jewish Life
The JFI Film Completion Fund supports both emerging and established filmmakers telling original, contemporary stories that promote thoughtful consideration of Jewish history, life, culture, and identity with $5,000 to $30,000 in funding.
Projects Supported: Film and Jewish Life
Jerome Foundation Artist Fellowships include $50,000 stipend over two consecutive years for Minnesota or New York City-based artists, early in their careers, who generate and create bold, innovative and risk-taking new work.
Projects Supported: Early Stage Film and Video
Ji.hlava New Visions Forum has introduced a platform, which effectively connects the U.S. documentary filmmakers with the potential co-producers, distributors, sales representatives and film festivals from Europe. Selected U.S. documentary projects in all stages of production are presented online by the director-producer pair along with a preview of the upcoming film.
Projects Supported: Short and Feature Documentaries and Narratives
This is a year-long experience that encourages and champions the talent of an emerging documentary editor with monthly small group meetings with seasoned documentary editor mentors.
Projects Supported: Documentary Editors
Via Kickstarter the Creative Capital in collaboration with Skoll Foundation and Mellon Foundation have partnered in this $700,000 fund to support innovative and impactful projects across all categories by Asian, Black, Indigenous, and Latinx creators in the United States. This fund seeks to apply funding at 5
Projects Supported: -10
Forward Funders are foundations, nonprofits, and organizations that back Kickstarter campaigns related to their visions and missions around a more creative and equitable world. Each Forward Funder makes a public commitment and then backs projects just like anyone else—through single pledges that bring the works one step closer to reality.
Projects Supported: All
Latino Public Broadcasting accepts applications for three distinct funding initiatives -- the Current Issues Fund (CIF), Public Media Content Fund (PMCF) and Digital Media Fund. LPB is looking for filmmakers with great stories, fresh ideas and strong story-telling skills. LPB is looking to fund a wide variety of projects that celebrate and reflect the diverse Latino experience and bring new audiences to public media.
Projects Supported: Narrative and Documentary Shorts and Fetaure length
The goal of LEF New England is to fund the work of independent documentary film and video artists in the region and to broaden recognition and support for their work, both locally and nationally. The Moving Image Fund provides funding across all phases of production, supporting films from the early risk-taking stage, through a film’s completion. In this way, MIF offers a continuum of support for selected projects while also identifying new talent.
Projects Supported: Reside in New England, Long form Documentaries
The Native Arts and Cultures Foundation (NACF) is now accepting applications for the LIFT - Early Career Support for Native Artists program, a one-year award and early career support program for twenty emerging Native artists to develop and realize new projects. LIFT is a monetary award of $10,000. Applicants must be an enrolled member or citizen of a federally-recognized or state-recognized American Indian tribe or Alaska Native corporation, or of Native Hawaiian ancestry.
Projects Supported: Native Artists
Provides $25,000 to an individual woman, non-binary, and/or transgender U.S. filmmaker, age 39 or older, who is working on their first narrative feature (65 minutes or over) as a director.
Projects Supported: Narrative Feature Film
About 300 artists in seven disciplines are awarded Fellowships each year and the sole criterion for acceptance is artistic excellence. There are no residency fees. Need-based travel grants and stipends are available to open the residency experience to the broadest possible community of artists. Artists with professional standing in their fields, as well as emerging artists, are eligible to apply. MacDowell encourages artists from all backgrounds and all countries in the following disciplines: architecture, film/video arts, interdisciplinary arts, literature, music composition, theatre, and visual arts.
Projects Supported: Documentary and Narrative Film
Since 1983, Mama Cash has awarded over 84 million euros to women’s, girls’, and trans and intersex people’s groups worldwide.
Projects Supported: Women', girl’s, trans and/or intersex groups and individuals
Maryland Humanities Major Grants support public programming with the humanities at its heart—inspiring organizations to explore innovative programs that spark dialogue, strive to engage new audiences, and stimulate the thoughtful exchange of ideas with up to $10,000.
Projects Supported: Humanities programming throughout the state of Maryland
The Miller / Packan Documentary Film Fund provides grants to feature-length non-fiction projects that address social issues and inspire others. The Fund supports filmmaking in advanced development (up to $10,000), production and post-production stages (up to $25,000). Documentaries that Educate, Embrace and Inspire. The Fund is financed through the Rogovy Foundation.
Projects Supported: Documentaries that Educate, Inspire and Enrich
Recognizes and supports mid-career media artists living and working in Minnesota who demonstrate a sustained level of accomplishment, commitment, and artistic excellence with $25,000.
Projects Supported: Media Artists living and working in Minnesota
Mountainfilm is committed to supporting documentary filmmakers in telling stories that support our mission to inspire audiences to create a better world. We seek non-fiction stories celebrating adventure, activism, social justice, culture, environment, and indomitable spirit. The Commitment Grant is focused on supporting documentary filmmakers in production or post-production stages. Mountainfilm promotes and encourages diversity behind the camera. We welcome applicants from any country. Awards up to $5,000.
Projects Supported: Short and Feature Documentaries
This opportunity calls for original stand-alone short documentaries in production of no more than 30 minutes that explore environmental stories centered around restoring humanity’s connection with nature and the outdoors. Awarded films will receive up to $25k in funding, impact and professional development training, as well as travel, accommodation, and passes to attend Mountainfilm Festival.
Projects Supported: Documentary shorts
Movies That Matter Impact Grant up to 10,000 euros supports nonfiction projects that use emerging technology or use ‘old tech’ in new or inventive ways.
Projects Supported: Film Screenings about human rights in Africa, Asia, Latin America, Middle East or Eastern Europe
The Moving Picture Institute’s Rising Filmmaker Program supports filmmakers who are committed marketable projects about human freedom. First participate in one of the MPI Screenwriting Workshops or the MPI Short Film Creative Development and Production Lab. Participants work closely with mentors, take part in workshops and masterclasses, and have the opportunity to see their work produced by MPI.
Projects Supported: Short Documentaries
$5,000 Project Grants and $15,000 Master Artist Grants are available to United States-based Latino artists, ensembles, and arts organizations that demonstrate artistic excellence in pursuit of social justice through the arts.
Projects Supported: Latinx video/filmmakers based in the U.S. or Puerto Rico
NBPC 360—the National Black Programming Consortium’s new call for entries for producers—is seeking fresh serial content about the Black experience. Eligible ideas include interactive web/digital projects, nonfiction or scripted web series and non-fiction TV series. Three projects will ultimately receive up to $150,000 to complete their pilots.
Projects Supported: Feature and Short Narrative and Documentaries
The Native American Media Alliance Unscripted Workshop is a virtual week-long creative program that provides access to creative executives, experienced producers and veteran documentary Native American filmmakers. The Native American Unscripted Workshop is designed to encourage Native American filmmakers to expand on their current opportunities. The workshop culminates in a pitch panel that will have each fellow present their latest project to creative executives and non-fiction producers.
Projects Supported: Unscripted or documentary film (short or feature), documentary or unscripted series script, documentary or unscripted treatment or a bible for an unscripted television series
Ten Indigenous artists/culture bearers of all traditions, mediums and genres will be awarded grants of $50,000. Artists may propose a one year budget that includes a living stipend, as well as support for the supplies and equipment necessary to publicly amplify the work and develop a community messaging platform.
Projects Supported: Indigenous Artists
Grants typically ranging from $40,000 to $75,000 are available for film, television, and radio projects that engage public audiences through multiple formats in the exploration of humanities ideas.
Projects Supported: Film, TV, Video; Online Video; Podcast; Radio Broadcast
NEH encourages projects that feature multiple formats to engage the public in the exploration of humanities ideas. Film and television projects may be single programs or a series addressing significant figures, events, or ideas and drawing their content from humanities scholarship. They must be intended for national distribution. The program welcomes projects ranging in length from short-form to broadcast-length video.
Projects Supported: Film, TV, Video; Online Video; Podcast; Radio Broadcast
NewFest and Netflix will give four filmmakers will each receive a $25,000 grant to support professional development and create new work, and will have access to network-building opportunities through a mentorship track facilitated by NewFest.
Projects Supported: LGBTQIA+, Short Films
The program advances, funds and amplifies unique new voices whose narratives, stories and characters transcend borders and dismantle convention. The NewNarratives program grants will be disbursed in the form of four, $5,000 grants which will support short, feature and episodic series, documentary, experimental and/or animation projects in any stage of production.
Projects Supported: Feature, short, feature and documentaries
Since 1972, the New Jersey Council for the Humanities’ grant program has supported meaningful public humanities work throughout the state. Humanities projects are accessible to wide and diverse audiences through a variety of methods, including film, that enable audiences to engage in critical reflection on human histories, cultures, values, and beliefs.
Projects Supported: Humanities Films New Jersey based
New Mexico Humanities Council Grant Program has funding to conduct high-quality humanities programs for public audiences throughout New Mexico with over $2,000.
Projects Supported: New Mexico Humanities
An interesting take on granting, Nextpix/Firstpix will fund films with a budget under $250k that are the first or second film by a director and are crowdfunding part of that budget. Rather than fund on a pre-determined cycle, they will accept queries from any film that is being crowfunded at any point during the year. Once they’ve received your query please give them 30 days to respond. The film should have a positive humanitarian message.
Projects Supported: Documentary, Narrative Feature Film
North Carolina offers producers financial rebates of up to 25% on qualified expenses. We can also offer financial rebates on your production expenses.
North Carolina Humanities Council Community Engagement Grants supports scholar stipends, scholar travel/meals/lodging, publicity, exhibit fabrication, and certain other expenses connected with the implementation of a public humanities engagement project with up to $3,500.
Projects Supported: North Carolina Humanities
Northwest Film Center’s Sustainability Labs supports six mid-career storytellers working in a variety of mediums by helping expand their creative and business talents with networking, mentoring, and programming opportunities, plus $2,500 stipend and travel accommodations.
Projects Supported: US Based Directors and Producers
The NYSCA/NYFA Artist Fellowship is a $8,000 unrestricted cash grant available to artists living in New York State and/or one of the Indian Nations located therein.
Projects Supported: Digital and Electronic Arts
New York Women in Film and & Television (NYWIFT) accepts applications from woman filmmakers. Multiple opportunities. Submission deadlines vary.
Projects Supported: Women filmmakers
Our goal, to support the most innovative artists and diverse voices, helping creators to explore, create, and share their work in new ways.
Projects Supported: Film, audio and TV scripts
Ten applicants will be selected as Original Voices Accelerator Fellows and matched with an Original Voices Fellow as their Artist Mentor for the duration of the Accelerator Program. Accelerator Fellows will receive an $8,000 grant to support the development and production of their creative projects and assist with the costs of traveling to and attending the in-person portions of the Program in Columbia, Missouri.
Projects Supported: Documentary films, short and feature length
Osmosis Films is seeking submissions from filmmakers for projects in development or the early-stages of production for consideration for development funding. Osmosis partners with selected films to assist with creative development, provides production services, and takes projects to market to secure further financing and distribution.
Projects Supported: Feature Documentary
The Media Fund is PIC’s standing funding initiative, which provides funds for single non-fiction projects about the indigenous Pacific Islander experience for three critical phases of production: Research and Development (R&D), Production, and Post-production. Projects applying to the Media Fund must be intended for national public television broadcast, and therefore must be able to enter into a production agreement.
Projects Supported: Non-Fiction, an Hour or 1/2 and Hour
The PIC Shorts Fund supports the completion of short content of untold stories and fresh perspectives on the Pacific Islander experience with grants up to $25,000.
Projects Supported: Documentary and Narrative Shorts
PANO Microgrants will distribute (10) this in the amount of $500 each and (1) Color Grading Grant provided by NICE SHOES (valued at $20,000) for one short film of up to 40 minutes.
Projects Supported: Short Films
Pentimenti - Emerging Filmmakers Grant endeavors to support work by up-and-coming female, non-binary, and/or LGBTQ voices. The grant includes $2,000 to use toward a film or video project, consultations with Pentimenti staff over the duration of the grant term, project feedback and a spotlight feature on Pentimenti’s website, newsletter, and social media.
Projects Supported: Short and Feature length Documentary by women, non-binary, and/or LGBTQ+ filmmakers
To accelerate development, production, and/or post-production of documentary projects that align with other efforts for public awareness and advocacy on a particular issue, and that strive to offer insight into the ways that larger social forces both influence and are influenced by individual lives.
Projects Supported: Documentary films, short and feature length
American Stories Documentary Fund from Points North and CNN Films will support 5 feature documentaries with $10,000 each, connections with funders, distributors and creative partners at the Camden Int. Film Festival. Funding will support production or post-production with directors from underrepresented backgrounds and films that explore "American Stories" and illuminate diverse perspectives to help better understand a country undergoing profound social, cultural and economic changes.
Projects Supported: Documentaries about modern America
The North Star Fellowship supports four innovative Black, Brown and Indigenous media artists and filmmakers who are developing projects that span the latitudes of creative nonfiction. Fellows are jointed by curators, critics, filmmakers and industry professionals.
Projects Supported: Documentary feature and short
POV Call for Entries seeks nonfiction programs to showcase in its annual PBS series in 3 categories: Standard: For completed films & fine cuts; Rough Cut: For films still in production or development.; Short: For films 35 minutes or less.
Projects Supported: Feature Length and Short Documentaries
The Radcliffe Fellowship Program awards 50 fellowships each academic year. Applicants may apply as individuals or in a group of two to three people working on the same project. Radcliffe fellows are exceptional scientists, writers, scholars, public intellectuals, and artists whose work is making a difference in their professional fields and in the larger world. Applicants in this discipline must have a body of independent work of significant achievement. Such work will typically have been exhibited in galleries or museums, shown in film or video festivals, or broadcast on television.
Projects Supported: All
New and ongoing nonfiction feature films or docu-series at any stage of development, production, or postproduction are eligible to apply. Each film receives a $20,000 grant for production and/or impact campaign expenses, a GoPro camera package, and an opportunity to present at a public film showcase with industry leaders. We work in a grantee cohort model and provide learning sessions, networking and promotional support, and community building to all grantees.
Projects Supported: Documentary Feature Film or Series
rePROFilm has partnered with Peace is Loud to present Collective Lens: A Community Impact Space, an impact training program for a community of filmmakers committed to reproductive health and justice, equipping creators with community, and values-forward tools and strategies to position their films in solidarity of the reproductive health and justice movements. The program will also distribute $30,000 worth of unrestricted grant funding to participating filmmaking teams, supporting filmmakers’ financial needs and redefining “impact” as a practice that covers a film’s entire lifespan, not just its release and impact campaign.
Projects Supported: Feature, short, documentary and narrative films
Rhode Island Council for the Humanities supports documentary films that preserve Rhode Island’s stories and bring its history to life. The Council follows a three-phase approach to funding documentary films: Research, Script Development and Production/Post Production.
Projects Supported: Documentaries about Rhode Island
The Rising Voices program aims to discover, invest in, and share stories created by BIPOC filmmakers and storytellers around the power and meaning of work. This program awards 10 filmmakers up to $100K production budget to make a short film, which will premiere at a major US film festival.
Projects Supported: BIPOC, Short films
The Fund will provide financing to original, high-quality, provocative and/or controversial documentaries which are licensed for prime time national broadcast. Open to Canadian television or film producers.
Projects Supported: Documentary Films
With an eye on the present, the Focus Grant is a special purpose fund that addresses urgent current issues. This fund offers one-off grants in amounts up to $25,000 with planned disbursements totaling $100,000 annually.
Projects Supported: Documentary Films engaged in Investigative Journalism
Rough Cut Retreat offers a one-of-a-kind mentorship experience. Launched in 2016, RCR is a collaboration of Catapult Film Fund and True/False Film Fest. It unites nonfiction filmmakers and mentors in a creative, supportive, and engaged atmosphere.
Projects Supported: Documentary Feature Length Films
The Roy W. Dean Grant funds independent feature, documentary, and short films that are unique and make a contribution to society that, without its help, might otherwise never get made.
Projects Supported: Feature, Documentaries, Short Films and Web Series
DOC SOCIETY (formerly BRITDOC) has launched Safe+Secure, a new initiative to develop free tools for both filmmakers and funders to help mitigate risks, be they digital, legal, journalistic, or related to safety and health.
Projects Supported: Documentary Films
Feature Film or TV comedy scriptwriters are invited to submit to ScreenCraft’s Comedy Screenplay Contest. One contestant will be awarded $1,000 cash and given a personal introduction to top literary managers, with runners-up awarded $500.
Projects Supported: Film and Television Comedy Script Writing
In partnership with BondIt, ScreenCraft is offering between four and ten production grants per year to talented filmmakers for short film and online series that display originality, vision & exceptional potential. Grant amounts will vary from $10,000 to $20,000 depending on the scale and merit of the project. They also offer matching funds for crowd-funding campaigns.
Projects Supported: Narrative Feature, Short, Documentary Films and TV Pilot Scripts
The SFFS / KRF Filmmaking Grant supports feature narrative films that through plot, character, theme or setting explore human and civil rights, antidiscrimination, gender and sexual identity and other social issues of our time. This is NOT a documentary grant. The SFFS/KRF Filmmaking Grant provides tangible encouragement and support to meaningful projects nationally that benefit and uplift the Bay Area filmmaking community in a professional and economic capacity.
Projects Supported: Feature Length Narrative Films
The SFFILM Sloan Stories of Science Development Fund is funded by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation as part of their mission to champion films that explore scientific or technological themes. SFFILM will award grants to filmmakers in the early stages of writing screenplays inspired by articles from the Stories of Science Sourcebook. Recipients will receive a $10,000 cash grant and participate in a two-day filmmaker retreat, during which they will receive guidance and mentorship from scientists, science and tech journalists, and film industry professionals to help them shape their storytelling vision.
Projects Supported: Feature Length Narrative Films, Science in Cinema Sourcebook
The SFFILM Documentary Film Fund (DFF) supports engaging documentaries in post-production which exhibit compelling stories, intriguing characters and an innovative visual approach. DFF grants are awarded once each year to documentary feature projects and are open to filmmakers internationally. Individual grant amounts and the number of grants made will be determined on an annual basis.
Projects Supported: Feature Length Documentary
SFFILM will award fellowships to filmmakers in the screenwriting phase of developing a screenplay that tells a story related to science or technology. Winners of the Sloan Science in Cinema Filmmaker Fellowship will receive a $35,000 cash grant and a two-month residency at FilmHouse, SFFILM’s suite of production offices for local and visiting independent filmmakers.
Projects Supported: Feature Length Narrative Films
Our Cash Grants will allow you to go on a writers retreat, take time off work, find a babysitter, or any other way that our winners see fit in order to help them find the time to write. On top of that, our Head of Development is there to support you with script development on your screenplay every step of the way over the course of 12 months.
Projects Supported: Feature script writing
Black Lens Filmmaker Grant supports projects by Black creators with a $1,500 cash prize and 1-year Director’s membership at Sidewalk Film Center.
Projects Supported: Feature Length Films, Shorts, Web Series, Serial Episodic
The Sisters in Cinema Documentary Fellows receive a $5,000 development grant for their documentary film projects, fiscal sponsorship and individually tailored mentorship focused on both professional and project development . Fellows continue in the program throughout their careers.
The annual SIMA Awards celebrate outstanding achievements in social impact storytelling, honoring the most cutting edge filmmaking from around the world that inspires activism, compassion and social transformation. Each year, projects are selected from over 140 countries, competing for awards, cash prizes, media features, and entry into SIMA’s distribution programs that bring selected works to communities and classrooms worldwide.
Projects Supported: Feature, Short Documentaries, Extended Reality (XR)/ Interactive, and Impact Videos
The applicant must be the producer of a narrative fiction feature film. The film should prominently feature science, mathematics, and/or technology in the story, and/or have a leading character that is a scientist, engineer, or mathematician. To be eligible for this grant, your film must be in post-production or about to enter its distribution phase.
Projects Supported: Producer, Narrative Feature Film
Sogbots is providing a $2,500 post-production fund for an LA-based short filmmaker working to complete their short film. Finishing a movie can be difficult and costly; staying within a tight indie budget can be a real challenge. With the “Fix it in Post” Fund, sogbots wants to help your short film cross the finish line.
Projects Supported: Los Angeles based short films
A total of 10 talented writers will be carefully chosen to embark on the first phase of the program. During this stage, they will have the invaluable opportunity to be mentored by seasoned industry professionals while simultaneously crafting an episode treatment and pitch. $5,000 USD grant awarded to the four participants who move on to phase 2 of the program.
Projects Supported: Feature and Short Narrative
The Still I Rise Fellowship supports the projects of women filmmakers who have shown great promise in the field of visual storytelling and documentary filmmaking with funding between $1,000 to $5,000.
Projects Supported: Women, Non-Fiction Films
Stowe Story Labs is dedicated to bringing top emerging screenwriters, filmmakers, and creative producers from around the world together with seasoned industry professionals to help get film and TV projects made and seen.
Projects Supported: Narrative Filmmakers, Writers
Every year, the Studio Museum in Harlem offers an eleven-month residency for three local, national, or international artists working in any media. Individuals selected receive institutional guidance and professional development, research support, studio space, and a stipend of $25,000 paid out in bi-weekly installments over the course of the residency.
Projects Supported: Artists of African, Afro-Latinx descent
The Southern Documentary Fund Production Grant for Southern filmmakers living and working in the American South. Projects must be non-fiction documentaries in pre-production, production, or post-production.
Projects Supported: Short, Feature Documentaries
Subject Matter provides funds and resources to documentary films highlighting urgent social issues and to nonprofits tackling the featured topics, while creating roadmaps for inspired audiences to take action.
The Sundance Documentary Fund provides grants to filmmakers worldwide for projects that display: artful film language, effective storytelling, originality and feasibility, contemporary cultural relevance, and potential to reach and connect with its intended audience. Preference is given to projects that convey clear story structure, higher stakes and contemporary relevance, forward going action or questions, demonstrated access to subjects, and quality use of film craft.
Projects Supported: Feature Length Documentaires, Artists from historically underrepresented communities
Sundance Institute will choose writers/filmmakers with an original episodic pilot for a six-day fellowship. Working with accomplished showrunners, non-writing creative producers and executives, the Fellows participate in one-on-one story meetings, pitching sessions, and simulated writers rooms, which together provide creative and strategic keys to success.
Projects Supported: Writers
The Feature Film Program (FFP) has champions leading independent filmmakers whose distinctive films engage audiences worldwide. The program encourages a rigorous, in-depth creative process while focusing on original and deeply resonant storytelling. The FFP includes American and international artists in a more meaningful and vibrant dialogue across cultural, political, and geographic boundaries. The program provides year-round support to the next generation of filmmakers from development through distribution.
Through the Sundance Sandbox Fund, independent nonfiction filmmakers looking to support feature length documentaries that "emphasize creative narrative techniques and projects that highlight diversity in science," have the opportunity to be awarded up to $50,000 in grant money.
Projects Supported: Feature Length Documentaries
The Sundance Ignite program offers individuals ages 18 to 25 the Young Adult Discount presented by Adobe at the Sundance Film Festival, the Sundance Ignite x Adobe Fellowship Program, a competitive and year-round artist-development program supporting emerging filmmakers ages 18 to 25 with a year of mentorship and program opportunities, and Sundance Ignite traveling programs.
Projects Supported: Short Films, under 15-minutes
Starting at the height of the pandemic in 2020, Tasveer Film Fund was one of the first kind of funds in the United States solely dedicated to supporting South Asian filmmakers. Winners receive a monetary grant and year-long mentorship to help bring their scripts to life. With partial support from Netflix, Tasveer has expanded the program to support three projects—short film, documentary, and LGBTQIA+ short film projects. Awards up to $50,000.
Projects Supported: Short and Feature Length Documentary and Narrative, South Asian filmmakers
Supporting Canadian production companies looking to finance feature-length documentary projects in production and post-production.
Projects Supported: Feature Length Documentaries in Canada
The Telly Awards annually showcases the best work created within television and across video, for all screens. Representing work from some of the most respected advertising agencies, television stations, production companies and publishers from around the world. The Telly Awards recognizes work that has been created on behalf of a client, for a specific brand and/or company (including your own) or self-directed as a creative endeavor.
Projects Supported: Local TV, Advertising, Production
An intensive 6-month program for aspiring and emerging filmmakers committed to social justice. Attend all sessions and fulfill pre-production to post-production demands. Previous production is beneficial but not mandatory. Ideal for those interested in creating films about social issues.
Projects Supported: Documentary, Fiction, Shorts
The Cannes Film Festival has partnered with the popular video app TikTok to create the #TikTokShortFilm Contest. Participants are invited to submit a scripted vertical film for the chance to win a trip to Cannes and a Cash Prize of up 10,000 Euros.
Projects Supported: Short Film, Vertical Format
We support two film teams who are releasing their films to public audiences between 1st Jan 30th June 2025. We are seeking applications from filmmakers (with finished films ready to release in 2025) who have ambitions to raise awareness of the climate crisis and recommended solutions to inspire public action and policy change within the USA or UK.
Projects Supported: Feature, documentaries about the climate
The Tribeca CHANEL Women’s Filmmaker Program supports emerging and independent voices. The multifaceted three-day program helps develop and foster up-and-coming women writers and directors in the U.S. Over the course of the program, the mentors assist talent to refine and present their short film concepts to the film industry, and ultimately select one of their projects to fund and produce. One project will receive $80,000.
Projects Supported: Short Films, Women and Non-Binary
Untold Stories is a multi-year, multi-tier alliance between AT&T and Tribeca Festival that awards $1 million dollars, mentorship, and comprehensive support to systemically underrepresented filmmakers to produce their films. Submissions are open from November 7, 2022 until February 7, 2023.
Projects Supported: Feature Lenght Narrative Films
Lab: For 18-months, filmmakers receive mentorship, financial support and resources to produce two short films. Residency: A month long residency gives teams time, space, financial support and mentorship for their feature film project. Grants: Microgrants, subsidized film equipment rental, and in-kind services are offered through a semi-annual open submission process.
Projects Supported: Documentary films, fiction, short and feature length
Untold Stories is a multi-year, multi-tier alliance between AT&T and Tribeca Festival that awards $1 million dollars, mentorship, and comprehensive support to systemically underrepresented filmmakers to produce their films. 5 new talented and diverse filmmaking teams will pitch their original feature scripted film projects. The winning film will be guaranteed a premiere at the 2025 Tribeca Festival, subject to timely delivery of the film, and dedicated distribution support. The additional 4 teams will receive a $15,000 grant for development support.
Projects Supported: Feature films
UpTilt Film Fest is awarding two $2,000 scholarships to women and/or gender-nonconforming filmmakers in 2025. One scholarship will be awarded to a North Carolina Resident and the other scholarship is open to anyone.
Projects Supported: Feature, Short films and series
Independent production studio Vanishing Angle and post-production house DryDock have teamed up to co-sponsor a grant worth $10,000 in post-production services to two short films per year.
Projects Supported: Short Films
The grants support projects that explore the stories of Virginia—its history, people, communities, and cultural traditions—as well as issues and questions that impact the lives of Virginians in the present day.
Projects Supported: Documentary Films
The grant offers filmmakers $7,500, who are making transformative 5 minute films on the topic of mental health. They accept film proposals from across the globe.
Projects Supported: Short films
The WAVE grant awards five BIPOC women filmmakers $5,000 in seed funding to direct their first short film. The grant program also offers year-long mentorship and support to emerging, talented, young filmmakers.
Projects Supported: Short Films, Female and Non-Binary Filmmakers of Color
Bipoc aor Bipog-Ally creatives under 30 Years old. Fichting systemica racism, inequality, inequity and injustice.
Projects Supported: Films
The William Greaves Research and Development Fund resources talented, mid-career nonfiction storytellers from racially and ethnically underrepresented communities in the United States, as well as filmmakers from Mexico, Brazil, Puerto Rico, and Colombia with a particular interest in those who identify as being of Indigenous and/or of African descent.
Projects Supported: Non-Fiction Films, Underrepresented Communities
The WIF Finishing Fund supports films by, for or about women with cash grants and in-kind services. WIF will give multiple grants of up to $25,000 for documentary and narrative feature and shorts, as well as animated and experimental films.
Projects Supported: Women Directed Films
Two films will be selected for Impact Kickstart in 2023. Each selected filmmaker will receive an Impact Kickstart from Working Films that includes the planning, facilitation, and reporting out from a day-long strategy summit with potential partners and key collaborators. This summit will leave filmmakers well-positioned to carry out an impact campaign with a clear strategy, goals, partners, and a report that can be used for engaging supporters. Impact Kickstart recipients will also receive impact campaign funding of $60,000.
Projects Supported: Feature Length Documentaries, Underrepresented Artist
Brought to you by the auspicious Berlinale Festival, this funds directors from regions with a weak film infrastructure (Africa, Latin America, Central America and the Caribbean, the Middle East, Central Asia, Southeast Asia and the Caucasus) who have a German partner. The World Cinema Fund supports films in distribution, that could not be made without additional funding: films that stand out with an unconventional aesthetic approach, that tell powerful stories and transmit an authentic image of their cultural roots.
Projects Supported: Narrative, Documentary Feature Length Films
The Xpedition Doc Fund provides finishing funds of up to $100,000 per project. These funds could include editing resources, promotion, and/or distribution strategy for documentary filmmakers who have a compelling story to tell, have secured access to their story, and need a hand getting their film completed.
Projects Supported: Documentary films, short and feature length