Learn about film grants by browsing our curated list of top film funders below. Members can also research funding opportunities for film using the search tool for GrantFinder. Become a member.
Film Funding Trends
Film is the most lucrative cultural industry in the world (UNESCO) and a powerful part of culture almost everywhere. Much of filmmaking happens in the commercial, for-profit realm. But there are a few areas of film that receive philanthropic funding, notably social-issue documentaries, art films, independent filmmakers and initiatives to diversify the film industry and to support filmmakers and stories that have historically been underrepresented.
Funding for filmmaking is modest compared to other philanthropic sectors. For example, in 2021, there were about three times more grants made for the visual arts and about 10 times more for music than for film and video, according to Candid data. That year, Candid showed about 3,100 nongovernment grants totaling approximately $204 million for film and video. The relatively small philanthropic field is also highly competitive. That said, philanthropic support for filmmaking seems to be on the rise, as perceived by experts in the field whom IP interviewed as part of our State of American Philanthropy report on Giving for Film.
Some film funders – like the Sundance Institute – have missions focused on the art of filmmaking. Other funders invest in film projects as a way to educate, inform or change narratives about the issues that are core to their missions. For example, an LGBTQ-focused foundation might fund a documentary about trans healthcare. This focus on film as a mechanism for social change is sometimes called “filmanthropy.”
Grants for film come from private foundations as well as community foundations. Major donors tend to invest funding in film schools and university film programs things like new facilities, scholarships, and alumni networking opportunities. Corporate funders, meanwhile, tend to get involved as sponsors of film festivals. Organizations such as Impact Partners and Chicago Media Project bring funders together to collectively invest in socially conscious film projects.
Areas of film grantmaking
Grants for films are directed to a range of purposes, including production or distribution of a film, nonprofit film organizations and funding individual filmmakers. Charitable giving also supports nonprofits such as film preservation organizations or film festivals where small and independent films can gain audiences and distribution opportunities. Fellowships and residencies, where filmmakers can hone their craft and develop new projects, comprise another focus of film philanthropy.
The most frequently named priority of foundations that make grants for film is documentary films, especially social-justice-oriented films, IP has found.
Regrantors are key to diversity and equity in film
Regrantors play an important role in this area of philanthropy, especially as a means to support artists from historically underrepresented communities. Despite some progress, people of color, women, disabled people and LGBTQ+ people remain underrepresented as onscreen leads and in film jobs behind the camera, as reported in the 2023 Hollywood Diversity Report.
As a way of decentralizing their funding and better reaching underrepresented communities, large foundations such as MacArthur have shifted more of their film grants to intermediaries. There are numerous regrantors focused on particular communities, such as the International Women’s Media Foundation and Firelight Media, which supports filmmakers of color. Some well-known film festivals also act as regrantors; for example, the Sundance Institute and Tribeca Film Institute.
In addition to making grants, many regrantors in this field provide accompanying support such as mentorship, networking and professional development opportunities to filmmakers. Regrantors dedicated to increasing diversity and equity in filmmaking increasingly bring that lens to their approach to fundraising and funding, as discussed in an International Documentary Association article about values-based fundraising.
Gaps in film funding
Filmmaking is expensive. The numbers work when it comes to commercial films that bring in billions at the box office, but for films that may be more culturally impactful than commercially successful, filmmakers look to public funding and private philanthropy to fill in the gaps.
It remains difficult for emerging, independent or niche filmmakers to create a sustainable career. With grants to individual artists, philanthropy attempts to help, but much more is needed to provide filmmakers a consistent, livable income.
More funding is also needed for early research and development for films, a reported in our State of American Philanthropy brief.
Foundations for Film
A BLADE OF GRASS
Grants support social change through the arts, as well as out-of-the-box artists who are socially conscious and socially active. The foundation prioritizes artists working in digital and multimedia.
ACADEMY OF MOTION PICTURE ARTS AND SCIENCES
This funder supports projects that encourage filmmaking, promote the film industry and contribute to an understanding and appreciation of motion pictures.
ADOBE FOUNDATION
In the film space, the Adobe Foundation works to propel young people to the next level of creativity and career opportunities. Grants for film serve high school, college and graduate students in documentary and narrative filmmaking, as well as film courses, film mentoring and work focused on social impact.
AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN SOCIETY
AAS funds fellowships that improve the American people’s understanding of pre-20th-century history.
THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF UNIVERSITY WOMEN
This funder makes grants to women academics and supports women and girls through activism and empowerment. It supports filmmaking that supports women directors or addresses women’s issues.
THE ANDERSON CENTER
The Anderson Center is an artist community in rural Minnesota that provides opportunities for residencies and retreats. It supports the arts in the upper Midwest.
ANONYMOUS WAS A WOMAN
Anonymous Was a Woman awards $25,000 prizes to women-identifying artists who are over the age of 40 and who are “at a critical juncture in their career.”
ASTRAEA LESBIAN FOUNDATION FOR JUSTICE
Astraea funds grants for lesbians and queer women, trans and gender nonconforming people, intersex people, and people of color. The foundation also supports rights organizations that advance racial, economic, and gender-related justice.
BLACK PUBLIC MEDIA
Black Public Media runs training and funding programs for filmmakers and teams producing works that bring the global Black experience to broad audiences.
BOGLIASCO FOUNDATION
The Bogliasco Foundation, near Genoa, provides short residencies to scholars and creative artists from all over the world.
BRITDOC FOUNDATION
Britdoc funds documentary filmmakers who spotlight underreported and unreported topics of importance. It also offers awards to creative storytellers.
THE BROWN FOUNDATION
The Brown Foundation supports both large and small arts organizations in Texas, but conducts some work across the United States.
CALIFORNIA HUMANITIES
California Humanities supports arts and culture, film, libraries and other humanities topics throughout the state of California.
AMON G. CARTER FOUNDATION
This funder makes grants to promote and strengthen Tarrant County, Texas, which includes Fort Worth, and conducts work nationwide.
CATAPULT FILM FUND
Catapult offers grants to documentary filmmakers and provide informal mentorship to filmmakers.
CERES TRUST
The Ceres Trust supports the environment, climate change resiliency, animals and wildlife, film and sustainable agriculture in Hawaii, the Upper Midwest and Central California.
CINEREACH
Cinereach grants are given to small and independent filmmakers involved in creating socially conscious films. They also administer the Reach Film Fellowship program with support from the Ford Foundation.
COMPTON FOUNDATION
The Compton Foundation recently revamped its mission to include support for projects with "transformative leadership and courageous storytelling" and that inspires action toward a "peaceful, just, sustainable future." They fund documentaries.
CREATIVE CAPITAL
Creative Capital grants for film are limited to $50,000, but that’s not all they offer their grantees. Creative Capital grants offer many kinds of support.
DANCE FILMS ASSOCIATION, INC.
DFA seeks to promote and preserve dance on film and video.
DOBKIN FAMILY FOUNDATION
The Dobkin Family Foundation funds organizations that help produce films and documentaries that reflect upon social change, among other important topics.
DOC SOCIETY
DocSociety, formerly the Britdoc Foundation, runs grant programs for documentary filmmaking in the U.K. and elsewhere.
DORSEY & WHITNEY FOUNDATION
This law firm funder describes itself as “an enthusiastic supporter of cultural programs and initiatives" and prioritizes organizations located in one of the firm’s U.S. locations.
MAX AND VICTORIA DREYFUS FOUNDATION
The foundation was created upon the death of famed music publisher Max Dreyfus, who worked with American greats like George Gershwin and Cole Porter.
FILMMAKER FUND
The fund supports documentaries. It also offers filmmakers assistance with distribution strategies and film festivals.
FILM INDEPENDENT
Film Independent offers grants to creative, independent filmmakers and producers whose work supports diversity and "uniqueness of vision.”
FIRELIGHT MEDIA
This funder supports documentary filmmakers from underrepresented backgrounds, as well as films about underrepresented people and communities. Many of the films it produces appear on PBS.
FLORA FAMILY FOUNDATION
This foundation supports arts and culture organizations, including a range of film projects and programs throughout the United States. Flora does not accept unsolicited requests for funding. Grant proposals are considered by invitation only.
FORD FOUNDATION
Ford’s JustFilms Initiative is enormous. With it comes an enormous amount of competition. If your project has a social justice/human rights angle, you will have a better chance at a Ford grant.
FOUNDATION FOR MIDDLE EAST PEACE
The Foundation for Middle East Peace supports educational, humanitarian, public affairs and civil rights organizations seeking to contribute peaceful solutions to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
FROM THE HEART PRODUCTIONS
From the Heart Productions' provides funding and services to filmmakers whose work has the potential to contribute positively to society.
GOOD PITCH
Good Pitch brings documentary filmmakers together with foundations and other partners in a seven-minute, rapid-fire pitch session. Participants then give feedback and decide whether or not to pledge funding and other support.
GREENBAUM FOUNDATION
The Greenbaum Foundation funds documentarians whose work may be categorized within one of the foundation’s areas of grantmaking interest.
GRUBER FAMILY FOUNDATION
The Gruber Family Foundation has demonstrated an undefined commitment to organizations working in film and film education.
JOHN SIMON GUGGENHEIM MEMORIAL FOUNDATION
One of the most prestigious awards in its field, the Guggenheim Fellowship is considered a mid-career award for those who are well established in their area of expertise.
IMPACT PARTNERS
Impact Partners supports the development and production of documentary films that address “pressing social issues.” It also runs a fellowship program for documentary film producers.
INDEPENDENT TELEVISION SERVICE
ITVS is all about documentaries and programs made for cable or public television. However, it does have a Diversity Development fund that offers grants for films on track for widescreen release. ITVS grants tend to range from between $15,000 to $100,000.
INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY ASSOCIATION
Through its grantmaking, the IDA supports documentary filmmakers with their filmmaking, production and distribution costs.
VIOLET JABARA CHARITABLE TRUST
This funder funds work benefitting the Middle East across multiple issues, from film to women’s issues.
JAPAN-UNITED STATES FRIENDSHIP COMMISSION
This funder is an independent federal government agency that supports projects that highlight the cultural, educational, and intellectual exchange between the United States and Japan. It supports films and filmmakers who examine this relationship in their work.
JEROME FOUNDATION
The Jerome Foundation supports early career and emerging filmmakers.
KRESGE FOUNDATION
The Kresge Foundation supports arts and culture organizations working in low-income areas of major cities across the United States.
LEAR FAMILY FOUNDATION
The Lear Family Foundation has increased its grantmaking for film over the past several years, although the foundation has not named specific goals or priorities for its grantmaking in this area.
JONATHAN LOGAN FAMILY FOUNDATION
The Jonathan Logan Family Foundation seeks documentary filmmakers and projects focusing on social justice causes.
REVA AND DAVID LOGAN FOUNDATION
The Reva and David Logan Foundation broadly awards grant to filmmakers and filmmaking organizations across the United States.
MACARTHUR FOUNDATION
The MacArthur Foundation provides the public with "high-quality, professionally produced documentary films, deep and analytical journalism, and well-produced news and public affairs programming." At present, all of its support for filmmaking is offered through partner organizations.
NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS
NEA is an independent government organization that funds art projects that celebrate artistic American excellence.
NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE HUMANITIES
NEH is an independent government organization that funds projects to promote research, education, preservation, and public programs in the humanities.
NATIONAL FILM PRESERVATION FOUNDATION
The National Film Preservation Foundation has a specific commitment—to preserve the catalog of American film. If you're saving a historic and orphaned film, this is the foundation for you.
NATIONAL LEAGUE OF AMERICAN PEN WOMEN
National League of American Pen Women seeks to increase the visibility of women artists in the art world. Its funding priorities include music, visual arts, writing and film scripts.
OPEN MEADOWS FOUNDATION
Open Meadows grants support women and girls leading and benefitting from projects that address activism and social justice in film.
PANAVISION
Panavision supports film by giving new filmmakers access to professional filmmaking equipment.
PARK FOUNDATION
Park's film grants go to documentary projects that examine civil society, democracy, the environment and animal welfare.
PATAGONIA
Film grants stem from Patagonia’s media grants program, which supports filmmakers and production companies whose work aligns with the company’s environmental priorities.
PEW CENTER FOR ARTS AND HERITAGE
The Pew Center for Arts and Heritage awards grants exclusively to organizations and individuals in the five-county Southeastern Pennsylvania region. It supports artists and organizations with ambitious, imaginative projects.
PRINCESS GRACE FOUNDATION
The Princess Grace Foundation awards scholarships to undergraduate and graduate film students.
PUFFIN FOUNDATION
The Puffin Foundation’s broad film grants are awarded under the umbrella of its video, film and radio focus area.
MANUEL RIVERA-ORTIZ FOUNDATION
The foundation established by the celebrated photographer supports human interest documentary filmmaking.
ROBERT RAUSCHENBERG FOUNDATION
The Robert Rauschenberg Foundation firmly believes in using the arts as a mechanism for affecting social change. It provides grants to both individual artists and organizations.
ROSENTHAL FOUNDATION
Rosenthal takes a broad approach to funding film-related projects and organizations, which allows it to invest in a variety of projects both locally and nationally in the United States.
SCREENCRAFT FILM PRODUCTION FUND
ScreenCraft provides production grants for short films and online series.
ALFRED P. SLOAN FOUNDATION
Sloan’s Public Understanding funding program names books, film and theater as areas of interest.
SUNDANCE INSTITUTE
When it comes to film, Sundance garners more buzz and prestige than any other filmmaking initiative. Getting a nod from them is like being invited into the super-cool kids club.
SURDNA FOUNDATION
Surdna's film grants go to artists and organizations whose filmmaking promotes cultural and economic development of their communities.
THRESHOLD FOUNDATION
Threshold’s High Impact Documentary Films funding program invests in “documentaries that have the potential to transform public perception on major issues by exploring compelling, underrepresented themes and issues with a depth and nuance that is not seen in most mainstream media.”
TIME WARNER FOUNDATION
Time Warner Foundation supports diverse filmmaking schools and institutions.
TRIBECA FILM INSTITUTE
Tribeca is Sundance’s twin, with equal buzz and prestige. Tribeca even offers small grants for innovative filmmaking.
UNITED STATES ARTISTS
United States Artists gives out as many as 50 unrestricted $50,000 grants directly to artistic creators each year. Support for filmmakers is a significant aspect of this giving. It's a competitive grant.
ARTHUR VINING DAVIS FOUNDATIONS
The Arthur Vining Davis Foundations make grants for film in the area of public broadcasting only.
WALLACE GLOBAL FUND
The Wallace Global Fund supports activities that are either national or global in scope.
WEISSBERG FOUNDATION
The Weissberg Foundation supports film and filmmaking organizations with annual budgets of $2.5 million or less.
WOMEN IN FILM
Women In Film offers scholarships, grants, mentorship and funds to female filmmakers and producers to finish their films.
WUNDERKINDER FOUNDATION
As this is Steven Spielberg’s foundation, Wunderkinder’s arts and culture grantmaking prioritizes theater and film.
HELENE WURLITZER FOUNDATION
The Wurlitzer Foundation does not award traditional grants. Its philanthropy consists of three-month residencies for visual artists, writers and musical composers.
THE YIP HARBURG FOUNDATION
The Yip Harburg Foundation makes grants in support of social and political activism in keeping with its founder’s legacy.
Additional Resources
The Bureau of Creative Works is a film collective that works to bridge the gap between filmmakers and engaged audiences and seeks to support and premier “the best independent filmmakers working in short film.”
Film Independent This nonprofit organization supports independent filmmakers through events, professional development, and fiscal sponsorship.
Grantmakers in the Arts A national association of public and private arts and culture funders in the United States.
Media Impact Funders A network of grantmakers who fund media that serves the public interest.
Women in Film Women in Film advocates for and supports women in the film industry, including through finishing funds.
Women Make Movies A nonprofit that supports women producers and directors, including through production assistance and fiscal sponsorship.
