Upcoming Funding Deadlines:

• December 15: Submissions are now open for the 2026 CatchLight Global Fellowship! Each year, the Fellowship awards $30,000 grants to three innovative visual storytellers whose work is a tool for information, connection, and transformation in their communities. The program also fosters professional development and builds networks that empower creative leaders. Apply here.
• December 19: PBS’ Independent Lens has launched the Creator Lab, a six-month lab and co-production support specifically designed for independent storytellers on social media. Participants will receive up to $36k in production funds for vertical content, hands-on mentorship and industry guidance, and will create up to 12 original videos for Independent Lens and PBS social channels. Learn more here.
• December 19: Akademie Schloss Solitude is accepting applications for its residential fellowships for the 2026–2028 cycle. International artists, researchers, and cultural professionals from all disciplines can apply for a six- or nine-month fellowship. The program is open to individuals with two to ten years of independent practice after completing their training, regardless of age. Fellows will receive a monthly stipend of €1,300, a 6- or 9-month residency in Stuttgart with a furnished live/work studio, and covered travel expenditures. Submit here.
• December 19: Co-curated by the Democracy & Culture Foundation and the Moleskine Foundation, the Creativity for Social Change Award is back for its second year. The Award includes A €10,000 prize⁠, access to the Creativity Pioneers Fund global ecosystem, and the opportunity to co-curate a panel at the Art for Tomorrow conference. If you know a changemaker whose creative work will lend further honor to this Award, nominate them here.
• December 21: Look Aside Films has opened its Short Film Fund to support emerging voices in the industry. The Fund is open to projects of all genres from filmmakers across all degrees of experience or past work. The winning short film will receive a £5000 cash grant, and ten shortlisted films will receive support from Look Aside and their industry partners. Learn more here.
• January 5, 2026: Applications are now open for the Nipkow Programm 2026, a unique three-month residency in Berlin, that offers a personalized development experience tailored to your specific project goals. Selected fellows receive a monthly grant of €1,500, along with one-to-one mentoring and take part in customized seminars covering key areas such as project packaging, promotion, sales, and emerging technologies. Read more here.
• January 15, 2026: TorinoFilmLab’s Audience Design Fund 2026 supports feature-length international co-productions at the distribution stage with both funding and strategy coaching. Two projects will be awarded grants of €45,000 each, as well as consulting with audience engagement experts to design innovative outreach plans for their film release. Apply here. 
• January 16, 2026: The LEF Moving Image Fund offers support to New England documentary filmmakers. New England-based directors or producers can apply for up to $15,000 in production funding or $25,000 in post-production funding for feature-length documentaries. Early development and preproduction phases are also supported through separate cycles, with available grants of $2,500 and $5,000 respectively. Learn more here.
• January 19, 2026: The Endangered Material Knowledge Programme gives grants to support the documentation of material knowledge systems that are under threat and in danger of disappearing. Their 2025/2026 call for applications allows documentarians to apply for either documentation grants or digitisation grants, with a maximum award of £100,000. Submit here.
• January 26, 2026: Kristen Bell and Dr. Stacy L. Smith’s Mental Health Accelerator, powered by the USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative, is awarding up to three emerging filmmakers $20k each to create original short films that center mental health storytelling with a focus on capacity and resilience. Priority will be given to applicants whose short film can serve as proof of concept for a larger feature project. Learn more here. 
• January 30, 2026: The Whickers Film & TV Funding Award is accepting proposals for its 2026 round. Open to emerging documentary filmmakers worldwide, the award offers a main production grant of £120,000 to the winner and £25,000 to the runner-up. Shortlisted finalists will pitch their projects at Sheffield DocFest in June 2026. Apply here. 
• January 30, 2026: Save Our Seas Foundation’s Ocean Storytelling Film Grant is looking for early-career storytellers with fresh perspectives who can tell conservation stories about our oceans. Each winner will receive a $2,000 cash prize and a $50,000 budget to complete their film, as well as specialized mentorship and the chance to showcase their work. Learn more here.
• February 1, 2026: The Switchboard Shorts Grant is offering a $2500 cash grant to one filmmaker working on a short documentary. Alongside the grant, the filmmaker will also receive essential production services, including free music licenses, complimentary legal services, and professional color correction. Apply here. 
• February 2, 2026: DokFest’s all inclusive Documentary Film Award, endowed with $5,000 awards, honors documentary film productions in which filmmakers with disabilities play a leading role. The prize is awarded for the inclusive team effort in the realization of the film. Submit here.
• February 4, 2026: Chicken & Egg Films’ 2026 Research & Development Grant, supported by Netflix, is open for applications. The Grant empowers filmmakers from around the world who have directed at least one feature-length documentary and are in the research & development stage of their next feature-length film. Apply here.
• February 12, 2026: The Sundance Institute and Adobe are teaming up to find the next 10 Sundance Institute Ignite x Adobe Fellows. Applicants will submit a one- to 15-minute short that shows their artistic vision and unique voice as a filmmaker. Fellows will receive a $5,000 grant, mentorship from a Sundance Institute alumnus, a complimentary 12-month Adobe Creative Cloud membership, and more! Submit here.
• Rolling: The Outrider AI + Nuclear Reporting Fund supports journalism and multimedia storytelling projects that explain the evolving relationship between artificial intelligence and nuclear weapons. Journalists may receive up to $10,000 for projects, supporting expenses such as travel, research, multimedia production, and more. Deadline is rolling, submit your project here. 
• Rolling: The Pulitzer Center’s Global Reporting Grant supports in-depth, high-impact nonfiction projects that push boundaries and spotlight underreported stories. The Grant is open to journalists, filmmakers, and visual storytellers worldwide, and the typical award amount is $5,000-$10,000. Apply 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.

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.
• December 12: Apply now for the 47th annual Telly Awards! The Telly Awards accept branded content, film & shorts, immersive & mixed reality, social video, and commercials & marketing. Learn more here.
• December 15: In connection with Eurodoc’s first session of their EURODOC26 program, a group of up to 10-12 producers will have the opportunity to attend an intensive 5-day workshop in partnership with Porto/Post/Doc Film & Media Festival, focusing on the development of their documentary project. This local group session is open to producers based in Portugal. Learn more here.
• December 15: Film Independent’s Documentary Story Lab takes place in the spring of 2026 and will help directors hone their story as they dive into the editing phase of their feature documentary. Participants will attend multiple workshops and sessions with guest speakers, documentary directors, funders, and more. Apply here. 
• December 15: DAAD’s Artists-In-Berlin 2027 residency cycle offers artists time and space to focus on their creative practice without production obligations. Each year, around twenty outstanding artists from a variety of cultural backgrounds are invited to Berlin. The program is intended for established artists who have already developed their own voice and standing, and there is no age limit. Learn more here. 
• December 16: The Sony Future Filmmaker Awards provide emerging talent from across the world with the creative momentum to push their careers forward. Shortlisted filmmakers are flown to Sony Picture Studios to attend an awards ceremony and a bespoke industry immersion program. Apply here.
• December 18: The Women Directing Mentorship is open for submissions through December 18. SeriesFest and Shondaland are partnering on their 7th cycle of the Mentorship, a competition designed to discover aspiring female-identifying directors with unique voices and provide a launchpad for their careers. Learn more.
• December 30: Women in the Director’s Chair’s Career Advancement Module is a six-month online program for mid-career women and non-binary Canadian filmmakers working in scripted media. Up to six directors per cohort receive one-on-one career coaching, industry networking sessions, and festival immersion opportunities to help place their projects. The program has no tuition cost for participants. Apply here. 
• January 9, 2026: The Ouray Film Sabbatical offers creative support, rest, and community for filmmakers (in any role), film writers (critics, academics, journalists), and film programmers (festivals, theaters, and filmmaker education), all through a fully-funded residential experience in Colorado’s San Juan Mountains. VC members can use the code “ofs50percent” for 50% off the submission fee, bringing it down to $15. Apply here.
• January 13, 2026: Kartemquin Films’ Diverse Voices in Docs Fellowship is a year-long program that supports nonfiction filmmakers telling stories that are intimate, grounded in mutual support, and provoke audiences to question the world around them. The DVID Fellowship supports emerging filmmakers who identify as Black, Indigenous, or another person of color in the Midwest. Submit here.
• January 28, 2026: Sheffield DocFest’s MeetMarket is one of the world’s premier documentary pitching forums, connecting selected projects with 150+ international funders, broadcasters, distributors, and festival programmers. It welcomes feature-length or episodic documentaries at early development, production, or rough-cut stage from both new and veteran filmmakers worldwide. Read more here.
• January 31, 2026: Are you developing a film project with a science topic and looking for a chance to meet experienced international mentors? Apply to Camp 4Science, the training and networking event for filmmakers. Taking place during AFO Festival in Olomouc, Czech Republic from April 27-May 2, 2026, the Camp gives filmmakers the opportunity to meet experienced international mentors. The best pitch wins the Sandbox Films Best Pitch Award. Apply here.
• February 1, 2026: IDFA Project Space is a talent development lab for first- or second-time documentary directors looking to develop their projects under the guidance of renowned filmmakers and industry mentors. The program runs from June to September 2026, combining online workshops with a week-long, in-person residency in Amsterdam. Submit here.  
• February 1, 2026: Institute of Documentary Film and Millennium Docs Against Gravity are looking for short docs (up to 25 minutes) from Central and Eastern Europe in development for their Short Pitch Program. Seven selected filmmakers will receive online pitch training and present their projects in Warsaw to industry leaders with a chance to compete for the Silver Eye Award, which includes a year-long festival distribution service. Learn more about the opportunity here. 
• March 2, 2026: CPH:DOX International Documentary Film Festival is looking for applicants for their emerging talents program, INTRO:DOX. Designed to welcome filmmakers and producers who are working on their first or second nonfiction feature and wish to attend CPH:FORUM, the program will include access to all industry activities, a discounted price for the forum, and two full days of interactive sessions providing essential tools. Apply here.
• 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. 

Upcoming Festival Submission Deadlines:

• December 12: Submissions are still open for the 44th rendition of CAAMFest 2026, happening May 2026 in San Francisco. The festival spotlights stories from Asian America and beyond, drawing audiences from the Bay Area and around the world. Apply here.
• December 15: Submit your documentary for the 41st DOK.fest München! You can additionally submit your film for their special awards: German Documentary Music Award, VFF Production Award, VFF Production Talent Award, or all inclusive Award. Submit here.
• January 5, 2026: Film submissions for Mountainfilm 2026 are open! Mountainfilm brings together a community of filmmakers and changemakers, showcasing documentary films that celebrate adventure, activism, social justice, environment, and indomitable spirit. They accept and screen feature and short films on a broad range of subjects, but are particularly interested in work that focuses on mountains –– both physical and symbolic. Apply here.
• January 8, 2026: Hot Docs 2026 is now accepting film submissions for the annual festival, taking place in Toronto from April 23-May 3, 2026. Hot Docs showcases over 200 documentaries from around the world each year and accepts Canadian and international documentaries of any length. Learn more here. 
• January 11, 2026: The inaugural Taos Film Festival in New Mexico is seeking short and feature-length narrative and documentary films from around the world. This new festival champions independent voices and offers submission fee waivers for New Mexico filmmakers. Selected films will be showcased April 23-26, 2026 in Taos and compete for awards such as Best Documentary Feature. Submit here.
• February 2, 2026: Jackson Wild is accepting submissions for their World Wildlife Day 2026 Film Showcase, with this year’s theme being Medicinal & Aromatic Plants: Conserving Health, Heritage, and Livelihoods. It’s free to submit, and selected films will receive global recognition through educational screenings throughout 2026. Learn more here.
• February 9, 2026: Presented by the California Film Institute, DOCLANDS 10th Documentary Film Festival will take place April 30-May 3, 2026 in Marin County, CA. The Festival emphasizes new works in documentary features and shorts. Apply here.
• February 10, 2026: The American Black Film Festival is taking place from May 27-31, 2026 in Miami Beach. Submissions are now open for narrative features, documentary features, series, voices of culture, African stories (deadline Dec 31st), AI & XR storytelling showcase, and the HBO Short Film Award. Submit here.
• February 13, 2026: DC/DOX is accepting films for consideration for its fourth edition, running June 11-14, 2026 in Washington D.C. The festival accepts feature documentaries and short documentaries, and gives preference to films that have not yet premiered in Washington D.C. DC/DOX provides abundant networking opportunities and social events, as well as a series of panels, master classes, and workshops. Submit here.
• February 13, 2026: Celebrate 30 years of indie film at Rooftop Films’ Summer Series in NYC! Summer Series is open for submissions of shorts and features of all genres. Every filmmaker who submits will receive two free tickets to a Rooftop screening, and selected films will be screened throughout summer 2026. Learn more. 
• February 25, 2026: If you have a short or mid-length documentary from anywhere in the world, submit it to the second edition of LimaDocs! The film festival will take place May 14-23, 2026, and keep an eye on their social media for information on prizes sponsored by partner organizations. Apply here.
• April 1, 2026: MAKEDOX aims to promote creative documentary film production in North Macedonia and support documentary storytelling in general. MAKEDOX focuses on creating a stimulating environment for the exchange of experience and knowledge of documentary creation. The Festival will be held from August 20-27, 2026 in Skopje, North Macedonia. Submit your film here. 
• May 11, 2026: Points North is seeking submissions for the 22nd edition of the Camden International Film Festival, taking place in Midcoast Maine September 17-20, 2026. Submit to any of the four deadlines between now and May 11, 2026. Apply early and save on submission fees! Learn more here.