Currently 61 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)
CASA PIP is a residency program in Portugal founded and run by filmmakers. It encourages residents to slow down and play, providing filmmakers with the time, peace, space, and general "rulelessness" to move meaningfully forward on their work, whether it is a whole project or just the budding idea for one. The residency is free to attend. ELIGIBILITY: open internationally to filmmakers. There is a EUR 35 application fee. Deadline: July 31, 2026.
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.
Kometa, a French literary and journalism magazine, awards fellowships to journalists, writers, and photographers documenting reality in contexts of war, censorship, or severe social and political tensions. Projects must be rooted in direct field experience and focused on contemporary rather than historical events. Projects already under a contractual agreement are ineligible. AMOUNT: €10,000 per Fellow, six Fellows selected. WHAT FELLOWS RECEIVE: one year of funding; publication of the completed project (partial or full) in Kometa; opportunity to contribute to the monthly newsletter; mentorship through editorial collaboration. 2026 FOCUS AREAS: disinformation and narrative wars; political and social changes in the Gulf. DEADLINE: 31 July 2026. APPLY via the Tally form (https://tally.so/r/J9XxMK), in French or English (about 30 to 45 minutes). Contact: fellows@kometarevue.com.
Cork International Film Festival, Ireland's oldest film festival, accepts fiction, documentary, animation, and experimental work across features and shorts, with Academy Award and BAFTA qualifying shorts strands. Late deadline for features, feature documentaries, international shorts, and documentary shorts is 31 July 2026 (Irish shorts have until 7 August 2026). Most strands require an Irish premiere. Fee waivers available on request.
Inaugural Adrianna Newell Fellowship, a live/work studio residency in Stamford, NY (Western Catskills) for October 2026, with possible extension into November. Named for board member Adrianna Newell, it invites queer lens-based artists working in photography and moving image with an active, research-driven or conceptually rich practice, especially work engaging queer perspectives on land, rurality and regional space, or queer identity, memory, intimacy, community and embodiment. Open to artists from everywhere. Fellows receive a 1000 sq ft studio with attached apartment, a $1,500 combined materials stipend and per diem, and introductions to the local creative community; an open-studio presentation, artist talk or public exhibition at the end is required. Travel, especially international, is not funded (residents are encouraged to seek travel support elsewhere). Apply by emailing a single PDF (one-page description of your work and planned project, 10 to 20 work samples with short descriptions, and a current CV) to programs@artsrec.org. Deadline: 31 July 2026; notices by end of August.
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.
Corridor seeks a socially-engaged artist based in the South East of England working with moving image / lens-based media for DAISY CHAIN, marking the 60th anniversary of Vera Chytilova's experimental film Daisies (1966). The commissioned artist will work with a group of LGBTQIA+ young people aged 15-26 in Adur (West Sussex) to co-create new artworks: a 2-3 minute moving image work and a series of 2D collage or mixed media artworks for public exhibition and screenings. DAISY CHAIN commissions six new artist moving image works overall (three England-based artists working with older women, young women and LGBTQIA+ youth; three artists in Czechia), developed in partnership with the National Film Museum in Prague (NaFilM) and Brighton-based videoclub, with results toured across England and Czechia in 2027. EXPECTATIONS: devise about eight hands-on workshops incorporating film, collage and mixed media (participants won't necessarily have an arts background); participate in 4-6 online peer sessions on collaborative practice led by artist Annis Joslin; complete exhibition-ready artworks on time and to budget; maintain a transparent dialogue on authorship with participants. Artists must have a participatory practice and experience of working creatively with young people. Note: to create a safe space, workshops will not be publicly labelled as LGBTQIA+. FEE: GBP 4,200 incl. VAT plus travel and a materials budget. TIMELINE: shortlist notified 7 August, online interviews 12 August 2026; launch event in Adur/Worthing March 2027. DEADLINE: 10am, 3 August 2026.
MQFF, Australia's largest queer film festival, accepts international films of interest to LGBTQIA+ audiences. Deadline 3 August 2026; fees USD 30 for shorts and USD 50 for features, with fee waivers reserved for Australian and First Nations entrants.
The Fondazione Prada Film Fund is an annual initiative supporting independent cinema, with an annual endowment of EUR 1.5 million backing up to 14 feature film projects across development, production, and post-production. The Fund imposes NO restrictions on geography, theme, genre, or language and does not participate as a co-producer, guaranteeing complete artistic freedom to filmmakers. It supports both established authors and new talents, as well as research projects. SELECTION is based exclusively on quality, originality, vision, and the strength and reliability of the applicant structure; projects are evaluated by independent readers and external consultants, with final selection and grant amounts determined by a committee appointed by Fondazione Prada. ELIGIBILITY: applications may be submitted only by a production company involved in the project (the applicant company remains solely responsible for meeting all requirements); open worldwide. DEADLINES (2026 call opened 30 June 2026): projects in production 6 August 2026; projects in development and post-production 10 September 2026 (this card uses the earliest deadline). Post-production projects may submit a rough cut until 20 November 2026. Selected projects announced February 2027. Application documents are on the Fondazione Prada Film Fund page; questions to filmfund@fondazioneprada.org.
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.
Discovery is the debut-director production strand of the BFI Filmmaking Fund, awarding up to GBP 1 million towards fiction features budgeted between GBP 1 million and GBP 3.5 million. It backs first-time feature directors working alongside experienced producers, and is structured so creative risk sits with a team rather than a lone filmmaker. ELIGIBILITY: applications must be made through a limited company registered and centrally managed in the UK, so unincorporated individuals cannot apply. A dedicated lead producer with an established track record must submit, and that producer must be someone other than the writer or director. The director must be making their first fiction feature, meaning no prior feature at or above a GBP 1 million budget and no prior commercial UK or Ireland theatrical distribution of a fiction feature. At least two people must be credited across the writer, producer and director roles, all aged 18 or over and not in full-time education. Projects need a fully developed script and a runtime of at least 70 minutes. LIMITS: one application per production company, producer and director per round, and applications must arrive at least 20 weeks before the proposed first day of principal photography. ROUNDS: Round 2 closes at 5pm on Thursday 13 August 2026. Round 3 opens Thursday 12 November 2026 and closes Wednesday 16 December 2026. Successful applicants must publicly credit BFI National Lottery support.
The Bloomberg Green Docs competition is open to all eligible filmmakers competing for a $25,000 grand prize for a short climate documentary. The call seeks films that explore our climate future and reveal the world we are making today: ecosystems being restored, tomorrow's zero-carbon communities being formed, and habitat extremes warning of cascading climate consequences. REQUIREMENTS: films must address the urgency of climate change and run under 10 minutes including credits. The jury awards a $25,000 grand prize, announced at the Bloomberg Green Docs Film Festival in New York City on 22 September 2026, where the top five documentaries will be screened. Check the official rules on the competition site for eligibility details. DEADLINE: submissions accepted through 14 August 2026.
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.
Future Vision XPRIZE is a sci-fi film competition challenging filmmakers to portray an optimistic, abundant future for humanity rather than a dystopian one. CHALLENGE: create a 3-minute sci-fi trailer that depicts a bold, original, hopeful vision of progress. PRIZES: USD 3.5 million-plus total; the grand prize winner gets USD 2.6 million-plus to turn their trailer into a feature film, plus over USD 1 million in prizes for runners-up. BACKGROUND: launched by the nonprofit XPRIZE and funded by Peter Diamandis, with Google and Range as partners; inspired by the optimism of Star Trek and intended to give storytellers a hopeful 'north star' for builders. ELIGIBILITY: open to all filmmakers globally. TIMELINE: competition launched 9 March 2026; submission deadline 15 August 2026; finals on 25 September 2026 in Los Angeles (finalists attend in person). APPLY: register and read the rules on the contest website at futurevisionxprize.com.
QueerCineMad (formerly LesGaiCineMad), organized by Fundacion Triangulo in Madrid, is a Goya- and Feroz-qualifying LGBTI+ film festival offering prizes up to EUR 2,500. International submissions close 15 August 2026 via Festhome or FilmFreeway (platform fees vary).
The GFX Challenge Grant Program, sponsored by FUJIFILM and running since 2021, awards 5 Global Grant Awards (USD 10,000) and 10 Regional Grant Awards (USD 5,000) to help aspiring creatives bring imaging projects to life. It is designed to nurture emerging and promising content creators, giving them the opportunity to create content on topics with significant meaning to them while gaining experience with FUJIFILM GFX System gear, including the GFX ETERNA 55 filmmaking camera. Proposed projects may be submitted as still photography or in movie format. AWARDS: both tiers include complimentary use of a GFX System camera body and two GF lenses for the duration of the project, plus mentoring and technical assistance from Fujifilm technicians and product experts. At the end of the production period in May 2027, recipients' final content is showcased on fujifilm-x.com, with a series of exhibitions planned in various countries. ELIGIBILITY: open to both amateur and professional photographers and videographers who are residents of the countries/regions listed in the Entry Submission section of the program page; not open to employees or officers of FUJIFILM and its subsidiaries. TO APPLY: combine three items into a single PDF: (1) the preformatted cover letter (downloadable from the program page); (2) the project proposal covering descriptive plan, objectives, evaluation and outcome measures, communications, how you will use the Fujifilm partnership and mentoring, schedule, and budget; (3) a portfolio for each individual involved. Proposals must be in English (optionally accompanied by a version in your own language; language proficiency is not judged). Entry period 16 June to 17 August 2026.
Drone film competition open worldwide to filmmakers aged 16+. Films must be at most 5 minutes (documentaries up to 10) with at least half the footage captured by drone; 12 categories including News/Documentary, Cinematic FPV, Single Take, and 360/VR. Regular deadline 27 July 2026; late deadline 17 August 2026. Entry via FilmFreeway.
The London Short Film Festival (24th edition) accepts short films of all genres under 45 minutes, with dedicated experimental and artists' moving image strands and an international category. Deadline reported as 18 August 2026; confirm exact tier dates and fees on FilmFreeway.
The Doc Society Climate Story Fund, run by Doc Society's Climate Story Unit, provides grants of up to USD 125,000 to support non-fiction projects in late production and the implementation of impact campaigns for both completed and in-production projects. The fund supports compelling independent media storytelling and impact strategies aligned with the Fund's mission around climate justice and biodiversity. This call has no set theme, welcoming applications across all areas aligned with the Fund's mission. Since 2021 the fund has distributed more than USD 4M to over 50 projects, with grantee work reaching distribution through outlets including BBC, POV, Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, Spotify, YouTube, and WhatsApp. WHAT YOU GET: up to USD 125,000 to support non-fiction projects in late production and impact campaigns. WHO IS ELIGIBLE: open to filmmakers of any nationality. DEADLINE: 24 August 2026. TO APPLY: see the fund page and apply via the Doc Society application. Questions: climate@docsociety.org.
Fifth iteration of transmediale's Digital Art Residency, in cooperation with the Swiss Arts Council Pro Helvetia, awarded to one individual or collective working in digital art practices at the intersection of media arts, performance, sound and moving image. The two-month residency comes with an artist fee of CHF 2,000 per month, a CHF 15,000 production grant to develop a new work or continue an existing project (open to all formats, building on the residency research), and travel and accommodation for the festival and residency; the project must be completed by December 2027. The 2027 programme (transmediale's 40th anniversary, themed 'RFC 40' after the early-internet Request for Comments documents) seeks proposals offering alternatives to how we understand, respond to and shape our technological conditions, moving from critique to construction outside extractive logics. ELIGIBILITY: applicants must have Swiss nationality or permanent residence in Switzerland, be firmly established in the Swiss cultural scene, and meet Pro Helvetia's general requirements; duos and collectives welcome (fee and grant shared). Deadline: 28 August 2026, 23:59 CEST.
Third edition of transmediale's residency in collaboration with Arts Council Korea (ARKO), awarded to one person of Korean nationality (based in Korea or elsewhere) working in digital art and moving image practices, design, sound and media theory. Open to artists, researchers, practitioners, designers and sound artists across all formats. The two-month residency comes with an artist fee of EUR 1,500 per month, additional production support, and travel and accommodation support for the festival and residency; duos and collectives are welcome but share the same fee. Part of transmediale's 2027 programme (40th anniversary, themed 'RFC 40'), which seeks proposals offering alternatives to how we understand, respond to and shape our technological conditions, moving from critique to construction outside extractive logics. Deadline: 28 August 2026, 23:59 CEST.
Eighth edition of RTM Pitch, IFFR's open call for Rotterdam film talent. Submit a plan for a film between 5 and 20 minutes long; a jury of film experts and IFFR programmers selects one filmmaker to receive EUR 25,000 to realise the film (with coaching and an IFFR 2028 premiere) and a runner-up to receive a EUR 5,000 development budget co-funded by QISSA. All filmmakers are welcome; this edition especially encourages genre films (horror, science fiction, thriller, fantasy) that use genre conventions for a distinctive personal vision. Submit a written film plan (story, setting, team, budget and financing, cinematography vision, with optional supporting material) or a video pitch of no more than three minutes (Vimeo or YouTube link) via the application form. Deadline: Sunday 30 August 2026, 23:59 CEST.
The Atlas Workshops are the Marrakech International Film Festival's industry and talent-development programme, running since 2018 and now in its 9th edition. This track is for feature films already in shooting or post-production. Selected teams get personalised mentoring tailored to each project across scriptwriting, production, distribution, editing and scoring, plus access to the festival's industry network, and compete for cash prizes decided by a dedicated jury. ELIGIBILITY: directors and producers who are from, or in the diaspora of, the Arab world or the African continent, working on their first, second or third feature (fiction, documentary or animation), with a production company attached. Open across that whole region, not restricted to Morocco. There is a separate Projects in Development track whose deadline (6 July 2026) has already passed for this edition. Deadline 31 August 2026.
Atlas Station is the Marrakech International Film Festival's professional development strand running alongside the Atlas Workshops, aimed at building the Moroccan film industry. The producers track offers structured mentoring, industry sessions and access to the festival's international network during the 9th edition. ELIGIBILITY IS RESTRICTED: open to Moroccan producers only, not to international applicants. Deadline 31 August 2026. See also the Atlas Station short film track (deadline 14 September 2026) and the internationally open Atlas Workshops track for films in shooting or post-production.
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.
Cheries-Cheris, France's largest LGBTQIA+ film festival, screens at MK2 cinemas across Paris. Films must have an LGBTQIA+ theme or perspective. Regular deadline 31 August 2026 (USD 8 shorts / USD 20 features); late deadline 20 September 2026 at higher fees.
Berlinale Talents is the Berlin International Film Festival's talent-development program: a week of workshops, the Talents Lab and the Talent Project Market during the February 2027 Berlinale, plus access to the festival's industry network. ELIGIBILITY: international working film professionals with at least 1 feature, 2 shorts, or a widely screened or streamed series, across 15+ disciplines including directing, sound design, editing, production, cinematography and screenwriting. Participation itself is free; there is a EUR 15 application service fee (EUR 10 early bird before 19 August 2026) and travel and accommodation are not covered. Deadline 2 September 2026, 12:00 CEST. Apply via the Berlinale Talents portal.
Hiding in Plain Site is an international public art short film festival accepting film, video art, XR, and explicitly AI-generated or AI-assisted moving image works of 2 to 20 minutes, screened in public space. Free to submit; selected filmmakers receive a modest stipend whose amount is revenue-dependent and not yet confirmed. Deadline 10 September 2026.
PhotoVogue's global open call invites photographers and video makers to use image-making as a form of rebellion - to challenge indifference, disrupt conventions and expand visual storytelling. It asks not for a theme but for a position in relation to the world. Open to photography, video and multimedia projects across all genres (fashion, documentary, portraiture, fine art, experimental). Three artists share $12,000 in grants ($6,000 Outstanding Vision, $4,000 Vision, $2,000 Rising Voice for an emerging artist), with festival presentation, potential Vogue publication and portfolio reviews. ELIGIBILITY: open to all artists worldwide aged 18+; submissions are free; previous PhotoVogue applicants may submit a new project. SUBMIT: a series of up to 15 images, or images plus video for multimedia, and/or a 60-second trailer, via Picter. IMPORTANT: AI-generated works are NOT eligible. Open 14 May to 11 September 2026 (11:59 PM CET).
The short film strand of Atlas Station, the Marrakech International Film Festival's professional development programme for the Moroccan film industry, running alongside the 9th Atlas Workshops. Selected directors receive mentoring and industry access during the online and onsite sessions. ELIGIBILITY IS RESTRICTED: open to Moroccan directors with a short film in shooting or post-production that has not yet premiered. Not open to international applicants. Deadline 14 September 2026.
Guardian Documentaries and arte.tv have opened a short documentary film fund on the theme 'Democracy at Stake in Europe', supporting the development and production of a character-led documentary short exploring threats, pressures and challenges facing democratic societies across Europe. The aim is to amplify personal stories that help audiences understand democracy in Europe today and to stimulate public debate; suggested areas of focus include press freedom, civic trust and democratic participation. AWARD: one project receives GBP 10,000 in production support; alongside the financial award, the selected filmmaker receives editorial and creative input from the partners, with distribution through Guardian and arte.tv platforms. The funding can be used for work linked to the film's development and production, such as research, filming and post-production, subject to the applicant's proposed budget and plan. ELIGIBILITY: open to European filmmakers aged 18 or over; the call is focused on a single short documentary and is intended for projects where individual experience and perspective are central to telling a wider story about democratic life in Europe. Deadline 14 September 2026.
image+nation, Canada's oldest LGBTQ+ film festival, accepts international submissions for its 39th edition in Montreal. Deadline 15 September 2026 via FilmFreeway.
100 Voices of Florida is a grant for filmmakers and screenwriters that awards up to USD 5,000 in unrestricted funds, which winners can use for finishing funds, festival submission fees, cast and crew reimbursements, production, or anything else. Applicants submit either a short film (under twenty minutes) or a script (twenty pages or less); films in other languages must include accurate English subtitles, and scripts must be in English. The grant is open to writers, directors, and producers who are at least 18 years old, and creative teams may submit, though only one entrant receives the award. A panel of judges with professional filmmaking experience evaluates entries, and the winner also receives a meeting with an industry professional. The deadline for the current cycle is September 20, 2026.
The Creative Challenge Fund does not fund films directly. It funds the organisations that run project-development programmes for UK creatives working on narrative, documentary or animation features, or on narrative immersive media projects. The BFI's stated aim is to decentralise development away from a small number of London-centric gatekeepers and build a wider, more resilient ecosystem of talent-development providers across the UK, with a recently added emphasis on independent producers. ELIGIBILITY: only legally constituted UK-based organisations may apply. Individual filmmakers seeking development money should look to the BFI Filmmaking Fund's Development strand instead. TIMING: Round One closed in March 2026 and has made its first awards. Round Two closes Monday 21 September 2026, with funded programme activity required to begin between 1 January and 30 June 2027. NOTE: award amounts are not published on the fund page. Successful applicants must prominently credit BFI National Lottery support.
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.
La Résidence of the Festival de Cannes (part of Cinéma de Demain, formerly La Cinéfondation) invites 12 directors each year to write their screenplay in Paris. The programme provides a place of residence in the heart of Paris, a personalised programme accompanying the writing of their scripts, and a collective programme of forums with film industry professionals. The 12 directors from the two annual sessions present their projects at the CNC pavilion in Cannes, giving 10-minute presentations to an audience of professionals and a jury of three film industry personalities; the CNC then awards a EUR 5,000 grant to one director from each session, based on the project that most inspires the jury. The Cinef & Résidence offices serve as a hub where directors meet and schedule private meetings with potential producers. ELIGIBILITY: open to young filmmakers who have made one or several short films and no more than one feature film; candidates must NOT be residents or citizens of France. Selected filmmakers must stay at the Résidence in Paris for the full session. SESSIONS: two per year, each lasting four and a half months, the first running 15 March to 31 July and the second 1 October to 15 February. Artistic fields: film, writing, interdisciplinary. Deadline: 30 September 2026 at 16:00 UTC. Free to apply.
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.
Work stipends for women film and video artists under the Berlin Senate's Kuenstlerinnenfoerderung (women artists' funding program). ELIGIBILITY: women film and video artists based in Berlin. Deadline 1 October 2026, 11:00 CEST, per the Senate's official deadline calendar. NOTE: research-sourced from the Senate deadline calendar; the stipend amount was not published there, so confirm details on the Senate funding pages before applying.
The Pandora Short Film Grant is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that awards an annual $12,000 grant to an early-career US filmmaker for the production of a narrative short film. Projects at script stage or already filmed and seeking finishing funds are both eligible. The winner also receives a Panavision camera package (about $15,000), an optional $1,000 Kodak Film Grant, mentorship from an award-winning filmmaker (2026 mentors include Alma Har'el, Lila Neugebauer, Lauren Wolkstein, Sarah Elizabeth Mintz and Chris Merola), and fiscal sponsorship; three finalists receive mentorship, fiscal sponsorship, Panavision New Filmmaker Program consideration and discounted production insurance. ELIGIBILITY: open to all early-career US filmmakers; applicants are asked NOT to apply if they have directed a feature film with a budget over $250K or directed or produced television. Selection is blind, based on script and pitch materials, weighting artistic vision over industry resume. TIMELINE: submissions open 30 May 2026, close 1 October 2026, notifications 15 November 2026.
Medienboard's Immersive strand funds the development and production of immersive and innovative audiovisual content: virtual, augmented and mixed-reality experiences plus multi-platform and cross-media projects, and it also supports festival presentation of XR and innovative audiovisual work. This is the most directly creative-technology-facing German regional fund open to organisations. The applicant must be a developer or independent producer with a registered company seat in Berlin-Brandenburg or elsewhere in Germany, which rules out individual artists without a company; international partners can participate as co-producers but cannot lead. THE PROCESS IS GATED: applicants submit a one-page project summary roughly six weeks before the deadline, then must hold an application meeting with a funding executive about two weeks before the deadline, and only after that meeting is portal access granted. Plan backwards from the deadline accordingly. The 2026 rounds closed on 3 February, 28 April and 21 July 2026; the next live deadline is 27 October 2026, feeding the first committee of 2027 with decisions announced in week 5 of 2027, a decision lag of about three months. The DIGI.TALE sub-strand is restricted to students of Film University Babelsberg KONRAD WOLF and DFFB.
Scotland's leading short film festival marks its 20th edition in March 2027. International entries compete for the Bill Douglas Award for International Short Film; films must be completed after 30 September 2025 and run 40 minutes or less. Deadlines: earlybird 4 August 2026 (GBP 10), regular 22 September 2026 (GBP 14), late 27 October 2026 (GBP 18).
The European Media Art Platform (EMAP/EMARE) is a network of leading European media-art organisations offering fully funded two-month production residencies for artists working with digital media, including media art, bio art and robotic art. Each residency provides a EUR 4,000 grant to the applying artist (including subsistence), a EUR 4,000 project budget, host-provided accommodation, travel covered according to EU ceilings, and access to technical facilities and media labs; a collaborating artist receives an additional EUR 2,000 (EUR 6,000 total for a duo). Residencies take place at one of 15 host institutions across Austria, France, Slovakia, Portugal, Belgium, the Netherlands, Slovenia, Croatia, Spain, Italy, Cyprus, Greece, Latvia, Germany and Poland. ELIGIBILITY: applicants must be EU residents or taxpayers in an EU member state, or residents/taxpayers of one of the eligible non-EU countries (Netherlands-based artists qualify). Undergraduate and Master's students are not eligible; PhD candidates and emerging artists of any age and academic background may apply. IMPORTANT: applicants must apply as a duo or collective, or propose a collaborative project, rather than as a purely solo applicant. The 2027 open call runs from 3 September 2026 to 6 November 2026 at 14:00 CET. Apply online at call.emare.eu. No application fee.
The Nebraska Arts Council's Individual Artist Fellowship awards up to $5,000 for a one-year period to support professional development: creating new work, presentations, training and/or research. The fellowship rotates among three umbrella categories; the 2026 round accepts Performing Arts applications in theater/playwriting, choreography, filmmaking/screenwriting, and music/sound. ELIGIBILITY: Nebraska resident for at least 24 months before application, remaining resident during the fellowship year (attestation required); 19 or older; not enrolled in an undergraduate program in the discipline applied for (graduate and certificate programs allowed); applicants must be the originator of the submitted work, not an interpreter. Previous winners may reapply after three years with new work if prior grant requirements were completed. SUBMISSION: artist biography, artist statement (name redacted; themes, influences, techniques), and five work samples with descriptions or synopses. Questions: meagan.dion@nebraska.gov. DEADLINE: 17 November 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).
The Fondo para el Desarrollo Cinematografico, created by Colombia's Law 814 of 2003 and administered by Proimagenes Colombia, channels at least 70 percent of its resources into film production. The automatic stimuli are the non-competitive strand: rather than pitching against other projects, applicants qualify by meeting defined criteria. Six lines are open for 2026, all closing 11 December 2026: film distribution in theatres, Colombian shorts and features selected for approved festivals, films nominated for approved awards, projects selected for approved industry encounters, individuals selected for approved training workshops and advisories, and promotion of national features or coproductions of at least 70 minutes premiering in 2026. A separate competitive strand (estimulos por concurso) runs 17 modalities on its own calendar. ELIGIBILITY IS RESTRICTED: Colombian natural persons and Colombian legal entities, though a Colombian company may have a foreign legal representative. Contact convocatoriafdc@proimagenescolombia.com.
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.
The New Media Film Festival in Los Angeles champions stories told with new technology and was among the first festivals to screen AI-generated content; it has a dedicated AR / MR / AI / TECH category. Open worldwide in all formats. Deadlines: 6 December 2026 (USD 80), 6 February 2027 (USD 85), final 6 April 2027 (USD 95).
Visual Anthropology Center (VAC) in Belgrade invites filmmakers, visual anthropologists, artists, and researchers to apply for its residency programme. The residency specialises in visual anthropology but is also open to individual and collaborative projects in experimental ethnography, creative documentary film, and other artistic mediums. Residents may apply with a project aimed at a public showing, or use the time and space to reflect, research, or write without a specific outcome. WHAT IS PROVIDED: accommodation and studio space in central Belgrade; additional workspace and community connection through Community Center KROV (an independent creative hub hosting lectures, events, and exhibitions); project guidance and mentorship from film professionals, ethnomusicologists, producers, artists, curators, and anthropologists; connections to local cultural and academic institutions, archives, galleries, and exhibition spaces; access to camera equipment, translators for fieldwork or editing, fixers, and project-specific services or materials; opportunity to exhibit a final project as an exhibition, installation, screening, workshop, or lecture. Eligible projects may be promoted through VAC's platforms and partner networks, including the Vizantrop Film Festival, for regional and international visibility. ELIGIBILITY: filmmakers, visual anthropologists, artists, and researchers; individual and collaborative projects welcome. Applications accepted on a rolling basis.
Impact is the higher-budget production strand of the BFI Filmmaking Fund and carries the largest award available in the current BFI portfolio at up to GBP 1.25 million. It sits above the Discovery strand in scale, serving experienced directors with production budgets from GBP 1 million to GBP 15 million, and debut directors whose budgets exceed GBP 3.5 million. UNLIKE DISCOVERY, Impact accepts applications on a continuous rolling basis with no round structure and no published closing date, though applicants must submit at least 20 weeks before principal photography begins. SELECTION is explicitly criteria-driven: projects must address at least three of the BFI's stated aims, covering equity and inclusion, audience or cultural impact, talent development, creative risk, production activity across the UK nations and regions, and environmental sustainability. ELIGIBILITY: applications must come from a limited company registered and centrally managed in the UK, so individuals cannot apply. A dedicated producer is always required, though unlike Discovery the writer and director may be the same person. Directing credits must be evidenced. No explicit nationality or residency test for the director or writer is published. NOTE: the BFI cautions that maximum-level awards are rare, so realistic requests will typically fall well below the GBP 1.25 million ceiling.
Development Funding is the earliest-stage strand of the BFI Filmmaking Fund, supporting original live action and animated feature films through script and package development to the point where they are viable candidates for production finance. It is aimed at distinctive fiction projects from what the BFI calls 'adventurous storytellers', across a wide range of genres rather than a single house style. UNLIKE DISCOVERY, it does not operate in rounds: applications are accepted year-round, with the only fixed interruption being an annual closure through the month of April, plus occasional short pauses during periods of high demand or holidays. ELIGIBILITY: the application must be made by a producer through a limited company registered at Companies House, so unincorporated individuals are ineligible. Nationality and residency requirements are not published on the fund page. NOTE: award amounts are not published, so the ceiling should be treated as unknown rather than assumed. Successful applicants are required to publicly acknowledge National Lottery support in project credits and materials.
The Audience Projects Fund distributes GBP 19.7 million of National Lottery money over three years to widen UK audiences for film and immersive work, covering exhibition, distribution, festivals, touring programmes and sector-support initiatives. It reopened in November 2025 and runs continuously with no closing date, which makes it one of the more accessible large BFI pots for organisations working on the audience-facing rather than production side. AWARDS are tiered: small pilot projects receive GBP 10,000 to GBP 20,000, while full projects can receive GBP 20,000 to GBP 500,000 per year, with immersive projects permitted to include up to GBP 150,000 of production cost inside that envelope. ELIGIBILITY is strictly institutional. Applicants must be legally constituted organisations centrally managed in the UK and not more than 50% foreign-owned. Eligible types include limited companies (not classed as 'large' under the Companies Act 2006), community interest companies, LLPs, UK local or statutory authorities, and registered UK charities or trusts. Individual practitioners cannot apply. Applicants must evidence experience in marketing, festivals, distribution, immersive installations, cultural programming, touring or sector support. TIMING: there are no deadlines but lead times are enforced. Single-film distribution projects must apply at least 10 weeks before release; all other projects at least 16 weeks before the project starts.
The rare BFI stream that individuals can apply to directly. Individual Skills funding supports training and professional development for people working, or intending to work, in the UK screen heritage sector, the field concerned with preserving, digitising and widening public access to screen archive collections. ELIGIBILITY: applicants must be 18 or over, working or intending to work in the UK screen heritage sector, hold a UK bank account, and be eligible to work in the UK. TIMING: applications are rolling with no deadline, but must be submitted at least eight weeks before the training starts. All funded activity must be completed by 31 March 2029, the end of the current National Lottery funding plan period. CONTEXT: the wider Screen Heritage Fund has three strands. Project funding, open to legally constituted not-for-profit organisations operating a screen archive or collection network, runs year-round with a 16-week lead time and prioritises collections that better reflect the diversity of the UK. Resilience funding for the 2026-29 cycle closed on 31 March 2026 and is not currently accepting applications. NOTE: award ranges are not published on the fund overview page.
Field of Vision is a filmmaker-driven documentary unit that creates and commissions original short-form and feature nonfiction visual journalism. It funds and commissions filmmakers, often as assignments, and supports projects in development and production (it does not acquire finished films). SUPPORT: commissioning fees and production funding; specific amounts are not published publicly. ELIGIBILITY: filmmakers of all experience levels, within and outside the United States. APPLICATIONS are accepted on a rolling basis, with no fixed funding cycles or deadlines. Submit via the Field of Vision submissions page.
The International Documentary Association runs an Emergency Assistance program that provides direct financial support to documentary filmmakers whose work puts them in imminent and extreme physical danger. Eligible filmmakers may request a one-time emergency grant between USD 500 and USD 5,000. IDA responds to all applications within 24 hours and handles them with strict confidentiality, with approved funds transferred in as few as five business days. Applicants need an existing risk assessment plan, a concrete safety plan, two references confirming the emergency, and a secure way to receive funds. The program launched as a pilot on March 9, 2026 and accepts applications on a rolling basis. For sensitive cases, applicants can contact emergency@documentary.org to share information over an end-to-end encrypted app such as Signal.
The Basel House of Film, run by the Verein Filmhaus Basel und Umgebung, offers a three month residency for emerging artists working in film and television. Residents receive housing at the Filmhaus in the Basel old town plus a stipend to cover travel and living costs. There is no obligation to produce work, and residents can use the open schedule to write a script, prepare a film, draw storyboards, or edit. The facility includes a clubhouse, meeting room, office space, a small cinema with VR equipment, and an editing and grading suite. The program targets up and coming filmmakers, and both national and international applicants are welcome. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis through the online form, followed by a CV, motivation letter, and portfolio sent to the residency email.
Pulitzer Center reporting grants supporting in-depth international journalism on under-reported global issues. Open to reporters, photographers, audio and video journalists, and documentary filmmakers worldwide. Grants cover the hard costs of reporting projects. ELIGIBILITY: professional journalists and visual storytellers anywhere in the world; both freelance and staff. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis via the Pulitzer Center grant portal.
The BFI Doc Society Features Production Fund (delivered via BFI with Doc Society as delegate partner) supports UK filmmakers producing non-fiction feature films intended for theatrical release. Two strands: Directions (first- or second-time directors) and Momentum (established talent). AMOUNT: up to £150,000 non-recoupable grant (the total Doc Society contribution per project cannot exceed £150,000). ELIGIBILITY: UK-based filmmakers, both emerging and established directors; experienced and debut producers eligible; projects must meet at least three of six stated priorities: equity/diversity, audience impact, talent development, creative risk, UK-wide access, and environmental sustainability. PROCESS: two-stage — submit an Expression of Interest, then a Full Application if invited. Rolling intake year-round. Opened May 2026. APPLY via BFI Doc Society website. Contact: hellobfi@docsociety.org.
Alchemy Film and Moving Image Festival in Hawick, Scotland, is the UK's leading festival for experimental film and artists' moving image, a strong fit for experimental and research-based film work. Submissions for the 16th edition are open on FilmFreeway with a pay-what-you-can fee. Exact deadline unconfirmed; past editions closed late October to early November.
Pink Screens, Brussels' queer film festival run by Genres d'a cote, accepts international films completed 2024 or later that were not previously submitted. Submissions are free via the festival's own form on pinkscreens.org (the FilmFreeway route may charge). No exact deadline is published, but the call is in its late phase, so submit soon.
Queer Screen's Mardi Gras Film Festival in Sydney is one of the largest queer film festivals in the world. Submissions reopened in July 2026 via FilmFreeway; the final deadline is historically mid-October (around 15 October 2026, unconfirmed). Audience awards; modest submission fees.
TranScreen, Europe's largest transgender film festival, held in Amsterdam, accepts screeners on a rolling basis for its next edition. Films about trans and gender-diverse lives, international, no fee stated.