Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Grants

Projects eligible for support through Film Independent’s Sloan Grants program feature scientific, mathematical or technological themes, or have a lead character that is a scientist, engineer or mathematician. Science fiction films and documentaries are not eligible. // More Information

Catapult Film Fund

Catapult gives early support to propel projects forward that hold the promise of a story that should be uniquely told in film. They will provide development funding, up to $20,000, to documentary filmmakers who have a strong story to tell, have secured access, and are ready to create a fundraising piece to help unlock critical production funding. // More Information

Frameline Completion Fund

The Frameline Completion Fund provides grants to emerging and established filmmakers. This program seeks to provide a much-needed source of financial contributions to artists who often struggle to secure funding to complete their works. Grants up to $5,000 are available for the completion of films that represent and reflect LGBTQ+ life in all its complexity and richness. // More Information

Roy W. Dean Film Grants

the Roy W. Dean Film Grants fund independent feature films, documentaries, web series, and short films with budgets of $500,000 or less that are unique and make a contribution to society that, without its help, might otherwise never get made. // More Information

Vanishing Angle Post Grant

Partnering with post-production house DryDock to offer free post-finishing services to one short film every year. These services include color correction, DCP creation, film festival strategy sessions, and marketing and release planning. These services are valued at approximately $10,000. // More Information

Picture Shop Feature Film Grant

A grant program for Film Independent Fellows, Alumni of the LA Film Festival, and Spirit Awards Nominees and Winners. Film Independent will select a qualified filmmaker who will receive up to $50,000 in color correction and digital intermediate services for their narrative or documentary feature film. // More Information 

IF/Then x Hulu Short Documentary Lab

IF/Then Shorts, in partnership with Hulu Documentary Films calls short-documentary filmmakers based in North America to take part in the Inaugural IF/Then x Hulu Short Documentary Lab. Four filmmaking teams will be chosen to participate in a one-year lab focused on short-documentary production and career training. Each team will receive a $25,000 grant to use for the production of their film. Applications are open now and will close when max capacity is reached. // More Information

Documentarian Emergency Relief Fund: From the Heart Productions has established a Documentarian Emergency Relief Fund for documentary producers and directors facing “dire financial emergencies” during these difficult economic times brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic. The fund will provide up to $1,000 each month for 10 months. Applications can be submitted starting Jan 2nd and then the 1st of each month following. Applications close on the 14th of each month.

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. Our mission is to enable filmmakers to develop their films to the next level at a moment where funding is hard to find.

In the spirit of fostering meaningful work, the Filmmaker Fund is committed to both proven and emerging filmmakers with assistance at every stage of production, post-production & distribution. Primarily, our role is to smooth a path for the filmmaker.

Filmmakers Without Boarders

Filmmakers Without Boarders supports independent filmmakers around the world via grants and other funding initiatives. Supported projects include narrative films, documentary films, and new media projects that align with themes of social justice, empowerment, and cultural exchange. // More Information

Film Independent Directing Lab: An intensive, five-week program for directors who are prepping their independent feature films. This five-week program, taking place April–May, provides an important opportunity to work with actors and concludes with an industry pitch event at the end of the program.

Hyde Park Entertainment & Warner Music Group Asian Women Fellowship: The Hyde Park Entertainment & Warner Music Group Asian Women Fellowship provides $12,500 grants to two (2) woman-identifying filmmakers who are Asian or part of the Asian diaspora; one project from the Screenwriting Lab will be awarded, and one project from Fast Track will be awarded.

MPAC Hollywood Bureau Writing Fellowship: The MPAC Hollywood Bureau Writing Fellowship provides a $10,000 grant to a writer that identifies as American-Muslim who is accepted into the Film Independent Screenwriting Lab, Episodic Lab, or Project Involve.

PAST OPPORTUNITIES

The 2021 Southern Documentary Fund Production Grant is now accepting applications. The form will close on October 15 at 11:59 PM EST.

The 2021 Frameline Completion Fund awards $25k to emerging and established filmmakers to complete projects that represent and reflect LGBTQ+ life. Deadline for submissions is October 31, 2021, 5pm PDT.

Cucalorus Film Festival is accepting submissions from any humans with new films - features, shorts, hybrid, fiction, non-fiction - anything goes. all fees are waived for Black, Brown and Indigenous directors using this code: ExtraSpesh2021Cucalorus Deadline June 16.

Film Impact Georgia Spring 2021 Filmmaker Grant accepting submissions through March 1st - Open to all Georgia Filmmakers short films. Deadline March 8th.

Creative Capital Award provides up to $50,000 in direct funding and career development services valued at $50,00, for a total commitment of up to $100,000 per project. Our pioneering venture philanthropy approach helps artists working in all creative disciplines realize their visions and build sustainable practices. Deadline March 1.

Blacklist + WIF Feature Residency will invite six promising non-professional screenwriters who are of underrepresented genders to participate in a one-year residency in 2021. Throughout the Residency, writers work on one feature screenplay in peer workshops and one-on-one sessions with screenwriting mentors. Deadline March 8.

Sundance Episodic Lab offers one of the few training grounds for independent voices to develop an original series and pilot script and provides artists with the tools, training, and industry access to move their projects and careers forward. Deadline March 10.

Loudoun Arts Film Festival is accepting submissions for films, screenplays, and music videos. Use the code IndieMedia30LAFF for 30% off submissions. Deadline March 17.

2021 New Orleans Film Festival is accepting submissions. Spread the love and share code bongJOONHO with them for 25% off the entry fee on Film Freeway. Deadline March 17.

Aurora Picture Show - Extremely Shorts Film Festival - accepting submissions of films 3-minutes and under, all genres. Deadline: 3/26/2021 Fee Waiver Code: ES2021 Deadline March 17.

Nantucket Tony Cox Screenplay Competition recognizes emerging writers in four unique categories as the best from the pool of submissions each year. Finalists in each competition are read by prestigious juries, receive top industry recognition, and participate in a Festival focused specifically on screenwriting that includes cash prizes for all competitions and a Mentor’s Brunch with a prominent screenwriter (past mentors include Noah Baumbach, Oliver Stone, Robert Towne, David O. Russell, and Nancy Meyers). Deadline March 19.

Working Films’ Impact Kickstart offers in-kind partnership development, strategic support and impact campaign funding to underrepresented documentary directors with feature films that hold great promise to catalyze action and address critical issues of our time. This year, two film teams will receive an Impact Kickstart from Working Films. This will include the planning, facilitation, and reporting out from a strategy summit and at least $25,000 in impact campaign funding. Deadline March 22.

Roy W. Dean Grants fund independent feature films, documentaries, web series, and short films with budgets of $500,000 or less that are unique and make a contribution to society that, without its help, might otherwise never get made. Winners of the Roy W. Dean Film Grants receive a cash award as well as goods and discounted services offered by film industry companies and professionals who care about getting good films produced. Deadline March 30.

Black Art Futures Fund application is now open. This grant will provide general operating support for small Black-led arts & culture nonprofits, or fiscally sponsored projects with an operating budget of $500K or less. Deadline February 26.

Stowe Story Labs is a non-profit dedicated to bringing top emerging screenwriters, filmmakers, and creative producers from around the world together with seasoned industry professionals to help get film and t.v. projects made and seen. Deadline February 28.

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