Funding
Funding a film in Texas
What Texas productions can tap, in the order to go after it: what’s automatic, what you apply for, and how to raise private money without breaking securities law.
Checked Oct 18, 2026 against each program’s own pages.
Raising money?
Ways to raise it
230 sources- GrantsMoney you don’t pay back: Texas arts and humanities programs, city arts funds, foundations, and national funds open to Texans.66 sources
- Labs & pitch forumsDevelopment support, mentors and rooms where financiers meet projects.52 sources
- InvestorsFilm funds, finance companies and investor networks, and how to take investor money without breaking securities law.10 sources
- LoansEntertainment lenders for presales, gap and receivables, and small-business lenders for production companies.10 sources
- Fiscal sponsorsNonprofits that take tax-deductible donations and nonprofit-only grants for your project.19 sources
- CrowdfundingRewards platforms, and equity crowdfunding under federal rules.17 sources
- In-kind & sponsorsGear, post, locations and services instead of cash, plus brand partnerships.19 sources
- IncentivesThe state grant, city incentives and sales tax exemptions.10 sources
- Free help & guidesVolunteer lawyers and accountants, clinics, and the best how-to guides on film finance.27 sources
Step 1
Budget for what’s automatic
Texas exempts equipment and services used in production from sales tax (6.25% to 8.25%), with or without the state grant: give vendors Form 01-339 before you pay. Hotel stays of 30 days or more are tax-exempt, and off-road fuel tax can be refunded. Details on Incentives.
Hire locally through the state’s Texas Production Directory and the Texas crew list: local crew saves travel and lodging, and Texas-resident wages count toward the state grant.
Step 2
Apply for the state grant before you shoot
The state pays 5% to 25% of eligible Texas spend, up to 31% with add-ons, from $250,000 of Texas spend for film and TV. Apply 180 days to 5 business days before production, and only once the project is fully funded. How it works.
Cash flow: paid after wrap and two state reviews, with no set timeline. Budget for it months after wrap. Incentives team: (512) 463-9200.
Step 3
Add a city incentive where you shoot
| City | What it pays |
|---|---|
| San Antonio | 10% of local spend, up to 14% with local-hire and veteran add-ons, capped at $250,000. $100,000 minimum spend in the 8-county area; budget secured before you apply; up to 120 days to approve. Film permits are free. SAFI ↗︎ |
| Houston | 10% of Houston-area spend, up to $100,000, from $500,000 of spend. The fund is about $400,000 a year and nearly committed for now. Houston Film Commission ↗︎ |
| Austin | Up to 2.5% of wages paid to Austin-metro residents, capped at $150,000, for projects approved for the state grant or spending $150,000+. Rolling, first come. Up to two free police officers for shoots spending $1 million+. Austin Film Commission ↗︎ |
| Fort Worth | Custom packages on request, and the Premiere Package: a free Oscar-qualifying run for four short films a year. Fort Worth Film Commission ↗︎ |
| Pittsburg | Economic development grants when funds allow. City of Pittsburg ↗︎ |
Dallas and El Paso have no city production rebate.
Step 4
Apply for grants on their calendar
The AFS Grant ↗︎ is the statewide open call for Texas filmmakers: up to $20,000 for features (next round spring 2027) and $10,000 for shorts (summer 2027), with the North Texas Pioneer Award and New Texas Voices Award riding along. About one in eight applicants is funded.
City arts programs fund individual filmmakers who live there: Austin’s Elevate and Nexus, Houston’s Support for Artists & Creative Individuals, San Antonio’s Artist Grants (next call January 2027), Dallas ArtsActivate (February 2027), El Paso’s Artist Incubator and San Marcos Spark. Most need a public screening in the city. Every program, amount and cycle is in the table below.
Step 5
Get a fiscal sponsor for donations
A fiscal sponsor is a nonprofit that takes in donations and nonprofit-only grants for your project, for a fee of 5% to 10%. You need one for tax-deductible gifts, for many foundation grants, and for tax-deductible pledges on Seed&Spark.
In Texas: Fresh Arts ↗︎ (Houston area, 8%) and Austin Creative Alliance ↗︎ (10%). National sponsors that take Texas projects start at 5%: the Center for Independent Documentary, The Film Collaborative, From the Heart, Women Make Movies, IDA, Film Independent, Fractured Atlas and NYFA. The Austin Film Society no longer sponsors projects.
Step 6
Raise private money legally
Taking investor money for a share of a film’s profits is selling a security. The Texas State Securities Board has fined a film LLC for selling shares without registering. Do it under an exemption, with a securities lawyer.
- One company per film. A Texas LLC costs $300 to form (Form 205 ↗︎) and files a franchise report every May 15; under $2.65 million in revenue, no tax is owed.
- Private placements (Reg D). Rule 506(b) ↗︎: no advertising, accredited investors plus up to 35 sophisticated non-accredited ones. Rule 506(c) ↗︎: you can advertise, but every investor must be accredited and verified. File Form D with the SEC within 15 days of the first sale, and the Texas notice ↗︎ within 15 days of the first Texas sale (fee 0.1% of the offering, $500 max).
- Equity crowdfunding (Reg CF). Up to $5 million a year from anyone, through one SEC-registered portal, with Form C and financial statements that get stricter as you raise more. Texas’s own intrastate route has no registered portals.
- Help. Texas Accountants and Lawyers for the Arts ↗︎ helps eligible artists form companies and read contracts, but not with fundraising. Investor paperwork needs a paid securities attorney.
Step 7
Crowdfund for rewards, not returns
Backers who get rewards aren’t investors. Promise them a share of profits and it becomes a securities offering.
- Seed&Spark, built for film: no platform fee, and you get the money once you reach 80% of your goal.
- Kickstarter: 5% plus processing, all-or-nothing.
- Indiegogo: 5% plus processing, and no more flexible funding for new campaigns.
- Equity portals (Reg CF): Wefunder, whose portal is in Gun Barrel City, Texas, takes 7.9% plus $1,000 a year; Republic takes 7% plus 2% of the securities.
Step 8
Stretch it with in-kind help
The Texas Film Commission lends cleared Texas license plates free and builds location packages. San Antonio’s film permits are free, and Austin covers police for big shoots, while Dallas and Houston charge for off-duty officers. Panavision’s New Filmmaker Program lends camera packages at little or no cost.
Step 9
Pitch funders directly
A funder wants a short, specific approach: the film in one line, why them, the ask and a deck. How to reach out, a first email, the etiquette, and where Texas funders are in the room. Producers looking for partners: production companies and vendors across Texas.
Every source
230 programs230 sources
| Program | Kind | Amount | Cycle |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas Moving Image Industry Incentive Program (TMIIIP) ↗︎Texas Film Commission (Office of the Governor) · StatewideFilm, TV, commercials, games and VFX. Film and TV need $250,000+ Texas spend ($100,000 for commercials and games), 60% made in Texas, and 35% Texas-resident crew and cast. | Incentive | 5%–25% of eligible Texas spend, up to 31% with add-ons; no per-project cap | Apply 180 days to 5 business days before production; first come, first served |
| Sales and use tax exemption for production ↗︎Texas Comptroller / Texas Film Commission · StatewideItems bought or rented for direct use in a production made for commercial distribution. TMIIIP not required. | Tax exemption | Sales tax saved on qualifying items (6.25%–8.25%) | Rolling; give the vendor Form 01-339 before paying |
| Hotel occupancy tax exemption (30+ day stays) ↗︎Texas Comptroller · StatewideGuests who stay 30 or more consecutive days with no break in payment. | Tax exemption | 6% state hotel tax plus local hotel taxes | Tell the hotel in writing at check-in to be exempt from day one |
| Off-road fuel tax refund ↗︎Texas Comptroller · StatewideGasoline used off-road in generators, boats and unlicensed vehicles. | Tax exemption | — | Claim within one year of purchase (Form 06-106) |
| Media Production Development Zone (MPDZ) ↗︎Texas Film Commission / Texas Comptroller · StatewideBuilding, expanding or renovating stages, post houses, animation and game studios at an approved site. | Tax exemption | Sales and use tax exemption for up to two years | City or county certifies, then Comptroller and TFC approve |
| San Antonio Film Incentive (SAFI) ↗︎City of San Antonio (FilmSA) · San AntonioFeatures, shorts, docs, TV, music videos and commercials with $100,000+ spend in the 8-county metro, 60% of shoot days there, office and main hotel in city limits, and the budget secured. | Incentive | 10% base, up to 14% with local-hire and veteran add-ons; cap $250,000 per project | Rolling; apply 180 days to 5 business days before principal photography |
| Houston Feature Film Incentive Program (HFFIP) ↗︎Houston Film Commission (Houston First) · HoustonNarrative features of 70+ minutes or scripted series with $500,000+ Houston-area spend, 55% Texas and 15% Houston-area hires, office and main hotel in city limits. | Incentive | 10% of approved Houston-area spend, up to $100,000 per project; $400,000 a year | Apply 120 days before principal photography up to its midpoint, after meeting the Film Commission |
| Creative Content Incentive Program (CCIP) ↗︎City of Austin, Economic Development Department · AustinFilm, TV, commercial, game or VFX project based in Austin that pays union or living wage; TFC-approved, or $150,000+ spend (film/TV) or $100,000+ (commercial, game, VFX). | Incentive | Up to 2.5% of wages paid to Austin-area residents; max $150,000 per project per fiscal year | Rolling; apply 180 days to 5 business days before principal photography |
| Film Friendly Police Assistance ↗︎City of Austin · AustinProductions spending over $100,000 (commercials) or $1,000,000 (features, series) in Austin. | In-kind | Up to two Austin police officers free for up to 15 filming days | Rolling |
| Fort Worth custom incentive package ↗︎Fort Worth Film Commission (Visit Fort Worth) · Fort WorthCase by case. | Incentive | — | Contact the commission |
| Fort Worth Premiere Package ↗︎Fort Worth Film Commission (Visit Fort Worth) · Fort WorthShort films seeking Oscar qualification; filmmakers from anywhere can apply. | In-kind | Free 7-day qualifying run in Tarrant County, red-carpet screening, airfare and up to 4 hotel nights for 1–2 people | Annual, four picks; 2026 applications closed July 15, 2026 |
| PEDC Entertainment Production Incentive ↗︎Pittsburg Economic Development Corporation · Pittsburg / Camp CountyFeatures ($250,000 budget, $20,000 local spend, 60% of days local) or TV and commercials ($25,000 budget, $5,000 local spend); 5 local jobs. | Incentive | 10% of qualified local spend, cap $20,000; $20,000 fund a year | Fiscal year Oct 1–Sep 30, first come, while funds last |
| AFS Grant for Feature Films ↗︎Austin Film Society · StatewideTexas residents (75%+ of the year) directing a feature of 40+ minutes; no TV or web series. | Grant | Up to $20,000 cash, plus in-kind awards | Annual, spring; 2026 round closed May 20, 2026; reopens spring 2027 |
| AFS Grant for Short Films ↗︎Austin Film Society · StatewideTexas residents (75%+ of the year) directing a film under 40 minutes. | Grant | Up to $10,000 cash, plus in-kind awards | Annual, summer; 2026 round closed, decisions by mid-December; reopens summer 2027 |
| North Texas Pioneer Film Award ↗︎Austin Film Society · North Texas (north of Waco, east of Abilene)North Texas residents with a feature of 40+ minutes; first or second features favored. Other AFS Grant rules apply. | Grant | $30,000 total, in grants of $10,000–$20,000 | With the AFS feature grant (spring) |
| New Texas Voices Award ↗︎Austin Film Society · StatewideFirst feature, narrative or documentary, in early to mid-production, from an underseen perspective. | Grant | $15,000 plus consultation | With the AFS feature grant (spring) |
| Harrison McClure Endowed Film Fund ↗︎Austin Film Society · StatewideFull-time incoming juniors or seniors at a four-year Texas college making a short for course credit. | Grant | $2,500 | Spring; reopens spring 2027 |
| AFS Grant in-kind awards ↗︎Austin Film Society with MPS, TBD Post and Stuck On On · StatewideAFS Grant applicants. | In-kind | MPS camera and lighting package up to $10,000; TBD Post color, conform and DCP worth $12,000 (shorts round); 2K DCPs for two features in post | With the AFS grant rounds |
| AFS Travel Grant ↗︎Austin Film Society · StatewideTexas-based directors accepted to a festival on AFS's list; Texas festivals excluded. | Grant | $500 (North America) or $1,000 (elsewhere); max two grants and $1,500 per film | Rolling, year-round; apply before you travel |
| Texas Lights ↗︎Austin Film Society · StatewideBy invitation only: established and mid-career Texas directors and producers of independent features. | Grant | $50,000+ | No open call |
| Nexus ↗︎City of Austin, Arts, Culture, Music & Entertainment (ACME) · AustinAustin-area individual artists and groups with budgets of $150,000 or less and 1+ year of work in Austin; 501(c) nonprofits excluded. | Grant | $5,000 or $10,000 | Twice a year; FY27 round closed Oct 13, 2026; next round not posted |
| Elevate ↗︎City of Austin, Arts, Culture, Music & Entertainment (ACME) · AustinAustin-area individual artists, groups and arts nonprofits with budgets up to $500,000 and 2+ years of work in Austin. | Grant | Individuals: $15,000 (expenses under $30,000) or $30,000 (expenses $30,000–$500,000) | Annual; FY27 window July 7–Aug 18, 2026, closed |
| Support for Artists & Creative Individuals (SACI) ↗︎Houston Arts Alliance for the City of Houston · HoustonIndividuals 18+ living in Houston city limits; the project needs a public presentation in the city. | Grant | Up to $15,000 | Annual; 2027 cycle ran June 15–July 24, 2026, closed |
| City's Initiative (CI) ↗︎Houston Arts Alliance for the City of Houston · HoustonHouston-resident individuals, organizations and fiscally sponsored projects with a public event in city limits. | Grant | Up to $10,000 | Three rounds a year; 2026 Round 3 closed Sep 26, 2026; 2027 rounds not posted |
| Let Creativity Happen (LCH) ↗︎Houston Arts Alliance for the City of Houston · HoustonHouston-resident individuals, organizations and fiscally sponsored projects with a public event in city limits. | Grant | Up to $2,500 | Three rounds a year; 2026 rounds closed; 2027 rounds not posted |
| Festival Grant (FG) ↗︎Houston Arts Alliance for the City of Houston · HoustonIndividuals, organizations and fiscally sponsored projects running an arts festival in Houston. | Grant | Up to $10,000 | Annual; June 15–July 24, 2026, closed |
| Artist Grants ↗︎City of San Antonio, Department of Arts & Culture · San AntonioProfessional artists living in San Antonio city limits, alone or as a collective; media arts including film is eligible. | Grant | $7,500 or $15,000 | Annual; next open call January 2027 |
| Film Festival Funding Program ↗︎City of San Antonio (FilmSA) · San AntonioNonprofits that produce film festivals. | Grant | Up to 20% of festival budget, max $15,000 | Next window opens in 2027 for a three-year cycle |
| ArtsActivate 2027 ↗︎City of Dallas, Office of Arts & Culture · DallasIndividual artists who live in Dallas or keep a paid studio there, collectives and nonprofits; the project needs an in-person public event in Dallas. | Grant | Individuals: up to $8,000 per project, up to two projects a year | Round 3: Feb 9–Mar 1, 2027 (Rounds 1 and 2 closed) |
| Culture of Value ↗︎City of Dallas, Office of Arts & Culture · DallasDallas-resident individual artists and nonprofits; a one-day, one-time public event in any discipline. | Grant | Up to $2,500 | 2026 round closed June 15, 2026; 2027 round not posted |
| Artist Incubator Program (AIP) ↗︎City of El Paso, Museums and Cultural Affairs Department · El PasoEmerging and professional artists living in El Paso city limits; new work shown publicly within the year. | Grant | Five awards of $4,000 | Annual; FY27 window May 15–June 15, 2026, closed |
| Arts Grant Program 2027 ↗︎City of Corpus Christi, Arts & Cultural Commission · Corpus Christi501(c) nonprofits only. | Grant | Matching, up to $15,000 (max 50% of eligible expenses) | Open now; deadline Nov 13, 2026, 5 p.m. |
| Tourism Grant and Spark Tourism Grant ↗︎City of San Marcos, Arts Commission · San Marcos (Hays, Travis, Caldwell, Guadalupe, Comal counties)Individual artists, teams, creative businesses and nonprofits in the five counties; the project must benefit San Marcos and include a public presentation. | Grant | Tourism: up to 50% of project budget; Spark: up to $3,000 | Annual; 2027 window July 6–Aug 17, 2026, closed |
| GDAC Artist Micro-Grants ↗︎Greater Denton Arts Council (funded by the City of Denton) · Denton CountyDenton County artists who are GDAC members; any discipline. | Grant | Up to $500 | Annual; 2026 cycle closed |
| The Idea Fund ↗︎DiverseWorks, Aurora Picture Show and Project Row Houses (Warhol Foundation re-grant) · Greater Houston (Harris and 8 nearby counties)Individual artists and collectives whose lead artist lives in the region; projects need a public component. No nonprofits or degree students. | Grant | $2,500 or $5,000 | Annual; Round 19 announced Feb 11, 2026; Round 20 not announced |
| Femme Frontera Fellowship ↗︎Femme Frontera · US–Mexico border region (El Paso)Emerging women and gender-expansive directors from the border region telling border stories. | Fellowship | $2,500 grant plus travel stipend and mentorship | Inaugural 2026 round closed Apr 6, 2026; 2027 not posted |
| La Frontera Film Lab ↗︎Femme Frontera (with Perspective Fund) · El Paso–JuárezBIPOC women and gender-expansive filmmakers born and living in the region. | Lab | $5,000 each, three filmmakers | 2025–26 cohort; next cohort not announced |
| Humanities Texas Major Grants (media) ↗︎Humanities Texas · StatewideNonprofit organizations only, with a humanities scholar central to the project; 1:1 cost share. | Grant | Up to $20,000 | PAUSED: fall 2026 cycle canceled; normally Mar 15 and Sep 15 |
| Humanities Texas Rural Grants ↗︎Humanities Texas · Rural Texas counties (60,000 people or fewer)Organizations based in small counties; media productions are an eligible format. No cost share. | Grant | Up to $2,500 | Rolling; apply 6+ weeks before the project starts |
| Arts Respond Project grants ↗︎Texas Commission on the Arts · StatewideTexas nonprofits and government bodies only; the project must address a TCA priority area. | Grant | From $1,000 up to 50% of project budget (1:1 match) | Jan 15, 2027 (projects Apr 1–Aug 31, 2027); Jul 15, 2027 (FY28) |
| Fresh Arts fiscal sponsorship ↗︎Fresh Arts · Greater Houston (about 50 miles)Artist-led projects with a nonprofit purpose; documentary film is a listed example. | Fiscal sponsor | 8% of funds deposited; $25 application, $75 setup, $120/yr membership, $100 annual renewal | Quarterly (Feb 1, May 1, Aug 1, Nov 1); 2026 applications closed |
| Austin Creative Alliance fiscal sponsorship ↗︎Austin Creative Alliance · AustinIndividual creatives and groups in any discipline doing community-based work in Austin. | Fiscal sponsor | 10% of donations and grants, plus $180/yr membership | No deadline posted; contact staff for an orientation |
| Fractured Atlas fiscal sponsorship ↗︎Fractured Atlas · NationalArts projects nationwide; paid membership required to apply. | Fiscal sponsor | 8% of donations, no extra card-processing fee | Rolling; decision within about two weeks |
| IDA fiscal sponsorship ↗︎International Documentary Association · NationalDocumentary projects; Doc Maker membership ($110/yr) required. | Fiscal sponsor | 7% on most money, 8% on government grants; $75 application fee | Rolling |
| From the Heart Productions fiscal sponsorship ↗︎From the Heart Productions · NationalNarrative or documentary film and media projects raising $10,000+; US citizen or US-based company. | Fiscal sponsor | 6% on checks and wires, 8% on cards; $80 application fee; no annual fee | No deadline posted |
| Film Independent fiscal sponsorship ↗︎Film Independent · NationalMembers with a narrative or documentary of any length raising $10,000+; no studio- or streamer-funded projects. | Fiscal sponsor | 7%; $45 application fee (waived for Filmmaker Pro members) | No deadline posted |
| Women Make Movies fiscal sponsorship ↗︎Women Make Movies · NationalProjects directed or co-directed by a woman-identified filmmaker, raising $50,000+, with no other fiscal sponsor. | Fiscal sponsor | 6% on regular gifts, 7–10% on government grants; $35 annual fee | Rolling |
| NYFA fiscal sponsorship ↗︎New York Foundation for the Arts · NationalUS artists with an SSN or EIN planning to raise $15,000+. | Fiscal sponsor | 8% up to $500,000; $150 contract fee, $150 annual renewal; 3% on cards | Four free application cycles a year; next opens Oct 26, deadline Nov 30, 2026 |
| Center for Independent Documentary fiscal sponsorship ↗︎Center for Independent Documentary · NationalDocumentary projects; no geographic limit stated. | Fiscal sponsor | 5% (3.5% on card gifts); no application or membership fees | Rolling |
| The Film Collaborative fiscal sponsorship ↗︎The Film Collaborative · NationalFilm projects; US residency or citizenship not required. | Fiscal sponsor | 5%; $95/yr membership; $60 application fee | No deadline posted |
| AFS Artist Intensive ↗︎Austin Film Society · StatewideBy invitation: Texas writer-directors with a narrative feature in development, picked from the previous year's AFS Grant applicants. | Lab | — | Annual, fall |
| AFS Doc Intensive ↗︎Austin Film Society · StatewideBy invitation: Texas documentary directors and producers in development or post, mostly from the AFS Grant pool. | Lab | — | Annual, spring |
| Austin Film Festival Script Competitions and Fellowships ↗︎Austin Film Festival · NationalWriters entering the feature, pilot, short or film competitions; fellowships draw from set categories. | Fellowship | $5,000 (drama, comedy features); $2,500 (horror, sci-fi); $1,000 (shorts, teleplays); up to $500 travel for winners | Annual; 2026 deadlines Mar 27–May 27, 2026, closed |
| Texas Intrastate Crowdfunding Exemption (Rule 139.26) ↗︎Texas State Securities Board · StatewideTexas issuers selling to Texas residents only, through a registered dealer or a registered Texas crowdfunding portal. | Crowdfunding | Up to $1 million per 12 months; $5,000 per non-accredited investor | Rolling; notice on Form 133.21 |
| TALA pro bono legal and accounting help ↗︎Texas Accountants and Lawyers for the Arts · StatewideTexas artists under 300% of federal poverty guidelines and small arts nonprofits. | In-kind | $75 application (individuals), $250 (nonprofits) | Rolling |
| Seed&Spark ↗︎Seed&Spark · NationalFilm and video creators. | Crowdfunding | No platform fee; card processing about 2.9% + $0.30 per pledge | Rolling |
| Kickstarter ↗︎Kickstarter · NationalCreative projects. | Crowdfunding | 5% platform fee + 3% and $0.30 per pledge processing | Rolling |
| Indiegogo ↗︎Indiegogo (Gamefound) · NationalCreative projects. | Crowdfunding | 5% platform fee + 3% and $0.20 per payment processing | Rolling |
| Wefunder ↗︎Wefunder Portal LLC · NationalUS companies, including LLCs, selling securities under Reg CF (up to $5M in 12 months). | Crowdfunding | 7.9% of funds raised + $1,000/yr | Rolling |
| Republic ↗︎OpenDeal Portal LLC · NationalCompanies selling securities under Reg CF. | Crowdfunding | Generally 7% of funds raised + 2% of the securities offered | Rolling |
| StartEngine ↗︎StartEngine Capital LLC · NationalCompanies selling securities under Reg CF. | Crowdfunding | — | Rolling |
| Cleared license plates ↗︎Texas Film Commission · StatewideTexas-based projects. | In-kind | Free loan of cleared Texas plates | Allow 1–2 business days (4–5 if shipped outside Austin) |
| TFC location services ↗︎Texas Film Commission · StatewideProjects filming in Texas. | In-kind | — | Rolling |
| Texas Production Directory ↗︎Texas Film Commission · StatewideAnyone hiring Texas crew and vendors. | In-kind | — | Rolling |
| Free San Antonio film permits ↗︎City of San Antonio (FilmSA) · San AntonioFilm and photo shoots on city property. | In-kind | Permits are free | Apply online (Apply4 portal) |
| Panavision New Filmmaker Program ↗︎Panavision · NationalAspiring filmmakers in the US and Canada. | In-kind | Camera packages at little to no cost, subject to availability | Rolling |
| Roy W. Dean Film Grant ↗︎From the Heart Productions · NationalShorts, documentaries, independent features and web series budgeted under $500,000. | Grant | — | Spring Mar 31, shorts Apr 29, summer Jun 30, fall Oct 31 |
| Sundance Institute Documentary Fund ↗︎Sundance Institute · NationalIndependent feature documentaries of 52+ minutes; budgets under $1.2M prioritized; no fiscal sponsor needed. | Grant | Development $25,000–$40,000; production/post $50,000–$100,000 | Closed; next call announced early 2027 |
| ITVS Open Call ↗︎Independent Television Service · NationalIndependent producers of single nonfiction films, 10–90 minutes, in active production; no series. | Fund | Up to $400,000 (features), up to $50,000 (shorts) | Not accepting applications; no next date posted |
| Catapult Film Fund ↗︎Catapult Film Fund · NationalUS-based documentary filmmakers: Research Grant for directors with a feature doc already shown; Development Grant for docs of 28+ minutes. | Grant | Research $10,000; Development $5,000–$25,000 | Both closed; next dates not posted |
| Chicken & Egg Films (Egg)celerator Lab ↗︎Chicken & Egg Films · NationalWomen and gender-expansive directors on a first or second feature doc, early to mid-production. | Lab | $40,000 | 2027 lab closed Apr 29, 2026; next call tentatively early 2027 |
| Chicken & Egg Films Research & Development Grant ↗︎Chicken & Egg Films · NationalWomen and gender-expansive directors who have finished at least one feature doc. | Grant | Research $10,000; Development $20,000 | Next cycle tentatively opens December 2026 |
| Firelight Media Documentary Lab ↗︎Firelight Media · NationalUS-based filmmakers of color directing a first or second feature doc; 2026 took post-production projects only. | Fellowship | $25,000 | 2026 window Apr 6–May 4, 2026, closed; next not posted |
| Black Public Media Open Call ↗︎Black Public Media · NationalUS producer or director with 3+ years' experience; nonfiction of 60+ minutes. | Fund | $20,000 each for up to 5 projects; one wins up to $150,000 at PitchBLACK | 2026 call closed Oct 1, 2026; next not posted |
| Perspective Fund Documentary Film Support ↗︎Perspective Fund · NationalDocumentary projects, by letter of inquiry; no geographic limits. | Grant | Typically $25,000–$150,000 | Rolling, no deadlines |
| Field of Vision ↗︎Field of Vision · NationalNonfiction of any length. | Fund | — | Rolling, no deadlines |
| AT&T Untold Stories ↗︎Tribeca Festival with AT&T · NationalDirector's first or second scripted feature, connected to an underrepresented community, completable for $1.2M; director or lead producer based in the US or Puerto Rico. | Grant | $1.2 million to the winner; $15,000 to each of 4 finalists | Open now; closes Jan 18, 2027 |
| Film Independent artist development programs ↗︎Film Independent · NationalScreenwriting Lab, Fast Track, Documentary Story Lab and Humana Foundation Shorts; rules vary by program. | Lab | Labs carry no grant; Sloan Fast Track grant $20,000; Humana shorts $100,000 all-in budget | Humana shorts deadline Oct 26, 2026; other dates on the applications page |
| Sundance Catalyst ↗︎Sundance Institute · NationalFiction or nonfiction features (60+ minutes) with a director and producer attached, budgets up to $3M (fiction up to $5M case by case), a financing gap of at least $300,000, and a lead producer with a feature credit and independent financing experience. Pre-application by request; full application by invitation. | Market or pitch forum | Investors at the Forum put in $10,000–$100,000 as grants or $25,000–$1,000,000 as equity; deals are negotiated directly | Submissions reopen summer 2027 for the 2028 Forum; the 2027 Forum runs Mar 31–Apr 3, 2027 |
| Sundance Feature Film Program Development Track (Screenwriters Lab) ↗︎Sundance Institute · NationalWriters, writer-directors or teams developing a first or second fiction feature; a complete screenplay draft is usually required. | Lab | Lab travel, lodging and food covered for up to two people per project; FFP gives alumni over $300,000 a year in grants | 2028 Development Track application open Mar 30–Apr 20, 2027; application fee (listed at $40 in the last cycle) |
| Sundance Alfred P. Sloan Commissioning Grant and Fellowship (features) ↗︎Sundance Institute with the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation · NationalEnglish-language fiction features with real science or technology content (not science fiction). | Grant | Grant amount varies by award | Through the Development Track, Mar 30–Apr 20, 2027 |
| Sundance Episodic Lab ↗︎Sundance Institute · NationalWriters 18+ (up to two per project), any nationality, with an original scripted live-action or animated series and a full English pilot. Writers who've sold a produced series to a US studio or network, or worked above co-producer on a US scripted series, are out. | Lab | Six-day in-person lab with travel, lodging and food covered; alumni can tap the Episodic Advancement Fund | 2027 window closed Aug 25, 2026; next opens summer 2027; $50 fee via FilmFreeway |
| Sundance Episodic Alfred P. Sloan Science Grant ↗︎Sundance Institute with the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation · NationalA writer or two-person team with an original half-hour or one-hour series that features a historical figure, event or area of science or technology in a positive light. | Grant | $17,000 plus craft support | Open now; closes Dec 3, 2026 |
| Sundance Producers Track (Producers Lab and Fellowship) ↗︎Sundance Institute · NationalEmerging lead producers (not the writer or director) with a work-in-progress feature. Fiction: US resident, at least one credit and no more than two narrative features, with an option or attachment in hand. Documentary: in production or post, US-based (or Europe/Latin America). | Fellowship | Yearlong fellowship with a grant for personal and project costs; lab travel, lodging and meals covered | Opens Nov 17, 2026; closes Feb 10, 2027. Fiction fee $45; no fee listed for documentary |
| Sundance Ignite x Adobe Fellowship ↗︎Sundance Institute with Adobe · NationalFilmmakers ages 18 to 25; apply with a short film. | Fellowship | A year of mentorship, a June lab and a Sundance Film Festival ticket package; no stipend stated | Opens Nov 12, 2026; closes Feb 11, 2027 |
| Sundance Native Lab Fellowship ↗︎Sundance Institute Indigenous Program · NationalEmerging Native American, Native Hawaiian and Alaska Native filmmakers (and Canadian First Nations, Métis and Inuit) working on a feature or series. Writing teams aren't accepted. | Lab | Lab in Santa Fe, New Mexico; free to apply | Opens Dec 1, 2026; closes Dec 22, 2026 |
| Sundance Merata Mita Fellowship ↗︎Sundance Institute Indigenous Program · NationalUS-based and international Indigenous women working toward directing a feature. | Fellowship | Cash grant, a Sundance Film Festival trip and mentorship (amount not stated) | Open now; closes Nov 3, 2026 |
| Sundance Collab ↗︎Sundance Institute · NationalAnyone; free to join. | Guide | Free membership and free events; courses mostly $395–$750, with limited need-based scholarships | Year-round |
| SFFILM Rainin Grant (screenwriting, development, post) ↗︎SFFILM · NationalNarrative features that address social justice issues. All three categories take applicants from anywhere; screenwriting and development grants require a four-week residency at SFFILM's FilmHouse in San Francisco, post-production grants don't. | Grant | Up to $25,000 per category | Yearly; 2026 deadlines were May 8 and May 22, 2026 (now closed). Fee $30–$50, free for SFFILM members |
| SFFILM Documentary Film Fund ↗︎SFFILM · NationalFeature documentaries (60+ minutes) in post-production, from anywhere; not mainly interview-driven, not work for hire. | Grant | $10,000–$20,000; about 3–6 projects a year | Yearly; 2026 deadlines were June 9 and July 7, 2026 (closed) |
| Mountainfilm Commitment Grants ↗︎Mountainfilm · NationalDocumentaries in post-production about adventure, activism, social justice, culture or the environment, from any country. Part of the pool is set aside for LGBTQ+ outdoor stories and for immigration stories or immigrant and first-generation filmmakers. | Grant | $3,000–$6,000 each | Yearly window July 1–16; 2026 grantees announced Sep 14, 2026 |
| Loreen Arbus Disability Awareness Grant ↗︎New York Women in Film & Television · NationalUS-based women directors or producers with a film of any length or genre on physical or developmental disability, finished shooting and not yet distributed. | Grant | $6,500 completion grant | Recurring; currently closed with no next date posted |
| Creative Capital Award ↗︎Creative Capital · NationalArtists making new work in any discipline, film included, through a national open call. | Grant | Unrestricted project grants up to $50,000, plus professional development | The 2027 open call closed Apr 2, 2026; next cycle not yet announced |
| State of the Art Prize ↗︎Creative Capital · NationalOne artist living in each US state and territory, chosen from Creative Capital Award applicants; no separate application. | Grant | $10,000 unrestricted | Runs with the 2026 and 2027 Creative Capital cycles |
| IDA Pare Lorentz Documentary Fund ↗︎International Documentary Association · NationalIndependent feature documentaries on US issues such as the environment, justice or social problems, by a team with at least one completed nonfiction feature, budget $1M or less. Finalists must be IDA members. | Grant | Three $25,000 grants a year ($95,000 in total with consultation stipends) | IDA says it should reopen in late 2026 with a new theme, aimed at films near the end of production |
| UT Law Entrepreneurship and Community Development Clinic ↗︎University of Texas School of Law · StatewideTexas small businesses, social enterprises and artists without significant outside investment, with household income under $83,000 (up to $130,000 considered); low-income-serving Texas nonprofits. Austin-area counties get priority. | Free legal help | Free legal work; clients pay filing fees | Applications year-round; new cases open fall and spring terms. Not taking new clients until Nov 1, 2026 |
| HB Communities for Change ↗︎Husch Blackwell LLP · NationalSmall businesses and nonprofits in under-resourced communities that can't afford a lawyer. | Free legal help | Free business legal help | Apply between the 1st and 15th of any month |
| UH Texas Gulf Coast SBDC Network ↗︎University of Houston SBDC · Southeast Texas (32 counties, Houston area)Small businesses and pre-venture founders in its 32-county region. | Free legal help | Business advising and webinars (webinars are free) | Year-round; register, then request an appointment |
| Texas South-West SBDC Network ↗︎University of Texas at San Antonio · South and West Texas (San Antonio, Austin, El Paso, Rio Grande Valley, Corpus Christi and more)Small businesses and startups in its region. | Free legal help | Business advising and training | Year-round |
| Houston Angel Network ↗︎Houston Angel Network · HoustonEarly-stage companies (pre-seed to Series A) with a working prototype and market validation, in energy, life sciences, consumer, tech or aerospace. | Investors | Equity or convertible debt; check size not published ($100M+ invested across 400+ deals) | Monthly pitch meetings except July and December; apply a month ahead; $100 application fee |
| Cowtown Angels ↗︎Cowtown Angels · Fort WorthEarly-stage startups; sectors not listed. | Investors | $27M+ invested across 50+ companies; check size not published | Rolling; apply through its Dealum form |
| Alamo Angels (Alamo Ventures) ↗︎Alamo Ventures · San Antonio and BrownsvillePre-seed to Series A companies with traction that could reach $100M+ in yearly revenue; sectors named are defense tech, medtech, AI and consumer. | Investors | Rounds up to about $1M | Rolling; apply through its contact page and Dealum form |
| SWAN Impact Network ↗︎SWAN Impact Network · StatewideImpact startups in health, climate, education and equity. | Investors | $18M+ invested across 51+ companies; check size not published | Rolling; apply through its entrepreneurs page |
| BondIt Media Capital ↗︎BondIt (backed by MEP Capital) · NationalProductions in pre-production through completion with unencumbered collateral such as presales, receivables or tax credits; usually a personal and corporate guarantee if there's no completion bond. | Lender | Typically $1M–$25M+; about 12%–25% a year in interest and fees, plus a 2%–10% setup fee and legal costs | Rolling; submit through its website or by email |
| City National Bank Entertainment ↗︎City National Bank (RBC) · NationalFilm, TV and game productions and entertainment companies; subject to credit approval. | Lender | Not published | Rolling |
| East West Bank Entertainment ↗︎East West Bank · NationalFilm and TV producers, especially cross-border and US–China co-productions; subject to credit review. | Lender | Not published | Rolling |
| Film Finances Inc. completion guaranty ↗︎Film Finances Inc. · NationalFilm and TV productions whose financiers want assurance the picture will be finished on time, on budget and to spec. | Completion bond | Fee quoted per project | Rolling; reviews script, schedule and budget, then issues a letter of intent |
| Fintage House collection account management ↗︎Fintage House · NationalProducers, financiers and profit participants sharing a film's revenue. | Service | Fee-based | Year-round |
| Freeway Entertainment collection account management ↗︎Freeway Entertainment Group · NationalRights holders, financiers, production partners and talent sharing a production's revenue. | Service | Fee-based | Year-round |
| Slated ↗︎Slated · NationalIndependent film projects; investors on the platform must be accredited. | Investors | Free to join; script and financial analysis and executive-producer services are paid | Year-round |
| Jewish Story Partners grants ↗︎Jewish Story Partners · NationalUS feature documentaries about any aspect of Jewish experience, in development through post, with a director and full producer attached (one US-based) and at least five minutes of footage. Filmmakers needn't be Jewish. | Grant | $5,000–$75,000 | One open call a year: opens late fall, closes in January; decisions by early summer |
| Points North Fellowship ↗︎Points North Institute (Camden International Film Festival) · NationalUp to six teams of early to mid-career documentary filmmakers with a feature doc to pitch. | Fellowship | Mentorship, a week in Maine during the festival, the live Points North Pitch and industry meetings; lodging provided | Yearly; 2026 deadlines ran Jan–Feb 2026 ($25 early fee); next cycle opens late 2026 to early 2027 |
| Puffin Foundation film/video grants ↗︎The Puffin Foundation · NationalArtists, especially those shut out of mainstream funding because of identity or social views. Film/video covers film, TV, streaming, radio and podcasts; script development isn't funded. | Grant | Small project grants (amount not published) | Film/video is funded in odd years. 2027 cycle: request portal access Sep 14–Nov 20, 2026 (paper form postmarked by Nov 25); proposals due Dec 16, 2026, 5 p.m. ET |
| FCA Emergency Grants ↗︎Foundation for Contemporary Arts · NationalExperimental visual and performing artists and poets with a sudden opportunity to show work or an unexpected expense tied to a presentation. | Grant | $500–$3,000 (average $2,200) | Monthly, rolling |
| MacDowell Fellowship ↗︎MacDowell · NationalArtists of any background and country in disciplines including film/video arts; acceptance is based on artistic excellence. | Residency | Free residency in New Hampshire; need-based stipends and travel grants available | Next deadline Feb 10, 2027 (opens Jan 15, 2027) for Sep 2027–Feb 2028 residencies |
| Yaddo residency ↗︎Yaddo · NationalProfessional artists making new work, including narrative, documentary and experimental film, animation and screenplays. Students aren't eligible; apply every other year. | Residency | Free residency in Saratoga Springs, New York; modest access grants for travel | Winter cycle: portal opens Nov 20, closes Dec 20 (or at 1,600 applications). Summer cycle: June 1–July 1. $35 fee |
| CAAM Building Bridges Documentary Fund ↗︎Center for Asian American Media · NationalIndependent documentaries (features, shorts or series) about the Muslim experience in the US, by filmmakers at any career stage. | Grant | Research and development $10K–$25K; production $50K–$100K; post $50K–$100K | No call open now; future calls announced through CAAM's newsletter |
| Through Her Lens: The Tribeca CHANEL Women's Filmmaker Program ↗︎Tribeca with CHANEL · NationalEmerging US-based women and nonbinary writers, directors and producers. | Brand program | Mentorship over a three-day program; one short film project is funded and produced (amount not published) | Yearly; next window not posted |
| Gotham Week Project Market ↗︎The Gotham Film & Media Institute · NationalNew fiction and documentary features and series in development or in progress. Open sections require a Gotham Essentials ($125/yr) or Insiders ($250/yr) membership. | Market or pitch forum | Curated one-on-one meetings with financiers, distributors, broadcasters, sales agents and programmers | Yearly; 2026 ran Sep 27–Oct 3 in Brooklyn. 2026 deadlines were Apr 23 ($25) and May 14 ($45) |
| The Gotham fiscal sponsorship ↗︎The Gotham Film & Media Institute · NationalCreative, artistic or educational film, video and transmedia projects. | Fiscal sponsor | Administrative fee not published | Rolling; apply online |
| American Film Market (AFM) ↗︎Independent Film & Television Alliance · NationalProducers, financiers, sales agents and buyers; attendee badges are paid. | Market or pitch forum | Registration fees vary | AFM 2026: Nov 10–15, Fairmont Century Plaza, Los Angeles |
| Hot Docs Forum ↗︎Hot Docs · NationalDocumentary projects seeking international co-financing; check the Forum guidelines for eligibility. | Market or pitch forum | Pitch to commissioners and funders from around the world | Submission deadline Dec 10; market runs Apr 26–29, 2027 in Toronto |
| Netflix x NALIP Director Incubator ↗︎National Association of Latino Independent Producers (NALIP) with Netflix · NationalEmerging Latino directors making a proof-of-concept short. | Fellowship | Four $45,000 production grants, plus mentoring and an industry showcase | 2026/27 cycle closed; recurs yearly |
| CAPE New Writers Fellowship ↗︎Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment (CAPE) · NationalAsian and Pacific Islander TV writers; apply with a half-hour or hour pilot. | Fellowship | Spring mentorship and training program (no cash stated) | 2027 submissions open fall 2026 |
| Julia S. Gouw Short Film Challenge ↗︎CAPE with Janet Yang Productions · NationalShort scripts (15 minutes max, live action or animated) centered on Asian and Pacific Islander women or nonbinary protagonists. | Grant | Four $25,000 production grants plus mentorship | Year 6 open now until Oct 30, 2026; $35 fee per script |
| NACF LIFT (Early Career Support for Native Artists) ↗︎Native Arts and Cultures Foundation · NationalEmerging Native artists who are enrolled members or citizens of a US-based tribe, in disciplines including documentary, animated and fiction film; no prior single award of $15,000+. | Grant | $15,000 (at least $5,000 for the artist), plus mentorship and marketing help; 15 awards | 2026 awardees announced Aug 2026; applications closed until the next cycle |
| Pillars Artist Fellowship (Frames) ↗︎Pillars Fund · NationalDirectors and screenwriters who work in and alongside Muslim communities, with two complete work samples (films directed, or feature/pilot scripts written). | Fellowship | Yearlong fellowship for 10 fellows, opening with a New York retreat (grant amount not stated) | Last window ran Oct 15–Nov 17, 2025; 2026 cohort announced Oct 2026 |
| Austin Public (public access media center) ↗︎Austin Film Society · AustinProducers who complete an orientation and certification classes. | In-kind | Low- or no-cost cameras, lights, sound, editing suites, two TV studios and a podcast studio, after a low-cost orientation and subscription | Year-round |
| Artadia Award (Houston) ↗︎Artadia · HoustonVisual artists living and working in the Houston area (Artadia has described this as Harris County). | Grant | Unrestricted award (2026 amount not posted) | 2026 Houston cycle open Oct 1–Nov 1, 2026 |
| Summerlee Foundation Texas History Program ↗︎Summerlee Foundation · Statewide501(c)(3) public charities and government units with Texas history projects; it has funded media. Individuals can't apply directly. | Grant | Not published | Two cycles a year: interview, then letter of intent, then application. February 2027 cycle LOIs due Nov 23–Dec 18, 2026; September 2027 cycle interviews May 17–June 25, 2027 |
| Filmmakers Collaborative SF fiscal sponsorship ↗︎Filmmakers Collaborative SF (FCSF) · NationalIndependent narrative, hybrid and documentary films, shorts or features. | Fiscal sponsor | 7% of funds donated, plus card and bank fees | Rolling; applications reviewed in 1–2 weeks |
| Third World Newsreel fiscal sponsorship ↗︎Third World Newsreel · NationalMission-aligned independent media projects, with a focus on social justice and filmmakers of color. | Fiscal sponsor | Fee not published | Applications reopen in 2027 |
| Social Good Fund fiscal sponsorship ↗︎Social Good Fund · NationalArt and community projects without their own 501(c)(3); not for incorporated entities under its Model A. | Fiscal sponsor | Model A: 8% of revenue plus $29/month; Model C: 6.5% plus $29/month (monthly fees refunded if you raise $5,000+ in a year) | Rolling |
| Fiscal Sponsor Directory ↗︎San Francisco Study Center · NationalAnyone looking for a fiscal sponsor. | Guide | Free to search | Year-round |
| CineBlock Films ↗︎CineBlockFilms, LLC · NationalFilmmakers raising equity from the public under Regulation Crowdfunding. | Crowdfunding | Up to $5 million a year under Reg CF; fees not published | Rolling |
| Mr. Crowd ↗︎Ksdaq Inc. · NationalSmall and medium US businesses raising equity under Reg CF. | Crowdfunding | Up to $5 million a year; fees not published | Rolling |
| GigaStar Market ↗︎GigaStar Portal LLC · NationalYouTube creators selling investors a share of channel revenue. | Crowdfunding | Reg CF revenue-share offerings; terms set in each Form C | Rolling |
| Netcapital ↗︎Netcapital Funding Portal, Inc. · NationalPrivate companies raising under Reg CF. | Crowdfunding | Up to $5 million a year; fees not published on the home page | Rolling |
| Patreon ↗︎Patreon · NationalCreators selling memberships or digital products to fans. | Crowdfunding | Free to start; 10% of income plus payment processing and payout fees | Ongoing monthly or annual support |
| GoFundMe ↗︎GoFundMe · NationalIndividuals, businesses and nonprofits. | Crowdfunding | No platform fee; 2.9% + $0.30 per donation (2.2% + $0.30 for certified nonprofits) | Ongoing; keep what you raise |
| Marché du Film (Cannes) ↗︎Festival de Cannes · NationalProducers, sales agents, buyers and financiers; paid badges. | Market or pitch forum | Registration fees vary | Next edition May 11–19, 2027 in Cannes |
| IFFR CineMart ↗︎International Film Festival Rotterdam · NationalFeature projects from anywhere seeking international co-production partners; curated selection. | Market or pitch forum | Meetings with financiers, co-producers and sales agents | Submissions open for CineMart 2027, held Jan 31–Feb 3, 2027 |
| Venice Gap-Financing Market ↗︎La Biennale di Venezia (Venice Production Bridge) · NationalSelected fiction, documentary and immersive projects looking to close a financing gap. | Market or pitch forum | One-to-one meetings with financiers and co-producers | Yearly during the Venice Film Festival; 2026 ran Sep 4–6 with projects announced July 3 |
| Austin Film Festival Writers Conference ↗︎Austin Film Festival · StatewideWriters and filmmakers; badge required. | Market or pitch forum | Badges are paid (discounts offered early) | Yearly in Austin; 2026 festival and conference Oct 29–Nov 5 |
| Big Sky Pitch ↗︎Big Sky Documentary Film Festival · NationalDocumentary features of any form or subject, as a work in progress. | Market or pitch forum | Live pitch to commissioning editors and funders, plus pitch coaching and jury meetings | 2027 deadlines: early Sep 13, 2026; final Nov 1, 2026. Pitch day Feb 19, 2027 in Missoula, Montana |
| Sony Future Filmmaker Awards ↗︎Sony · NationalShort films: fiction and nonfiction (5–20 min), animation, immersive, student, and a vertical 'future format' category (2–5 min). | Brand program | Shortlisted filmmakers are flown to Sony Pictures Studios in Culver City for the ceremony and an industry program | 2027 edition open now; closes Dec 15, 2026; free entry |
| The Film Fund short film contest ↗︎The Film Fund · NationalAnyone with a short film idea; submit a one-sentence pitch. | Grant | Up to $10,000 per winner; $25 entry (optional $6.99 feedback) | Current deadline Nov 17, 2026, 11:59 p.m. ET; recurring contest periods |
| Redford Center Fellowship for Environmental Film ↗︎The Redford Center · NationalDocumentary filmmakers telling urgent, intersectional environmental stories. | Fellowship | $40,000 first-year funding, a three-day summit, mentorship and an invitation to apply for more production or impact money | 2026 open call closed; recurs yearly (10th year in 2026) |
| Redford Center fiscal sponsorship ↗︎The Redford Center · NationalIndependent environmental media projects. | Fiscal sponsor | Fee not published | Rolling; apply online |
| Firelight Fund ↗︎Firelight Media · NationalBlack, Brown and Indigenous documentary filmmakers telling urgent social-justice stories: shorts at any stage, features in production, post or distribution. | Grant | Up to $50,000 per project | Inaugural call ran Aug 21–Sep 18, 2025; currently closed |
| Hulu/Kartemquin Accelerator ↗︎Kartemquin Films with Hulu · NationalDirectors or producers of a nonfiction feature or series in production or post about Indigenous and Native American communities, with at least one nationally screened film. Indigenous filmmakers and Midwest ties get priority. | Lab | $30,000, mentorship, a 'braintrust lab' and a pitch to Hulu executives | Runs every other year or so (2021, 2023, 2025 cohorts); check for the next call |
| Humanitas New Voices Fellowship ↗︎Humanitas · NationalFilm and TV writers 21+ living in the US (citizenship not required), not yet established at WGA level. | Fellowship | $7,500 stipend, a mentor and recognition at the Humanitas Prizes | 2026 window Feb 18–Apr 6, 2026 ($55 fee); recurs yearly |
| Humanitas College Screenwriting Awards ↗︎Humanitas · NationalUndergraduate and graduate students at accredited US colleges, any major. | Grant | $20,000 each for one comedy and one drama winner | 2026 window Feb 18–Apr 6, 2026 ($35 fee); recurs yearly |
| Academy Nicholl Fellowships (public submission through the Writers Guild Foundation) ↗︎Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences with the Writers Guild Foundation · NationalAmateur feature screenwriters. The Academy now takes scripts only through partner programs; WGF and The Black List run the public portals. | Fellowship | Up to five $35,000 fellowships a year | WGF's 2026 window ran June 22–July 20, 2026 (capped at 2,000 scripts; $100–$120 fee); recurs yearly |
| North Texas SBDC ↗︎North Texas Small Business Development Center network · North Texas (Dallas–Fort Worth region)Small businesses and entrepreneurs in North Texas. | Free legal help | Business advising and training | Year-round; register online |
| Northwest Texas SBDC ↗︎Northwest Texas Small Business Development Center network · Northwest Texas (95 counties, including Lubbock, Amarillo, Abilene and Wichita Falls)Business owners and entrepreneurs in its 95 counties. | Free legal help | No-cost, confidential business advising plus training | Year-round |
| Business & Community Lenders of Texas (BCL) ↗︎Business & Community Lenders of Texas · Austin, Dallas and San MarcosSmall businesses, especially those that can't get bank loans. | Lender | Small business loans up to $50,000, larger growth loans over $50,000, and SBA 504 loans; no-cost consultations | Rolling |
| LiftFund ↗︎LiftFund · StatewideSmall businesses and startups underserved by banks. | Lender | Small business loans ($1.5 billion lent to date) | Rolling |
| SBA Microloan program ↗︎U.S. Small Business Administration · NationalFor-profit, operating US small businesses that aren't an ineligible business type; made through nonprofit intermediary lenders. | Lender | Up to $50,000 (average about $13,000) | Rolling, through local intermediaries |
| Impact Field Guide ↗︎Doc Society · NationalFree to use. | Guide | Free | Online, always available |
| Candid free funding research access ↗︎Candid (Foundation Directory) · NationalAnyone; free access at partner libraries and nonprofits. | Guide | Free at partner locations (Foundation Directory is otherwise a paid subscription) | Year-round |
| Impact Partners ↗︎Impact Partners · NationalFeature social-issue documentaries with a director and producer attached, one of whom has finished a feature, and a total budget of $300,000–$1.5 million. | Fund | Equity investment: development $30,000–$100,000; overall $30,000–$1.5M, usually $100,000–$300,000 per film | Rolling letters of inquiry (one page, about 500 words); reply in about 4 weeks |
| Rooftop Filmmakers Fund ↗︎Rooftop Films · NationalFilmmakers whose work has screened in the Rooftop Films Summer Series in New York. | Grant | Over $45,000 a year in cash (about $30,000 of it for four features) plus equipment and services worth $200,000+ | Yearly, for alumni |
| National Geographic Society grants ↗︎National Geographic Society · NationalPeople 18+ answering a specific request for proposals; storytelling projects are eligible under some RFPs. | Grant | Set by each RFP | Rolling RFPs with their own deadlines; projects should start at least six months after the deadline |
| DaVinci Resolve (free version) ↗︎Blackmagic Design · NationalAnyone. | In-kind | Free download; DaVinci Resolve Studio is a one-time $295 | Always available |
| Fund for Investigative Journalism grants ↗︎Fund for Investigative Journalism · NationalFreelance and staff journalists and outlets doing investigative work, documentaries included. Full proposals need a commitment from a distributor or broadcaster; foreign stories need a strong US angle. | Grant | Regular grants up to $10,000; seed grants $1,000–$2,500; follow-up grants up to $2,500 | Winter deadline for regular and seed grants: Jan 29, 2027, 11:59 p.m. ET; spring and summer dates TBA |
| Texas Film Round-Up (free digitization) ↗︎Texas Archive of the Moving Image with the Texas Film Commission · StatewideTexas-related films and videotapes (shot in Texas, made by a Texan or featuring Texans), public domain or submitted by the copyright holder; up to 15 tapes or 50 reels per household. | In-kind | Free digitization; you pay only for a flash drive | Submission windows each October and March; open now by mail Oct 1–31, 2026 |
| TAMI footage licensing ↗︎Texas Archive of the Moving Image · StatewideDocumentaries, news and commercial productions. | In-kind | Licensing fees set after a rights review | Year-round; request form online |
| TAMI fiscal sponsorship ↗︎Texas Archive of the Moving Image · StatewideIndependent filmmakers and projects whose work fits TAMI's mission of preserving moving image history. | Fiscal sponsor | Fee not published | Contact TAMI |
| Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Film Program ↗︎Alfred P. Sloan Foundation · NationalFilms with science or technology themes or characters, through Sloan's partners: six film schools, Sundance, TIFF, the Black List, SFFILM, Film Independent and the Athena Film Festival. | Grant | Screenwriting and production awards through partners; filmmakers usually apply to the partner, not to Sloan | Varies by partner |
| SCORE Austin ↗︎SCORE · Central Texas (Travis, Williamson, Hays, Bastrop, Bell, McLennan, Burnet and nearby counties)Entrepreneurs and small business owners. | Free legal help | Free mentoring; most workshops free, some paid | Year-round |
| SCORE Houston ↗︎SCORE · Greater Houston and the Upper Gulf CoastEntrepreneurs and small business owners. | Free legal help | Free, confidential, lifetime mentoring; low-cost workshops | Year-round |
| SCORE Dallas ↗︎SCORE · Dallas–Fort Worth plus North, East, West and Panhandle TexasEntrepreneurs and small business owners. | Free legal help | Free mentoring; workshops | Year-round |
| SCORE Fort Worth ↗︎SCORE · Tarrant County and North and West Texas (including Abilene)Entrepreneurs and small business owners. | Free legal help | Free mentoring; workshops | Year-round |
| Ko-fi ↗︎Ko-fi · NationalCreators taking tips, memberships, shop sales or commissions. | Crowdfunding | Free plan: 5% on memberships, shop sales and commissions (its FAQ says tips carry no service fee); Gold plan $12/month for 0%; plus payment processor fees | Ongoing |
| BackerKit Crowdfunding ↗︎BackerKit · NationalCreators running rewards campaigns. | Crowdfunding | Free to sign up; fees not shown on its overview page | Campaign-based, with pre-launch and post-campaign sales tools |
| Houston Media Source ↗︎Houston Media Source · HoustonOpen to everyone; producers train before using facilities. | In-kind | Hands-on training in production, editing and podcasting; airtime on Houston's public access channel | Year-round |
| NYWIFT Ravenal Foundation Grant ↗︎New York Women in Film & Television · NationalUS-resident women over 40 who have directed or produced one dramatic feature (or more than one feature doc), now making a second narrative feature, mainly in English. | Grant | $5,000 to each of two filmmakers, plus a $2,500 honorable mention | Currently closed; recurs |
| NYWIFT Nancy Malone Marketing & Promotion Grant ↗︎New York Women in Film & Television · NationalAn emerging woman director getting a finished film ready for festivals and distribution. | Grant | $5,000 | Deadlines vary; check the grant page |
| Easterseals Disability Film Challenge ↗︎Easterseals · NationalFilmmakers who make a short over a five-day window that helps change how the world sees disability. | Competition | Awards and prizes; past winners got further development through an Adobe alumni grant program | Yearly (13th edition in 2026); registration for the next challenge posted on the site |
| NHMC Series Scriptwriters Program ↗︎National Hispanic Media Coalition · NationalLatino TV writers 18+; industry experience not required; virtual participation by daily video conference. | Fellowship | Training and industry access (no cash stated) | Yearly; 2026 cohort announced |
| iFundWomen ↗︎IFW by Honeycomb Credit · NationalWomen-owned businesses. | Crowdfunding | Rewards crowdfunding, a database of grants for women-owned businesses, coaching, and community-funded loans through Honeycomb Credit | Rolling |
| Realscreen Summit ↗︎Realscreen · NationalNonfiction and unscripted producers, buyers and commissioners; paid registration. | Market or pitch forum | Pitch meetings and networking with networks and streamers | Yearly in winter; the 2026 edition ran in February alongside NATPE Global |
| MIPCOM Cannes ↗︎MIPCOM · NationalTV and digital content producers, buyers and distributors; paid badges. | Market or pitch forum | Registration fees vary | Next edition Oct 18–21, 2027 in Cannes |
| Non-Fiction Core Application ↗︎International Documentary Association with participating funders · NationalDocumentary filmmakers. | Guide | Free template | Always available |
| Princess Grace Awards (film) ↗︎Princess Grace Foundation-USA · NationalEarly-career film directors (not screenwriters or cinematographers), nominated by a university film program, a nonprofit media arts center or a past winner. | Grant | Unrestricted cash grant (amount varies) | 2026 cycle closed Feb 2, 2026; 2027 details posted in autumn 2026 |
| LAIKA x The Gotham Animation Accelerator ↗︎The Gotham Film & Media Institute with LAIKA · NationalEarly- to mid-career animation creators developing a pitch for an animated short. | Lab | Pitch development support from LAIKA and The Gotham | 2026 cohort announced; watch for the next call |
| Berlinale Talents ↗︎Berlin International Film Festival · NationalEmerging film and series professionals from anywhere (directors, producers, writers, actors, crew). | Lab | Six-day summit, labs and a Talent Project Market in Berlin | Next edition Feb 12–17, 2027; see its How to Apply page for the window |
| TorinoFilmLab ↗︎TorinoFilmLab · NationalWriters, directors, producers and story editors from anywhere developing features or series. | Lab | Training, development funding and networking; some labs end in pitches to financiers | 2027 open calls: ScriptLab Nov 3, 2026; ComedyLab Nov 30; Green Narratives Dec 4; SeriesLab Dec 16, 2026 |
| NYWIFT fiscal sponsorship ↗︎New York Women in Film & Television · NationalNYWIFT members' film and media projects. | Fiscal sponsor | 7% administrative fee | Rolling, no deadline |
| Capital Factory ↗︎Capital Factory · StatewideAmbitious Texas startup founders, mostly deep tech. | Investors | Cash investment plus customers and network | Rolling |
| Michael Collyer Memorial Fellowship in Screenwriting ↗︎Writers Guild Initiative with The Black List · NationalEmerging feature screenwriters under 25 (age verified); feature scripts only. | Fellowship | $10,000 stipend plus a year of mentorship | 2027 submissions open now through Jan 8, 2027 on the Black List website |
| Shore Scripts Short Film Fund ↗︎Shore Scripts · NationalShort film scripts; see the fund's rules for eligibility. | Competition | $15,000 production grant and $4,000 finishing grant | Fall season final deadline Oct 30, 2026; runs in seasons |
| Galveston Artist Residency ↗︎Galveston Artist Residency · GalvestonArtists chosen through an annual open call (three fellows a year); check that your moving-image practice fits. | Residency | 10 months (Oct–July) with a 500 sq ft studio, a bills-paid apartment, $1,400 a month and $500 travel stipends | 2026–27 call closed Mar 28, 2026; the 2027–28 window will be announced January 2027 |
| Sundance Institute Sandbox Fund ↗︎Sundance Institute with Sandbox Films · NationalIndependent documentaries about science and scientific inquiry. | Grant | Grants (amount not published on the pages checked) | Sundance says the spring 2027 cycle will be announced in late 2026 |
| Hot Docs Deal Maker ↗︎Hot Docs · NationalDocumentary projects in development, production or post. | Market or pitch forum | Pre-scheduled one-on-one pitch meetings with buyers and funders | Deadline Dec 10; meetings during the Apr 26–29, 2027 market in Toronto |
| SXSW Film & TV Festival ↗︎SXSW · AustinFeature films, shorts, TV pilots, XR and music videos premiering at the festival. | Market or pitch forum | Submission fees $70–$125 by deadline | 2027 submissions closed Oct 1, 2026; decisions by Feb 9, 2027; the festival runs each March in Austin |
| SBA 7(a) loans ↗︎U.S. Small Business Administration · NationalOperating, for-profit, creditworthy US small businesses that aren't an ineligible type; apply through a local lender. | Lender | Up to $5 million, partly guaranteed by the SBA; capped interest rates | Rolling, through banks and other SBA lenders |
| UH Law Center Trademark Prosecution Clinic ↗︎University of Houston Law Center · HoustonMainly small business owners needing trademark help; acceptance not guaranteed. | Free legal help | Free trademark searches, filings and counseling by supervised law students | Request help through the clinic's online form |
| Documentary Educational Resources fiscal sponsorship ↗︎Documentary Educational Resources (DER) · NationalFilmmakers living in North America whose film or media projects foster cross-cultural understanding; production through outreach and impact. | Fiscal sponsor | $100 one-time initiation fee; administrative fee varies by project; $250 a year if a project goes inactive | Rolling; reviews can take up to a month |
| Allied Media Projects fiscal sponsorship ↗︎Allied Media Projects · NationalProjects and people rooted in media-based organizing. | Fiscal sponsor | Fee not published on the home page | Check its sponsorship pages for open intake |
| Accion Opportunity Fund ↗︎Accion Opportunity Fund · NationalSmall business owners, especially from underserved communities. | Lender | Small business loans plus free coaching ($1B+ lent) | Rolling |
| Angel Capital Association member directory ↗︎Angel Capital Association · NationalAnyone looking for angel groups. | Guide | Free directory | Year-round |
| Artist Communities Alliance directory and open calls ↗︎Artist Communities Alliance · NationalArtists looking for residencies. | Guide | Free directory and monthly residency-deadline newsletter | Year-round |
| Banff World Media Festival ↗︎Banff World Media Festival · NationalTV and digital producers, networks and streamers; paid registration. | Market or pitch forum | Pitch programs, meetings and accelerators | Yearly in Banff, Canada (2026 edition held) |
| Vimeo Short Film Grant ↗︎Vimeo (with Panavision and OWC) · NationalLegal US residents directing an original narrative, documentary, animated or hybrid short made in the US or Canada; two work samples from 2017 or later. | Brand program | Five $60,000 grants, Panavision camera packages, OWC storage, mentorship and release on Vimeo | 2026–27 window ran Sep 21–Oct 16, 2026 (just closed); winners announced Mar 15, 2027. Second edition, so likely yearly |
| Black Public Media Rolling Call (AfroPoP) ↗︎Black Public Media · NationalCompleted shorts (scripted or nonfiction) or feature documentaries about the global Black experience that meet PBS technical and editorial standards. HBCU and film-program talent welcome. | Public media | Licensing for AfroPoP: The Ultimate Cultural Exchange or AfroPoP Digital Shorts | Year-round |
| Texas Mezzanine Fund ↗︎Texas Mezzanine Fund (TMF) · StatewideTexas businesses, especially in distressed and underserved communities. | Lender | Business growth loans, SBA 504 and New Markets Tax Credit financing ($120 million lent to Texas businesses) | Rolling |
| Epic MegaGrants ↗︎Epic Games · NationalSmall teams and solo creators using Unreal Engine, including film, show or animation projects that push real-time 3D or extend into immersive experiences. | Brand program | Grants (amount varies); over 2,000 awarded | Two cycles a year. 2026: Jan 12–Mar 20 and June 29–Sep 4, with notices Dec 7–11, 2026 |
| M-AAA Artistic Innovations ↗︎Mid-America Arts Alliance · StatewideIndividual artists and nonprofit arts groups in Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas making new, original or experimental work with a public presentation. Film is one of the funded disciplines. | Grant | Up to $15,000; no cost share for individual artists (nonprofits must match) | Yearly; the latest window closed Sep 24, 2026 for spending Jan 1–June 30, 2027 |
| M-AAA Artist INC ↗︎Mid-America Arts Alliance · NationalArtists of any discipline; cohorts of 25 chosen by application. Artist INC Express is free with registration. | Free legal help | Eight-week professional development program on the business side of an arts practice | Runs in rotating cities; it has run in Austin and Houston. Current cohorts are in Kansas (Lawrence apply by Oct 21, 2026; Wichita opens Nov 11, 2026) |
| European Film Market and Berlinale Co-Production Market ↗︎Berlin International Film Festival · NationalProducers, sales agents, buyers and financiers; paid accreditation. Separate curated calls for projects. | Market or pitch forum | Market access, project pitches and co-production meetings | Each February in Berlin. Open now: EFM Frontières Focus call for genre projects (until Nov 15, 2026) and Berlinale Series Market Selects |
| SAG-AFTRA low-budget theatrical agreements ↗︎SAG-AFTRA · NationalProducers of films shot entirely in the US who sign with the union. Tiers: Micro-Budget, Ultra Low Budget (budgets up to $300,000), Moderate Low Budget and Low Budget. | Guide | Reduced union scale tied to budget; a security deposit is required | Apply 4–6 weeks before the first work day |
| Athena Film Festival Documentary Pitch Program ↗︎Athena Film Festival (Barnard College) · NationalDocumentaries about women's leadership, in production or with footage shot, with a producer attached. | Market or pitch forum | Pitch training, mentorship, introductions to funders and a $500 honorarium | Yearly; the festival runs each March in New York |
| Athena List Development Grant ↗︎Athena Film Festival · NationalWriter-directors whose feature scripts are Athena List winners or finalists; underrepresented filmmakers preferred. | Grant | $10,000 | Yearly with the Athena List |
| Governor's Office of Small Business Assistance ↗︎Office of the Texas Governor · StatewideSmall and medium Texas businesses and startups. | Free legal help | Free permitting, licensing and compliance help, resource referrals and webinars | Year-round |
| SBA Veterans Business Outreach Centers ↗︎U.S. Small Business Administration · NationalVeterans, service members, Guard and Reserve members, military spouses and family members starting or growing a business. | Free legal help | Workshops, business-plan help, counseling and mentoring | Year-round; find the nearest center by ZIP code |
| SBA Women's Business Centers ↗︎U.S. Small Business Administration · NationalWomen entrepreneurs, and others, starting or growing a small business. | Free legal help | Business counseling and training | Year-round; find the nearest center by ZIP code |
| Sundance Collab x TikTok Micro-Series Challenge ↗︎Sundance Collab with TikTok · NationalCreators (solo or a team of two) with an original micro-series concept; no generative AI in submissions. | Brand program | Five finalists get $5,000 each, a Sundance Collab course package, a pitch workshop and a live pitch | 2026 window Aug 19–Sep 9, 2026 (closed); finalists pitch Nov 6, 2026 |
| KTQ Labs ↗︎Kartemquin Films · NationalFilmmakers with a first or second rough cut of a documentary feature, short or series; alumni, Midwestern stories and BIPOC filmmakers get priority. | Lab | Free works-in-progress feedback session for up to two key creatives | Rolling |
| Sundance Institute | Amazon MGM Studios Producers Award ↗︎Sundance Institute with Amazon MGM Studios · NationalOne fiction and one nonfiction producer (or team) whose film premieres at the Sundance Film Festival. | Grant | $10,000 each | Yearly at the festival |
| IDFA Forum and Docs for Sale ↗︎International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam · NationalDocumentary projects seeking international co-financing (Forum) and finished docs seeking buyers (Docs for Sale); accreditation required. | Market or pitch forum | Pitches and meetings with broadcasters, funders and buyers | IDFA 2026: Forum Nov 15–18 and Docs for Sale Nov 14–18 in Amsterdam; recurs every November |
| Honeycomb Credit ↗︎Honeycomb Portal LLC · NationalSmall businesses raising loans from their customers and community under Reg CF. | Crowdfunding | Community-funded small business loans; no-obligation pre-approval | Rolling |
| Fresh Arts Space Taking Artist Residency ↗︎Fresh Arts · HoustonTraditionally underrepresented Houston artists of any discipline. | Residency | Six weeks of gallery space at Sawyer Yards, a project stipend and mentorship | 2027 applications open now |
| Creative Capital Artist Opportunities ↗︎Creative Capital · NationalFree to browse. | Guide | Free listings of grants, residencies and emergency funds, filterable by state including Texas | Updated continuously |
| Rauschenberg Medical Emergency Grants ↗︎Robert Rauschenberg Foundation (administered by NYFA) · NationalGenerative artists working independently in visual arts, film, video, digital arts or choreography, in financial need after a recent, unexpected medical, dental or mental health emergency. | Grant | One-time grants up to $5,000 | Ongoing program |
| First Peoples Fund Yéego Action Grant ↗︎First Peoples Fund · NationalIndividual Native artists and culture bearers (not students or current FPF grantees) facing a specific professional opportunity, emergency or sudden expense tied to their art practice. | Grant | $100–$2,500 | Monthly; applications open around the 12th of each month and are funded as money allows |
| First Peoples Fund Artists in Business Leadership Fellowship ↗︎First Peoples Fund · NationalUS-based Native artists 18+ who are enrolled tribal members or meet FPF's guidelines, at any career stage, building an arts business. Performing artists use FPF's separate performing arts fellowship. | Fellowship | $10,000 plus business training and a convening | 2027 fellowship window ran June 3–July 15, 2026; yearly |
| IDA Field-Building Fund (Supported Artist Award) ↗︎International Documentary Association · NationalIndependent nonfiction makers with limited means, and low- or no-budget organizations; nomination-based. | Grant | Not published | Rolling nominations; the Supported Artist Award is given through partner regional festivals |
| Fresh Arts Artist Opportunity Board ↗︎Fresh Arts · HoustonFree to browse; aimed at Houston and regional artists. | Guide | Free listings of grants, fellowships, calls for entry, gigs and jobs, plus a monthly Artist Resource Newsletter | Updated weekly |
Facts checked against each program’s own pages; programs change, so confirm before you apply. Not legal or financial advice.