Grants For Filmmakers
Funding opportunities for filmmakers.
Hey creators!
We are back with another playlist, this time specifically for filmmakers.
Currently, there are (13) featured filmmaker grants.
If you are new here, welcome to Grants For Creators, a grant curation newsletter where we research and curate grants and other funding opportunities for US-based creatives and small biz owners.
We aim to keep you informed about the funding sources available, so you can support your projects or ideas.
In addition to publishing a monthly newsletter, we create these “playlists” so you can quickly find relevant awards based on craft or identity.
Browse through all our playlists here. We keep these updated with new opportunities as we find them.
Some of our other playlists include:
Resources For Filmmakers
Tongal
Pitch your best ideas for video projects with noteworthy brands. If you’re a writer, that means submitting ideas, concepts, taglines, scripts, and more for brands and studios to expand on and turn into marketing campaigns. If you’re a filmmaker or animator, that means pitching creative briefs for the opportunity to be financed to produce video content. Learn more about Tongal here.
1. [NEW] The Y-CAM Production Grant - For Young Mid-Atlantic Region Filmmakers
This grant supports young filmmakers in the Mid-Atlantic region (ages 13–19) with funding to create new moving-image projects. Each cycle, one or two recipients receive $600 to bring their vision to life—from film and animation to podcasts or experimental work. Applicants must be residents of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, and the national capital of Washington, D.C., serve as director or lead creator of the project, and have a valid US High School ID or equivalent.
Deadline: December 31, 2025
2. [NEW] Saltonstall Foundation 2025 Residency Program - For New York State Artists & Writers
This opportunity offers free residencies to artists and writers who are year-round residents of New York State and/or one of the Indian Nations located therein. These residencies are designed for those looking for a quiet, supportive environment to focus on their craft. Categories include Poetry, Playwriting & Screenwriting, Photography (film or digital) & Filmmaking, and Painting/Sculpture/Visual Arts. Residencies range from one week to four weeks. There is no cost associated with the residency, and no cost to apply. Artists and writers awarded a residency receive a $100 per-week stipend plus additional support based on financial need.
Deadline: January 4, 2026
3. [NEW] The Emerging Filmmakers Program - For Washington State Early-Career Female-Identifying Filmmakers
This program supports early-career female-identifying and gender-expansive filmmakers by providing funding, creative development, mentorship, production support, and a bespoke marketing and distribution strategy for original short film projects.
The second cycle will focus on female-identifying and gender-expansive filmmakers local to Washington State, with each selected team consisting of a director, writer, and producer. Each team will receive a $10,000 non-recoupable grant to support the production of the Participant’s short film, disbursed in milestone-based installments.
Entry Fee: $10
Deadline: January 4, 2026
This is as far as free subscribers go. To access our complete list of grants, become a paid subscriber of Grants For Creators. We spend dozens of hours a month researching and curating this resource. Thank you for supporting our work.