Upcoming Funding Deadlines:

• September 8: The Catapult Development Fund provides early-stage support to documentary filmmakers when funding is hardest to find. They will offer fifteen grants of up to $25,000 to filmmakers in development with a documentary feature or short. The program is geared toward independent filmmakers who have a strong story to tell, have secured access, and are ready to unlock critical production funding. Apply here.

• September 9: The Hodder Fellowship at Princeton University offers a $93,000 stipend and grants recipients time to pursue independent creative projects with no teaching required. The Fellowship is open to artists, writers, translators, composers, choreographers, and more, and fellows will be selected more for potential than performance. Applicants need to submit a CV, a 500-word project proposal, and samples of their work. Learn more.

• September 16: Attention, Manhattan artists and arts organizations! The guidelines and application for the 2026 Manhattan Arts Grants have been posted. The Lower Manhattan Cultural Council (LMCC) offers grants from $4,000 to $16,000 to individual artists, collectives, and arts organizations based in Manhattan for a single project that connects with Manhattan audiences and communities in 2026. Apply here.

• September 17: Are you a woman or non-binary filmmaker with a powerful story to tell? The Female Film Club Global Film Fund is awarding €10,000 to one bold, visionary short film. This is more than just a grant, this global initiative supports female voices through funding but also through mentorship and international industry exposure! Learn more.

• September 18: Firelight Media is proud to announce the launch of the Firelight Fund. The Firelight Fund will support Black, Brown, and Indigenous stories from development through distribution, with a focus on those who are telling urgent stories and using their craft to advance social justice. The Fund will comprise grants of up to $50,000 per project in its initial round and is open to short documentaries at any stage and feature-length documentaries at the production, post-production, or distribution and impact stages. Apply here.

• September 26: Apply now for a Frameline Completion Fund grant up to $5,000 to help cover post-production costs for your LGBTQ+ project. There’s no fee to apply and films of any length, genre, or nationality will be considered. Submit here.

• September 29: The BAVC MediaMaker Fellowship is a 9-month long intensive devoted to supporting documentary filmmakers using bold cinematic language and innovative impact strategies to grapple with critical issues of our time. Fellows will receive $10,000; two San Francisco convenings (travel paid); an all-access pass, round trip flight, accommodations, and a customized itinerary for one film festival or industry conference; and more. Early applications are strongly recommended. Apply here.

• September 30: The National Film Board of Canada and TIFF are teaming up to support Canadian filmmakers 30 and under who are redefining Canada through their lens. Five selected short films will be produced, financed, and distributed by the NFB, to premiere at TIFF 2026! Submit your proposal here.

• September 30: Thinking about entering a screenwriting contest? Shore Scripts’ Short Film Fund is for writers who want to see their short professionally produced, with a proven track record of success since 2016. Since then, the Fund has produced 24 funded films, many of which have screened at Sundance, Tribeca, Cannes, and more. Every submission gets feedback, and their prizes are designed to help you bring your vision from page to screen. Submit here.

• September 30: The Reel Sisters Micro Budget Film Fellowship offers women of color a chance for $5000 to produce a short film or web series pilot. The pilot episode of your web series or short film will air on Reel Sisters Tea & Cinema virtual series and have a world premiere in their annual international Oscar qualifying film festival. Scripts must be written or co-written by a woman of color of nonbinary filmmaker of color. Apply here.

• October 8: Applications are now open for the 2025 Filmed in NC Fund, supporting bold, independent filmmakers across North Carolina. Grants from $500-$3,000 are available. Narrative, documentaries, short films, and experimental projects are eligible, and the Fund prioritizes women, BIPOC, and LGBTQ+ filmmakers. Learn more.

• October 31: The Kodak x First Flights Short Film Fund allows emerging talent worldwide to test their ideas before embarking on a feature film. Grants of up to $10,000 are available towards the production costs of all scripted genres and documentary short film content. Two winners will receive rolls of Kodak 16mm film stock, and one filmmaker will receive a comprehensive $10,000 post-production package from Periscope. Apply here.

• Rolling: The Pulitzer Center provides grants to cover the hard costs of reporting projects. Grants are open to all journalists: writers, photographers, radio producers, and filmmakers; staff journalists as well as freelancers. Deadline is rolling, find out more here.

• Rolling: All Facts co-founder and documentarian Adam Bhala Lough is launching a new documentary development grant inspired by the #stayinla movement. The STAY IN LA Grant is designed to give local documentary filmmakers the boost they need to get their projects off the ground & help bring vital local stories to life in LA. Read more. 

• Rolling: The Sustainability Prize, launched by Creo and Sony, offers filmmakers passionate about communicating key themes linked to the Sustainable Development Goals with $5,000, Sony digital imaging equipment, and promotion across Sony’s channels. The work of the winners will also get the chance to be honored at a showcase hosted by the United Nations Foundation and Sony Pictures. Apply here. 

• Rolling: The Undocumented Filmmakers Collective is providing an unrestricted grant for UFC members. The grant can be used for any production costs, festival fees, or even some much needed self care! Applications are open and rolling for the rest of 2025. Submit here. 

• Rolling: The BFI Doc Society Fund supports and nurtures independent non-fiction films and immersive projects by UK filmmakers: prioritising expansive, director-led storytelling. They offer both a shorts fund and a features fund. The Fund offers support of up to €150,000 for feature documentaries and immersive non-fiction projects. Apply here.

• Rolling: The Adobe Creative Residency Community Fund provides support to creators during times of extraordinary hardship, empowering creators of all backgrounds to have access to the tools and inspiration they need. The Community Fund aims to respond to global events that directly impact the wellbeing of creators. Adobe is currently focusing their Community Fund efforts on providing support to creators who have been directly impacted by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Learn more. 

• Rolling: Panavision’s New Filmmaker Grant Program offers grants for camera equipment and post-production services. The equipment grant provides use of Panavision digital or film camera packages, while the post-production grant works with Light Iron to provide new filmmakers with access to final color and finishing services. Only available in the US. Apply here. 

• Rolling: The British Council Travel Grant Fund is helping filmmakers bring their work to the global stage. Whether your short or feature is screening at an eligible festival, lab, or co-production forum, you may qualify for support. Learn more here.

• Rolling: International Women’s Media Foundation has launched the 2025 Ukraine Reporting Grant. This program supports journalists from local and regional outlets in the U.S., France, and Germany in producing in-depth projects or underreported stories from Ukraine that will resonate with their respective home communities. The IWMF will approve fifteen to twenty reporting grants (average size of $8,000). Apply here.

Upcoming Festival Submission Deadlines:

• September 14: The Fujifilm Short Film Festival, taking place December 12-14, is now accepting submissions! Filmmakers from the Middle East, Africa, and Central Asia are invited to submit narrative, documentary, commercial, experimental, or student films. Short films can be up to 30 minutes. Learn more.

• September 15: The Slamdance Film Festival will take place February 19–25, 2026, across venues in Los Angeles, CA. Submissions are now open via FilmFreeway or their Direct Submission Form. Slamdance champions bold, independent work across all genres, with special focus on first-time directors (Narrative & Documentary Features), the Breakouts category for returning directors, and Unstoppable films by/about disabled creators. Apply here.

• October 3: The Academy Award-qualifying 2026 Big Sky Documentary Film Festival is now accepting submissions! Big Sky seeks documentary films of all lengths, genres, forms, and subject matters. The 23rd annual BSDFF will take place February 13-22, 2026, in Missoula, Montana. Awards include Best Mini-Doc and the Big Sky Award, which is reserved for films of any length that artistically honor the character, history, tradition, and imagination of the American West. Learn more.

• October 10: The REEL WILD Film Festival is now accepting submissions for their festival in New York, taking place April 16-19, 2026. The Festival accepts films in any genre related to wildlife and wild places, particularly in connection with pertinent issues surrounding conservation, climate change, and affected communities. Accepted submissions will be evaluated by the jury for the opportunity to win REEL WILD awards. Submit here.

• October 12: The American Documentary and Animation Film Festival and Film Fund (AmDocs) is a unique event focusing on international films in both the short and feature categories, as well as showcasing animation and music videos. In conjunction with the festival, filmmakers can compete for the American Documentary Film Fund to win up to $50,0000. More info here.

• October 17: Attention Black non-fiction filmmakers in the Midwest — this is your moment! Submissions are now open for the 2026 Reel Black Film Fest, presented by Kansas City PBS. The festival showcases stories of cultural icons, unsung heroes, and need-to-know history. Show your work, share your story, and be part of this powerful celebration of Black storytelling. Submit here.

• October 15: The Sonoma International Film Festival returns for its 29th edition from March 25–29, 2026, celebrating the best in global cinema, food, wine, and community. SIFF offers an exceptional platform for emerging and established filmmakers. The festival programs narrative features, documentaries, shorts, and food/wine films across all genres. Filmmakers benefit from cash prizes, lodging support, and deep networking with industry jurists and tastemakers. Submit here.

• October 28: The 19th edition of Glasgow Short Film Festival will take place 18-22 March 2026. GSFF competitions are comprised of submitted films, and other elements of the festival programme also draw from submissions. They are accepting submissions for the Scottish Film Award, open to films where one or more key role is a resident of Scotland, and the Bill Douglas Award for International Short Film Award, open to all films that do not qualify for the Scottish Film Award. Apply here. 

• November 30: Submissions are now open for the DOC. Coimbra Festival 2026. If you are a filmmaker with a feature or short documentary, this is your opportunity to showcase your work at an incredible film festival in Portugal, taking place March 17-22, 2026. Learn more.

Workshops, Labs, and Pitches:

• Fall 2025: DCTV’s Fall Workshop Lineup is packed with everything you need to take your creative skills to the next level! Participants will learn hands-on from industry experts in an accessible, supportive environment. Workshops include: DaVinci Resolve, Non-Fiction Scriptwriting, AI Filmmaking, Documentary Budgeting, and many more! Learn more.

• September 3: Applications for Berlinale Talents 2026 are now open to film professionals across the world! 200 outstanding emerging filmmakers will be selected for the week-long talent development program in February 2026, jam packed with hands-on workshops, talks with world-renowned guests, networking opportunities, and much more. Apply here. 

• September 5: The 2025 First Nations Impact Lab is a 5-day immersive experience bringing together filmmakers, changemakers, and creatives from across Australia. The Lab is a rare opportunity to connect with leading practitioners in activating community-determined solutions, influencing policy, protecting Country, and prioritizing the voices and needs of First Peoples. More here.

• September 8: Calling all Native American storytellers! Do you have a compelling real-life story to tell? Are you passionate about documentary, reality, or non-fiction TV? Applications are now open for the 5th Annual Native American Unscripted Workshop, giving you a chance to develop your documentary or docu-series, gain industry insights, and connect with leading professionals. Learn more.

• September 10: Applications are now open for the Laboratorio Coordenadas from Ambulante Presenta 2025! This hybrid lab explores music, territory, and identity in documentary storytelling, with in-person and online sessions in September and October. Don’t miss this chance to develop your project with expert guidance! Apply here.

• September 10: LETsDOK Berlin is seeking creative documentary projects in development for LETsPITCH, a new pitching and networking event taking place in Berlin. Selected projects will be presented in front of a live audience, and each pitch will be followed by feedback from a panel of industry experts. To participate, submit here.

• September 14: BAVC Media is offering a paid editing training program for Bay Area opportunity youth (18-24). Participants will receive a $6,000 stipend for completing the program, editing training, portfolio development, and additional career and life skills counseling. This program runs weekly from October 20 - February 13 in San Francisco. Apply now.

• September 15: Looking to revitalize your video storytelling skills? The Mountain Workshops’ Video Storytelling Workshop offers an immersive and inspiring experience. Each October, a group of visual journalists set up shop in a different community in Kentucky to document life and culture in a unique way. Participants will create a short-form video documentary that will be published in the Mountain Workshops’ website and featured in their traveling gallery. Learn more.

• September 19: Are you a documentary producer looking to broaden your horizon, expand your network, and gain knowledge on the international industry during IDFA 2025? Apply for the Young Producers program, a collaboration between IDFA and Nederlands Filmfonds. The full program will be from November 13-23 in the Netherlands. Learn more.

• September 21: Perspective Fund is excited to launch the Envision Impact Lab (EIL) as a strategic catalyst for field-wide transformation. Selected projects will receive comprehensive funding, expert mentorship, partnership with PUBLIKUM, a cutting-edge audience insights platform explicitly designed for filmmakers and a supportive cohort to experiment alongside. Read more.

• November 9: Submissions Are Open for the 2026 Big Sky Pitch! Big Sky’s headline event of the DocShop Filmmaker’s Forum, the Big Sky Pitch is held during the Big Sky Documentary Film Festival and invites up to ten film teams the chance to pitch their feature length documentary works-in-progress to a panel of top commissioning editors and funders of documentary film. Learn more.

• December 1: Ready to turn your factual project into reality? Documentary Campus is calling for excellent projects from emerging filmmakers and digital creators working in documentary and factual storytelling for their training program, Masterschool. Develop your project in high quality workshops alongside key markets and festivals across Europe, and pitch on a world stage to funders, broadcasters, and more. Read more.

• Rolling: Submit your documentary for Educational Distribution with GOOD DOCS! If your latest doc is based on education and engaging with students about rarely heard stories then this is where your next application should be. Find out more here.

• Rolling: Sunny Side of the Doc is launching the Sunny Academy, a brand-new support program for emerging documentary talent. Learn all they have to offer here.

• Rolling: Field of Vision has relaunched their free mentorship & consultation service! Filmmakers from around the world can sign up for consultation about Professional Development, Technical Assistance, Pitch Training, Story Development, Distribution Strategy, and more. Sign up today!

• Rolling: More to Her Story is always looking for pitches from women in journalism. They believe in solutions journalism and its power to drive real-world change. In a world where women’s rights are increasingly under threat, they champion the voices of female journalists and use their stories as catalysts to drive lasting change. Pitch here.