Starting your career as an artist can feel pretty intimidating and often quite lonely. Hell, for creatives at any level, particularly in independent filmmaking, it can feel this way all the time. But we at IndieWire’s Future of Filmmaking are here to tell you, we’ve got your back and others do too.
As we move into the summer season, as well as the second half of the year, a number of grants, labs, fellowships, and other funding opportunities will either commence or close their application process. This includes highly coveted programs from Sundance Institute and Film Independent, as well as other groups focused on filmmakers from underrepresented communities. Keep reading below and mark your calendars for all the upcoming deadlines.
NARRATIVE
Film Independent Screenwriting Lab
A two-week workshop held in the first quarter of the year, Film Independent’s Screenwriting Lab works to supply emerging screenwriters with individualized story and career development by pairing them with one-on-one sessions with a Creative Advisor, as well as group sessions with fellow participants. As part of this program, a range of guest speakers will share lessons they learned throughout their careers. It concludes with a pitch event attended by industry executives where writers will get further feedback on their work. A completed screenplay draft is required for submission.
Applications open: June 30
Non-Member Deadline: August 25
Film Independent Member Extended Deadline: September 8
Sundance 2026 Development Track
The Sundance Institute is more than aware how popular its lab opportunities are, which is why they make it easier on applicants by allowing one submission to be entered for all three of its programs, fellowships, and grants. Development Track comprises the Screenwriting Lab, Screenwriting Intensive, and the Alfred P. Sloan Fellowship and Funding Grant for scripts that contain scientific or technological content. Only the first five pages of a screenplay are needed to apply, but those who move on to next steps later in the summer will need to provide the full script.
Deadline: May 14
Austin Film Society Grant for Feature Films
Awarding individual Texas-based filmmakers up to $15,000 annually, the AFS Grant is designed to encourage and support all phases of production in the Lone Star state. A separate development grant is also available for mid-career artists and the application for the shorts grant will open later this summer. For Texas filmmakers fortunate enough to have their work shown at festivals around the world, cash stipends are also provided through the AFS Travel Grant program.
Deadline: May 21
The Arab Fund for Arts and Culture Cinema Grant
Available to projects shooting in the Arab region, as well as Arab directors, this grant applies to both feature length projects at all stages of development and production and shorts that are shooting or in post. $85,000 has been set aside for features, while $30,000 is available for shorts.
Deadline: June 13
NEA Grants for Arts Projects (GAP)
Many have tried to bring an end to the National Endowment for the Arts, but many have failed. Despite our current tenuous times, its GAP program is still in operation and approaching its second application cycle for the year. Designed to provide funding for the arts in various sectors of American daily life, ranging from education to business, GAP is also where many filmmakers and festival organizers go for a portion of their funding. Up to $100,000 can be requested by a single applicant. In order to apply, first an Application for Federal Domestic Assistance must be submitted to Grants.gov. Once approved, you can fill out your request via the Applicant Portal during the specified time window.
Submission Deadline: July 10
Portal Opens: July 15
Portal Closes: July 22
DOCUMENTARY
Non-Fiction Works-in-Progress Series
Need feedback on your non-fiction project ahead of a festival-run or release? Film Independent is happy to assist. Through its Non-Fiction Works-in-Progress Series, the nonprofit org gathers audiences to provide constructive criticism for developing documentary filmmakers. Though director and/or key members of the creative team must attend the screening in person, the program is open to filmmakers located anywhere. Each project must have a minimum runtime of 40 minutes, but be no longer than 120 minutes.
Deadline: Rolling
The Miller/Packan Fund
Financed through the Rogovy Foundation, the Miller/ Packan fund is committed to supporting documentaries that focus around Education, the Environment, and Civics. At two points throughout the year, grants totaling $200,000 are awarded to eight to twelve filmmakers via an open call submission process. Each recipient will receive up to $25,000, with the overall fund geared toward projects in advanced stages of development.
Summer Deadline: May 15
AXS Film Fund
Founded to support documentary filmmakers and non-fiction new media creators living with disabilities, the AXS Film Fund aims to serve a range of artists from traditionally underserved communities. Each year, five applicants are awarded up to $10,000 each to go towards completing their project in various stages of production.
Applications Open: June 2
Deadline: July 31
SFFILM Documentary Film Fund
Awarded to three to four international feature documentary projects every year, grants of $10,000 to $15,000 are provided in addition to involvement with the artist development program, SFFILM Makers. Projects must be able to commence post-production three months from the final deadline to be eligible and approach non-fiction through innovative storytelling techniques.
Regular Deadline: June 23
Final Deadline: July 7
Yale Law School Doc Project
Though not providing any financial benefits, the Yale Law School Doc Project does provide the valuable service of legal research from the development stage of projects through rough-cuts, both as a service to documentary filmmakers and future media lawyers. In collaboration, these parties will form strategies to reduce potential liability from issues surrounding source protection, trespass, intrusion, and other privacy matters. This group also advises on libel, intellectual property, and other concerns relating to content.
Deadline: Rolling
IDA Documentary Grants
To be honest, there are a number of beneficial funding opportunities available around the world and thankfully, the International Documentary Association (IDA) has been kind enough to gather them all in one place. Ranging from financial aid programs to fellowship programs, this list is bound to have something for everyone and well worth pouring over should you be a non-fiction filmmaker seeking support.
Deadline: Various
MISCELLANEOUS
Student Academy Awards
Ready to live out your Oscars fantasy? If you’re an undergraduate or graduate student with films completed at the intermediate, capstone, or thesis level, that opportunity may happen for you sooner than you think. Featuring the categories of Animation, Documentary, Narrative, and Alternative/Experimental work, the Student Academy Awards provide a direct link between the educational experience and the entertainment industry, as well as cash grants of up to $5000.
Deadline: May 18
Filmmaking Without Borders
Dedicated to supporting the next generation of digital storytellers, FWB provides provide funding and support for independent filmmakers to hone their craft and explore their vision. Grants are available at three points throughout the year for shorts and features across narrative, documentary, experimental, animation, and new media projects in various stages of production. Applications involve a video essay element, as well as three short-essay prompts.
Summer Deadline: June 1
AmDocs Film Fund
Celebrating its 15th anniversary in 2026, the American Documentary and Animation Film Festival held in Palm Springs is centered around international documentary shorts and features, as well as animation and music videos. AmDocs’ Film Fund provides up to $50,000 a year for new projects that are either completed or works-in-progress.
Early Bird Deadline: June 15
Alfred P. Sloan Fast Track Grant
As part of Film Independent’s efforts in building opportunities for developing creatives, through its Fast Track Grant, up to ten fiction and five non-fiction feature projects are selected to engage in a four-day film finance market in November. This market consists of meetings with top executives, financiers, agents, managers, distributors, granting organizations, and production companies. Past participants include Bing Liu’s Academy Award-nominated “Minding the Gap,” Raven Jackson’s “All Dirt Roads Taste of Salt,” and Elegance Bratton’s “The Inspection.”
Non-Member Deadline: June 9
Film Independent Member Extended Deadline: June 23
Film Independent Fiscal Sponsorship
For those lacking the legal status needed to receive grants from foundations, individual donors, and government agencies, for its member Film Independent offers fiscal sponsorship. The greatest benefit to this program is that individuals can access charitable funding for their project without committing to the time consuming and expensive process of creating and running a 501(c)(3) organization themselves. This type of support is available to short or longform projects, fiction or non-fiction, film or video.
Deadline: Rolling
Project Involve
Perhaps the most the vital program organized by Film Independent, each year Project Involve is dedicated to providing 30 filmmakers with diverse backgrounds the chance to gain mentorship and industry access, form creative partnerships, and hone their skills by creating shorts. It offers tracks in writing, directing, writing/directing, producing, cinematography, editing, programming, animation, or executive training.
Applications Open: May 19
Non-Member Deadline: July 14
Film Independent Member Extended Deadline: July 28
Panavision New Filmmaker Program
Shooting on film is a rarity these days, but if you’re a student or low-budget independent filmmaker, Panavision is willing to help you achieve that privilege. By submitting their online form, you may receive access to one of their camera and equipment packages for a specified shoot date. Through a separate grant, they also provide post-production color and finishing services.
Deadline: Rolling
Sundance Graton Artists Opportunity
Only available to artists from federally and non-federally recognized California Indian tribes, this program is designed to help this community commit their stories to cinema. Through the Sundance Institute Collab platform, these emerging talents will be taught craft and career strategies and be given a space to build community through courses, workshops, advisor sessions, extensive resources, and virtual community gatherings.
Deadline: August 31
ResArtists
Need a getaway in order to find your creative center? ResArtists is here to help. Conveniently housing a number of residency programs and writer’s retreats around the world in one place, this website is a terrific resource for those artists looking for a chance to travel and find inspiration, with multiple deadlines and excursions to choose from in countries all over the world, including Argentina and Finland.
Deadline: Various
NEH Media Production Grants
We can’t be certain how long the National Endowment of Humanities will continues providing grants, so try to get ’em while they’re still around. (The NEH site notes that applicants “should be aware of revisions to the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards;” here it is as a handy PDF.) Providing up to $75,000 for projects in development, $700,000 for those in production, and $1,000,000 for the Chair’s Special Awards, these grants support radio programs, podcasts, documentary films, and documentary film series that engage audiences with humanities in a creative and inventive manner.
Applications Open: May 13
Deadline: August 13
