Currently 3 active film and video grants, fellowships and residencies open to applicants in Asia. Hand-curated and updated weekly. Almost every entry is funded; a few notable unpaid open calls and festival submissions are included as clearly flagged exceptions. Browse the list below, or use the interactive desk for filtering and shortlisting.
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The Hong Kong International Film Festival, one of Asia's oldest film festivals, is taking submissions for its 51st edition (16-29 March 2027). Categories: feature films (60 minutes plus), short films (20-60 minutes), documentary features and documentary shorts, and the Short Film Competition (any genre, including fiction, documentary, animation and experimental, under 20 minutes). The Young Cinema Competition (first, second or third features, with Chinese-language and World sections) and the Documentary Competition draw on the feature submissions. ELIGIBILITY: completed after 1 January 2026; except Hong Kong productions, not shown in Hong Kong before the festival; English subtitles required for non-English films; films submitted before and not selected are not reconsidered. FEES (late window, 4 November to 31 December 2026): Short Film Competition USD 50 / HKD 390, all other categories USD 80 / HKD 624; documentaries by Hong Kong Permanent Identity Card holders can be waived. Submit online via the HKIFF site or FilmFreeway, or by post with the entry form; screeners by Vimeo link or DVD. Notification by 5 March 2027 (unsuccessful entries are not notified). Contact entries@hkiff.org.hk.
The Hong Kong Arts Development Council's Emerging Artists Development Grant funds a first arts project by recent graduates: performances, exhibitions, publications, creation of artwork, translation and other project types allowed under its general Project Grant. It covers music, dance, xiqu, drama, visual arts, literary arts, film and media arts (each including multi-disciplinary work) and arts administration, criticism and education. ELIGIBILITY: individual artists holding a Hong Kong identity card who graduated from an arts and culture course at a local or overseas tertiary institution within five school years of applying (for local graduates, 2021/22 to 2025/26; students not yet graduated are ineligible; local graduates preferred), or Hong Kong registered organisations with at least half of their office-bearers meeting that test. Applicants must never have received HKADC funding (except HKADC Scholarship and Arts-in-School Partnership Scheme) or similar government project funding; the grant can be received at most twice. AMOUNT: ceiling HKD 90,000. DEADLINE: 6pm (Hong Kong time), 31 December 2026, under the guidelines valid for applications submitted 1 July to 31 December 2026. Apply with the HKADC Project Grant forms; guidelines and forms on the HKADC Project Grant page.
The Hong Kong Arts Development Council's Cultural Exchange Project Grant supports Hong Kong artists and arts organisations taking work abroad: overseas exhibitions, performances, festival participation, residencies, touring and similar exchange activity, across music, dance, xiqu, drama, visual arts, literary arts, film and media arts (each including multi-disciplinary work) and arts administration, criticism and education. There are two versions: a Trial Version (up to HKD 150,000, limited to transportation, freight, insurance and video documentation) and a General Version (up to HKD 500,000 for individuals and organisations, all project expenditure; up to HKD 800,000 for experienced organisations with a track record of exchange outside Hong Kong and a large-scale project). Touring projects in two or more cities must budget each city separately. ELIGIBILITY: individual artists holding a Hong Kong identity card, or Hong Kong registered arts organisations. DEADLINE: 2nd round closes 6pm (Hong Kong time), 31 December 2026, under the 2026 Cultural Exchange Assessment Guidelines; HKADC runs further rounds during the year. Guidelines and forms on the HKADC Project Grant page.