Currently 24 active paid film and video grants, fellowships and residencies. 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.
Subscribe: RSS feed · Calendar (.ics)
Open call from Agog for immersive-media projects that drive climate engagement and action, using augmented and mixed reality, spatial sound, smart glasses and related technologies. ELIGIBILITY: creators, artists and teams working in immersive media; applicants must apply through a US-registered entity or fiscal sponsor, though international collaborators are allowed. Apply via the Agog open-call page.
Video Pool Media Arts Centre's 4th Video Commission Residency, VCR Vol.4 'Attrition', commissioning new experimental single-channel video works (5-20 minutes) responding to the theme of attrition: conditions shaped by sustained contact and duration, in images, materials and environments, where form and meaning change through accumulating processes. Artists are encouraged to consider how images and environments are worn down through use, working with analog or digital processes (or both) to explore feedback systems, compression, copying, translation, repeated handling and similar processes that produce difference with each iteration. ELIGIBILITY: open to artists (no nationality restriction stated). No in-person attendance required during the creation process - effectively remote-friendly.
Long-running fund supporting feature documentaries (52+ minutes) on contemporary topics with budgets under $1.2m USD (excluding distribution). Worldwide eligibility but proposals must be in English with budgets in USD; films may be in any language but visual materials must be subtitled in English. Excludes: NGO/advocacy/educational films, branded content, and historical/biographical films unless they show clear contemporary relevance or innovation in form. Submissions accepted year-round but reviewed in four cycles per year; the next concentrated open call window is 18 May to 15 June 2026 with no extensions. Decisions take up to eight months. Worth tracking for any documentary project on AI-enabled surveillance, algorithmic systems, or critical-tech themes that has a cinematic feature treatment (form-driven, not advocacy-driven).
The Accelerate Fellowship is a four-month rewriting sprint that gives disabled film and television writers USD 30,000 in unrestricted funding and bespoke mentorship to develop a spec script to market. Through writers groups, one-on-one mentorship, guidance from Inevitable Foundation staff, and access to leading film and television writers, the program offers everything a disabled writer needs to get a script ready to take to market; this year's program also encourages nuanced disability representation in the projects themselves. Benefits include a USD 30,000 unrestricted grant to cover living expenses so Fellows can focus full-time on writing, frequent conversations and workshops with leading writers and showrunners, ongoing mentorship and check-ins with the Inevitable team, and a community of disabled screenwriting peers. The Fellowship is supported by Netflix. Fellows retain all rights to their work. ELIGIBILITY: self-identifies as disabled (physical, intellectual, developmental, visible or invisible disabilities, and mental health conditions); 18 or older; currently pursuing a career in writing for film or television; not enrolled in an accredited degree program; and currently or previously worked in the entertainment industry. Applicants must also meet at least one of: has an agent or manager; member of the WGA, Animation Guild, or equivalent union; has sold a script, TV show, or pitch; has staffed on a TV show or received a movie writing credit; has been or is in development with a major production company, studio, or network; has placed in a prominent screenwriting competition; or has participated in a screenwriting or filmmaking lab, program, or residency. Writing teams may apply, but only disabled members receive the unrestricted funding (and if both members are disabled they apply as a team and split the grant). International applicants are accepted but must be available within the US Pacific Time working day and are subject to additional review under U.S. Treasury regulations. Former Accelerate Fellows are not eligible. The script need not be finished, and projects from any genre are welcome (the market currently favors comedy, horror, thriller, rom-com, and young adult). APPLICATION: a single round open 28 May 2026 through 17 June 2026; first complete the Program Eligibility Questionnaire, then if eligible submit information about yourself and your career, a writing sample with title and logline, details on the intended project, and short-answer questions on your goals. TIMELINE: applications open May 2026; semi-finalist interviews July to August 2026; Fellows selected August 2026; Fellowship runs September to December 2026. Selections are made by Inevitable Foundation staff. Questions: programs@inevitable.foundation.
Supports development, production and distribution of radio programmes, podcasts and documentary films that engage general audiences with humanities ideas. Proposals must build on sound humanities scholarship, present multiple perspectives, involve external humanities scholars at all phases, involve appropriate media professionals, use accessible formats, and show potential to attract a large public audience. Development awards (up to $75,000) cover scholar meetings, preliminary interviews, treatments and scripts, work-in-progress trailers, outreach planning and archival research.
Inaugural Sofia Coppola Short Film Award run by Decentralized Pictures, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit co-founded by Roman Coppola and members of the American Zoetrope family that uses a community-voting model for film financing. One winner receives a $20,000 production grant, mentorship from Sofia Coppola, and a guaranteed DCP+ distribution slot. Submission window 30 April to 30 June 2026, with possible extension if a minimum submission count is not reached; community review ends 14 days after submissions close, and the recipient is announced ~14 days after that. Application requires a short video sample representing the filmmaker's voice (scene, visual excerpt, or proof of concept) and a one-page project description (synopsis, visual references); pitch video optional but encouraged. $25 submission fee covers moderation and peer review. Open worldwide via account on app.decentralized.pictures.
$500,000 CAD funding programme from the Indigenous Screen Office supporting Native American, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian storytellers developing XR projects. Individual creators and Indigenous-owned production companies may apply for up to $40,000 CAD in development funding or $80,000 CAD in production funding. Applications open 30 May 2026; deadline 30 June 2026 at 17:00 PST.
Seventh season of Sight/Geist, a series from the Shelley & Donald Rubin Foundation supporting emerging NYC-based film and performance artists. The Foundation provides curatorial, administrative and promotional support, plus documentation for performances and discussions; selected artists also engage in a Q&A on their broader practice. TWO CATEGORIES: (1) single-channel screening - experimental/non-commercial cinema, video art or performance documentation as a single-channel non-looped projection with 2.1 PA; H.264 or ProRes; under 80 minutes (priority to <20 min); (2) performance and expanded forms - 20-50 minutes; may foreground duration, movement, audiovisual media, voice, site specificity, audience participation; conceptual and political proposals encouraged. ELIGIBILITY: primary applicant must be at least 18 and maintain their primary residence in New York City (or spend most of their artistic, professional and social life in NYC); self-identify as an 'emerging' artist (early-career, self-trained, newly graduated, or currently enrolled in undergraduate/graduate programs); one submission per artist/duo/collective. Submissions open 1 June through 11 pm ET, 5 July 2026; applicants notified by late August 2026. Contact: info@the8thfloor.org.
La Biennale di Venezia's Biennale College Cinema - Immersive selects 12 immersive international concepts (of which 2 Italian), up to 30 minutes long, that can be made within a EUR 75,000 budget and completed for exhibition at the 2027 Venice International Film Festival. Projects must be realisable only using immersive technologies. The call is open 12 May to 6 July 2026 (23:59 CEST) to teams of a director and a producer from anywhere in the world, at their first, second or third immersive project. Selected teams sign an agreement with La Biennale and take part in the full project-led programme. ELIGIBILITY: applications welcomed from people in film, gaming, theatre, dance, opera, visual arts and other creative fields; applicants apply in director-and-producer teams. Film-world applicants need experience in short films, documentaries and/or features; those from outside film need a body of work demonstrating understanding of narrative and spatial concerns. No age limit and no participation fee; participants cover their own travel. Those already invited to a previous BCC Immersive workshop cannot reapply. APPLICATION (in English): project concept, full treatment with director and producer statements, a director's vision (mood board/project-book/video), up to two previous works, a total budget up to EUR 75,000, biographies/filmographies, production company profile, a 3-minute joint video presentation, an audience engagement plan, rights disclosure, and a signed director-producer agreement. Contact: college-cinema@labiennale.org.
SFFILM's Documentary Film Fund supports feature-length documentaries in post-production with compelling stories and an innovative approach to the craft. ELIGIBILITY: applicants 18 or older in a key creative role (director or producer); feature-length documentary (60+ minutes) within roughly three months of completing post-production; need not be US-based. Regular deadline 9 June 2026 ($30 fee); final deadline 7 July 2026 ($50 fee). Distinct from the SFFILM Rainin Grant. Apply via the SFFILM grants portal.
Talent prize for recently graduated bachelor filmmakers from a Dutch film or art academy (documentary, fiction or animation). Winners receive a small development purse to start a new short film, and a much larger realisation budget once they have a producer attached. Annual round; deadline 7 July 2026 at 17:00.
Who Let The Docs Out provides funding across five stages of documentary production: Research (USD 8,000), Development/Sizzle (USD 15,000), Production (USD 50,000), Post-Production (USD 50,000), and Impact Campaign (USD 30,000). Funding is organized into thematic funds such as the Coexistence Documentary Fund and the Automation & Humanity Documentary Fund. There are three funding cycles per year, each with its own application window and the documentary stages it supports. 2026 SPRING CYCLE (Research & Development Grants): applications open 16 February 2026, close 16 March 2026; notification mid-April 2026; required program commitment May-July (monthly virtual sessions). 2026 SUMMER CYCLE (Research, Development & Production Grants): applications open 5 June 2026, close 10 July 2026; notification 15 August 2026; required program commitment September-November (monthly virtual sessions). 2026 AUTUMN CYCLE (Research, Development & Post-Production Grants): applications open 1 October 2026, close 15 November 2026; notification 15 December 2026; required program commitment January-March (monthly virtual sessions). Awarded filmmakers must commit to monthly virtual sessions during their cycle. The deadline shown here is the currently open Summer Cycle close date (10 July 2026); see the funder's site for full eligibility and thematic-fund details, or contact hello@wholethedocsout.org.
Signature fellowship program offering career opportunities to filmmakers from communities typically underrepresented in film and entertainment. Selected fellows are eligible for a stack of bundled fellowships: Amazon MGM Studios ($10K), Climate Entertainment Commissioning Grant ($25K to write a new climate-focused fiction feature), LAIKA Animation Track (production grant + stipend across 2 years for 5 stop-motion fellows), Panavision Fellowship ($60K camera package for an outstanding cinematographer), Sony Pictures Entertainment ($10K), and University of Arizona TFTV Fellowship ($10K for a TFTV alum). International fellows are also eligible for the Dolby Institute Fellowship ($50K post-production grant utilising Dolby Vision and Atmos). Project Involve alums become eligible to apply to the Amplifier Fellowship for Black filmmakers ($30K unrestricted plus year-long support; six fellows annually). Applications open 18 May 2026; non-member deadline 13 July 2026; Film Independent member extension to 27 July 2026.
Fluxus is a contemporary short film and media arts festival hosted in partnership between Factory Media Centre, Hamilton Artists Inc and McMaster University School of the Arts. Its mission is to provide an accessible forum for the exhibition of creative, experimental, moving-image art forms, and to develop connections between Canadian media artists, arts institutions and the public. Fluxus showcases experimental and boundary-pushing media works from artists of all levels working in Canada; submissions are free and unrestricted by theme, open to a spectrum of artforms including but not limited to animation, documentary, video art, collage film, music video and experimental film. The festival takes place over two screenings at Hamilton Artists Inc on Friday 18 and Saturday 19 September 2026 (the Friday screening is dedicated to emerging media artists and filmmakers); all screenings are free to attend. REMUNERATION: there is no submission fee, and IMAA-scale artist remuneration is paid to successful applicants within 30 days of the screenings. GUIDELINES: artists must be currently based and/or working in Canada; work must be short format (15 minutes or less) and no more than 5 years old (2021 or later); submissions are digital Vimeo or YouTube links (private/password-protected accepted if the password is provided); solo artists, groups, collectives and collaborative works are welcome, with a limit of one submission per artist/group/collective; films must be independent projects over which the artist retains full creative and artistic control. AI POLICY: Fluxus discourages the use of generative AI in submitted works; if AI factors into the creative process, its use must be declared and described (see Factory Media Centre's Policy on the Use of Generative AI). APPLY via the online submission form with an artist bio (75 words max), artist CV (PDF, 3 pages max), a brief description of the work (100 words max), entry information, the video link, and two image stills. Notification is expected in August; due to the high quantity of submissions, only selected artists will be contacted. Fluxus is committed to equity and strongly encourages applications from Black and Indigenous artists, persons with disabilities, ethnic or racial minorities, immigrants and refugees, Francophones, LGBTQI+ persons, women, and persons of all socio-economic backgrounds. Deadline: Wednesday 15 July 2026 at 11:59pm EST. Questions: programming@theinc.ca.
Screenwriters Lab from the Jewish Writers Institute, pairing a cash stipend with three fully-covered in-person seminars to develop screenwriters' craft and projects. ELIGIBILITY: US-based screenwriters aged 21 or older who meet at least one industry credential (WGA membership, representation, completion of a recognised program, an optioned script, or writers'-room experience). Apply via the Jewish Writers Institute screenwriters page.
Grants from the AXS Film Fund supporting documentary and nonfiction new media creators, particularly those who identify as living with a disability and especially from underserved communities, though applications are welcome from all creators regardless of background. Uses the Nonfiction Core Application led by the IDA and Sundance Institute. PROJECT ELIGIBILITY: feature-length documentary films (45 minutes or longer; experimental nonfiction accepted) or nonfiction new media projects with a film/video component; projects in any stage of production; non-English projects must have English subtitles and the application must be completed in English. INELIGIBLE: fiction projects (including narrative fiction based on a true story); projects where applicants are hired, employed, or commissioned by another entity; incomplete applications or those missing supporting materials; late submissions. APPLICANT ELIGIBILITY: 18 or older; not currently enrolled in a degree-granting program; individual applicants (fiscal sponsors permitted); applicant must be the director or producer of the project. SELECTION CRITERIA: strength of proposal and artistic approach; feasibility; ethics and accountability; completeness; and meeting eligibility requirements. ACCESSIBILITY: alternative application methods available (email filmfund@axslab.org by 24 July 2026); an Application Assistance Stipend is offered for 2026 to allow applicants to hire an application assistant, available first-come, first-served (not guaranteed). TIMELINE: open call opens 1 June 2026 (12:00 AM EST); deadline 31 July 2026 (11:59 PM EST). Apply via SurveyMonkey Apply.
The Doha Film Festival (Doha Film Institute), running 19-27 November 2026, is accepting submissions, which are open for SHORT FILMS ONLY (feature films are selected by invitation only). Submittable competitions: the International Short Film Competition (new, daring short-form work, all genres, maximum 20 minutes, MENA premiere required) and the Ajyal Film Competition short-film category (youth-focused films, maximum 20 minutes, Middle East premiere excluding North Africa, curated with a jury of young people aged 16-25). The Made in Qatar section is open to narrative and documentary short films connected to Qatar (Qatari national or resident writer/director/producer, majority shot in Qatar, or storyline centred on Qatar), requiring Qatar premiere status. The International Feature Film Competition (documentary and narrative, 60+ minutes, MENA premiere) is by invitation only and does not accept submissions. All non-English-language works must have English subtitles and a time-coded English dialogue list; as Qatar is bilingual, films must be accessible in Arabic and English (the Festival can provide Arabic subtitles). KEY DATES: short-film submissions open 10 May 2026; deadline for International Short and Ajyal Short Competitions is 1 August 2026; Made in Qatar deadline is 1 September 2026; invited filmmakers notified by 1 October 2026. No entry fee. Submit via the entry form with a private (password-protected) link to the film. Enquiries: entries@dohafilm.com.
Short film competition from Day Job Films created to give auteur directors full creative freedom, awarding a production budget of up to GBP 7,000 to make a short film with no producer interference or commercial agenda. Open to animation, live-action and documentary projects. Runs in three rounds: (1) a pitch deck outlining concept, story, key characters and visual style; (2) a full script for those who progress; and (3) an interview to discuss the vision and execution. A panel of industry professionals judges the pitch deck, script and interview, with at least one team member reading each pitch deck and script in full. The winner receives full creative control over the project. ELIGIBILITY: applicants can be from anywhere worldwide, but all production must take place in the UK; applicants must have a producer on board who is separate from the director/writer. Applicants may optionally include a plan for adapting the script into a feature-length film (this does not affect the outcome). Submissions open February 10, 2026 and close August 10, 2026. Enquiries: hello@dayjobfilms.com.
Annual grants from the Altercine Foundation (Montreal) to support the production of a documentary project, awarding roughly CAD 10,000 and CAD 5,000 each year. ELIGIBILITY: the grant is aimed at filmmakers BORN AND LIVING IN THE GLOBAL SOUTH (Africa, Asia or Latin America) who want to direct a documentary in the language of their choice that respects the Foundation's aims. APPLICATION (in French, English or Spanish): an application form, a synopsis (max 5 pages) covering content, characters, theme, treatment and style, a Vimeo link to a previous completed documentary (subtitled/versioned in FR/EN/ES, or with a transcript) plus supporting visual material, a detailed production budget and financing plan including the grant, and ideally two support letters. Submit all documents as a single PDF (max 5MB) by email to altercine@videotron.ca. Deadline 15 August each year; decisions communicated before 31 December.
Competitive screenwriting lab for emerging feature screenwriters. Selected fellows are eligible for the Climate Entertainment Development Grant ($25K, climate-focused fiction features) and the same bundled $10K fellowship pool available across Artist Development programs (Cayton-Goldrich, MPAC Hollywood Bureau, Sony Music Vision). International fellows are also eligible for the Dolby Institute Fellowship ($50K post-production grant utilising Dolby Vision and Atmos). Lab alums become eligible to apply to the Amplifier Fellowship for Black filmmakers ($30K unrestricted plus year-long support; six fellows annually). Applications open 29 June 2026; non-member deadline 31 August 2026; Film Independent member extension to 14 September 2026.
Intensive program for emerging episodic (TV/series) directors, with mentorship, set shadowing opportunities and industry access. Selected fellows are eligible for the same bundled $10K fellowship pool (Cayton-Goldrich, MPAC Hollywood Bureau, Sony Music Vision) available across Artist Development programs. Applications open 27 July 2026; non-member deadline 28 September 2026; Film Independent member extension to 12 October 2026.
Call for short films (1-10 minutes) involving human/AI hybrid creation, from the We Are Human Foundation in Paris. Three cash awards: Grand Prix EUR 5,000, Best Screenplay EUR 3,000, and an Ethics Award EUR 2,000. ELIGIBILITY: international, applicants 18+; films must have been completed after 1 June 2025 and involve human/AI hybrid creation; a mandatory Ethics Notebook accompanies each submission. No submission fee. Festival screening at Forum des images, Paris, on 24 November 2026. Apply via FilmFreeway; deadline 30 September 2026.
Annual screenwriting fellowship from the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) administered through The Black List, awarding $20,000 each to three writers to revise a feature screenplay or pilot that engages with climate change in a compelling way. Submission and selection happen on The Black List platform; applicants should review program eligibility and any associated hosting/submission fees on blcklst.com before applying. Strong fit for narrative writers using fiction to dramatise climate, ecology, energy, or environmental-justice themes (rather than documentary).
One-off film grant awarding a single filmmaker $4,500 to support an independent narrative project in 2026. Application is free to submit. Centerpiece of the application is a production book built on the IMGN platform: script breakdown, schedule, coverage, and pre-visualization for the project (tutorials are provided inside the application). Eligibility: US-based filmmakers in the 50 states plus DC, aged 18 and older. If the project is already completed before funds are disbursed, the grant is paid as a reimbursement upon submission of a final cut of the film. Winner announced and funds disbursed by end of January 2027.