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25 Documentary Filmmaking Grants
to print again.

You Need to Apply for this Year

Storyhunter Follow
Jan 12, 2017 · 6 min read

Whether you’re just beginning to 1lm a documentary or are in distribu-

tion, securing funding can seem like a monumental task. There are so
many ways to fund documentaries, short or feature length, that you
might not even know where to begin.

While you have the option of crowdfunding on platforms like Indiegogo

or Seed&Spark, securing brand or non-pro1t sponsorships, or even pitch-
ing a short doc on Storyhunter to publishers like Great Big Story or 60
Second Docs, one of the best ways to secure funding is to apply for docu-
mentary 1lmmaking grants. There are dozens of opportunities for fea-
ture-length documentary 1lmmakers to receive support from pre-
production all the way through post-production and promotion. Here are
25 great grants you should apply to this year if you are 1lming a
documentary:

Any stage of production:

1. American Documentary Film Fund: Up to $50K

Independent 1lmmakers may apply to this fund to begin or complete
their 1lm. International 1lmmakers are eligible and 2017 applications
are not open yet.

2. BRITDOC Bertha Journalism Fund: £5,000 to £50,000

This BRITDOC fund is for documentaries of a journalistic nature that
bring important and unreported issues to the screen. The fund may go to
research and development, production, editorial support, hostile envi-
ronment training, and legal advice. International 1lmmakers are eligible
and applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

“An InsigniEcant Man” won a Bertha Journalism grant in 2016 to help with production.

3. The Filmmaker Fund: Up to $75K

For both experienced and emerging 1lmmakers, the Filmmaker Fund
provides funding from the earliest stages of development through post-
production. Along with the grants, the 1lmmakers awarded receive an
invitation to their annual retreat, help with navigating festivals, and ad-
vice on distribution strategies. International 1lmmakers are eligible and
applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

4. The Fledgling Fund: $10K to $25K

Fledgling supports documentaries in any stage of production that focus
on social issues and inspire positive social change. International 1lm-
makers are eligible and applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

5. Ford Foundation JustFilms: UnspeciLed

The Ford Foundation supports documentaries that are artist-driven and
explore aspects of inequality. International 1lmmakers are eligible and
applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

6. Hot Docs Ted Rogers Fund: Up to $35K

The fund provides experienced 1lmmakers with up to 20% of their total
production costs for 1lms that are suitable for theatrical release or broad-
cast. Canadian 1lmmakers are eligible and applications are accepted on a
rolling basis.

7. Miller / Packan Documentary Film Fund: $5K to $25K

The fund supports documentaries that address social issues and inspire
others. Films must be in the advanced development, production, or post-
production stage. Filmmakers must have a 501(c)(3) 1scal sponsor and
applications are due on May 15.

8. netPix/LrstPix Crowdfunding Grant: Up to $5K

This grant supports 1lms that are humanitarian/humanistic in content
and are raising money through crowdfunding. International 1lmmakers
are eligible and applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

9. Rooftop Filmmakers Fund: Multiple Grants

These seven di\erent grants include a cash grant for $25,000, $15,000
in publicity services, full color correction services, a full sound mixing
package, 30 days of lighting and grip equipment, a full post-production
package, and 30 days of camera gear. International 1lmmakers are eligi-
ble and applications are not open yet.
 10. Roy W. Dean Film Grants: $3,500 plus discounted
Llm services
The grant supports unique independent feature 1lms, documentaries,
web series, and short 1lms that will make a contribution to society. In-
ternational 1lmmakers are eligible and applications are accepted three
times a year.

11. Screen Australia Documentary Development: Up

to $30K
The funding program helps experienced documentary 1lmmakers de-
velop their projects from research to post-production. Australian 1lm-
makers are eligible and applications are accepted three times a year.

12. Sundance Documentary Film Fund: Up to $50K

The Sundance Institute supports non-1ction 1lmmakers year-round.
They o\er up to $20,000 for projects still in development and pre-pro-
duction, up to $50,000 for projects in production or post-production,
and up to $20,000 for audience engagement with the 1nal 1lm. In-
ternational 1lmmakers are eligible and applications are accepted on a
rolling basis.

“The Invisible War” was supported by the Sundance Documentary Fund and was nominated for an Academy Award.
13. Tribeca Film Institute Documentary Fund: $25K
to $50K
Filmmakers can apply at any stage of production for support. The TFI
fund sponsors documentaries that spotlight contemporary themes with
unique, creative 1lmmaking. International 1lmmakers are eligible and
applications open in the fall.

Pre-production:

14. BRITDOC Pulse Genesis Fund: £5,000

This fund supports 1lmmakers who are at the beginning of the 1lmmak-
ing process and are still experimenting with form, their approach, or
need funds to make a trailer. BRITDOC will also help connect 1lmmakers
to new funders. International 1lmmakers are eligible and applications
are not open yet.

15. Catapult Film Fund: $5K to $20K

The fund supports the development of documentaries with strong story-
telling and compelling characters. The grant can only be made to a
501(c)(3) 1scal sponsor for the project. International 1lmmakers are eli-
gible and applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

16. ITVS Digital Open Call: Up to $30K

The Independent Television Service funds documentary series that have
not yet begun production. US 1lmmakers are eligible and applications
are due on February 17.

In production or post-production:

17. AFAC’s Documentary Program: Up to $50K

The fund supports documentaries in production or post-production that
address social issues in the Arab world in creative ways. Arab 1lmmakers
are eligible and applications are accepted in three yearly cycles.

18. Derek Freese Documentary Fund: Up to $35K

The fund supports 1lms in production and post-production, and that
have powerful stories and a strong vision for the 1nished 1lm. Filmmak-
ers must have a 501(c)(3) 1scal sponsor and applications are due on
June 12.
19. EFILM | Company 3 Feature Film Grant: Up to $50K
in services
The grant supports documentaries in post-production by o\ering 1lm-
makers color correction and digital intermediate services. Film Indepen-
dent Fellows and alumni of the LA Film Festival and Film Independent
Spirit Award Nominees are eligible and applications are not yet open.
Film Independent is accepting applications for other 1lmmaking grants
as well.

20. Firelight Media Documentary Lab: Up to $25K

This program supports emerging, diverse 1lmmakers with workshops,
networking opportunities, and funding. The 1lm must be in progress and
the funding is meant to take it to the next step in the production process.
US-based 1lmmakers are eligible and applications are accepted on a
rolling basis.

21. Gucci Tribeca Documentary Fund: $10K to $15K

The fund supports 1lms that are in advanced development, production,
or post-production and highlight social issues from around the world.
Filmmakers will also receive guidance from the Tribeca Film Institute,
notes and feedback, private screenings, and more. International 1lm-
makers are eligible and applications are due on February 5.
 “The Bad Kids” was partly funded by the IDA Pare Lorentz Documentary Fund.

22. IDA Pare Lorentz Documentary Fund: $15K to $25K

This fund from the International Documentary Association supports doc-
umentaries that explore pressing issues in the United States, such as en-
vironmental, justice, and social problems. Films must be in production
while still having substantial production or post-production work left.
International 1lmmakers are eligible and applications are accepted on a
rolling basis until July 31.

23. ITVS Open Call: $150K to $350K

While not technically a grant, ITVS provides co-production investment in
documentary projects of 30 or 60 minutes in length that are intended for
public broadcast. US 1lmmakers are eligible and applications are due in
February and August.

24. WIF Film Finishing Fund: UnspeciLed

This Women in Film fund provides grants to 1lms that have at least a
rough cut and are by, for, or about women. International 1lmmakers are
eligible and the next cycle of applications will open this Spring.

25. World Cinema Fund: Up to €80,000

The fund supports production in the WCF regions: Africa, Latin America,
Central America and the Caribbean, the Middle East, Central Asia,
Southeast Asia and the Caucasus. Only directors from these regions are
eligible to apply as the documentaries should have a connection to the
identity and reality of their homelands. Applications for production are
due March 2 and distribution requests are accepted on a rolling basis.

Did we miss any great grants for documentary 1lmmakers? Tell us in the
comments below!

. . .

By D. Simone Kovacs, Writer at Storyhunter