Our massive list of grants is back, and for summer it's bigger than ever -- more grants, more markets, and more opportunities for both US-based and International filmmakers to get funding! Looking to finance your next 3D feature? Develop your humanities documentary? Get your script picked up by a top agency? Yup, there's an app for that. If granting puns don't get you excited, this list of relevant opportunities with deadlines this summer just might.
You asked for it! After our massive list of Spring grants, you asked for more opportunities for more people from more places. So for our summer list, we found grants, film challenges, and co-production markets for every person on the face of the earth! Well, that might be exaggerating a bit, but to give all you filmmakers and screenwriters your best foot forward -- and hopefully get you some cash -- we compiled all relevant upcoming opportunities we could find from a variety of reputable organizations and geographic locations.
The following grants, markets, and pitch opportunities are organized by deadline from June to early September. A few grants with rolling deadlines are thrown in, and an asterisk next to the grant title (*) means that grant is open to both doc and narrative films. To find out more specifics on a grant, click on the title and get started!
Documentary
From projects about the mountains, economic inequality, or international co-productions from all over the world, there are grants for everything, and storytelling reigns supreme.
Screen Australia: Documentaries International Program
For documentary filmmakers that have an Australian doc with international funding who are looking to finance their projects (and who have an international sales agent) try Screen Australia:
The International Documentary Program supports Australian projects that have international finance as well as a domestic broadcast licence fee. The aim is to: inject funds into the Australian documentary production sector by encouraging the producers’ direct use of international finance, and support producers to build and maintain international production partnerships.
Deadline: June 13
For woman directors, Chicken & Egg is a very well-connected org that supports docs about big issues. Grants average about $10,000 per project, offer mentorship and networking, and many Chicken & Egg titles are seen later at fests like Sundance. From Chicken & Egg:
We are looking for filmmakers with powerful stories, unique access to their subjects, a collaborative spirit, and the courage to take creative risks. One note about a special focus (for 2014 only): In anticipation of Chicken & Egg Pictures' upcoming 10th anniversary, we are prioritizing projects that feature women and girls on screen as prominent characters and storytellers. We look forward to discovering new voices that continue to address the global justice, human rights,
and environmental issues of our time — with women and girls at the center.
Deadline: June 17 (early), July 1 (final)
If you're a documentary filmmaker based in either one of the 12 MEDA countries that constitute the Mediterranean or one of the 28 EU countries, consider this euromediterranean doc market where between 20 and 30 selected films pitch to TV executives and professionals. From MEDIMED:
Create a unique, compelling, and personal Short Film that explores an empowering person or an optimistic story about individuals and communities who are overcoming poverty and hunger, combatting disease, or improving health. Your Short Film can be narrative fiction or documentary, imaginative, unorthodox, daring or simple — the style and structure are completely up to you but you must touch on economic inequalities.
Deadline: June 30
Sundance Institute/Gates Foundation Short Film Challenge*
If you have a compelling short film (narrative or documentary) that touches on economic inequality, this Sundance Institute challenge brought to you by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation can win you $10,000 and premiere your film at Sundance 2015! From the Sundance Institute:
Create a unique, compelling, and personal Short Film that explores an empowering person or an optimistic story about individuals and communities who are overcoming poverty and hunger, combatting disease, or improving health. Your Short Film can be narrative fiction or documentary, imaginative, unorthodox, daring or simple — the style and structure are completely up to you but you must touch on economic inequalities.
Deadline: July 1
A core component of Sundance's Documentary Film Program, this competitive grant looks for artful films about relevant topics, and it can get you $20,000 to $50,000, depending on which area (Development, Production/PostProduction, Audience Engagement) you are applying for. From the Sundance Institute:
The Fund reviews 1,500-2,000 proposals annually, awarding 50-60 grants to filmmakers around the world. When appropriate, select submissions are supported by subject-area experts from the American Civil Liberties Union, Amnesty International, Center for Constitutional Rights, Human Rights Watch, International Center for Transitional Justice, Open Society Foundations and others to illuminate critical context vital to a thorough understanding of complex global issues...In funding a broad spectrum of innovative and creative non-fiction storytelling, Sundance Institute embraces documentary film as a vital contributor to the language of the 21st century.
Deadline: July 8
Hot Docs: Blue Ice Group Documentary Fund
Hot Docs, one of the world's best documentary festivals, aims to support doc filmmakers that are citizens and residents of countries in continental Africa through funds and mentorship. From Hot Docs:
The Hot Docs-Blue Ice Group Documentary Fund is a grant program providing financial support to African documentary filmmakers for development and production. Development grants of $3000 - $8000 and Production grants of $5000 - $40,000 are awarded to approximately four to 10 projects annually.
Deadline: August 22
For both US and International filmmakers, POV is known as the best of American public television's showcase of independent documentaries, offering a highly competitive sum for broadcast distribution of films each season. From POV:
POV, public television's premier showcase for independent, nonfiction film seeks programs from all perspectives to showcase in its annual PBS series. All subjects, aesthetic approaches and lengths are welcomed.
Deadline: June 30
From the fantastic organizers of Camden International Film Festival, the Points North Fellowship expands on the popular Points North Pitch for five lucky filmmakers who will get sent to the fest to pitch their work-in-progress to the big dogs of documentary financing, and maybe win $1000 on top of that. From CIFF:
The Points North Fellowship, part of the Camden International Film Festival, is a unique opportunity for five documentary filmmakers (or filmmaking teams) to develop their feature-length works-in-progress through a combination of focused industry mentorship, workshops, meetings and a live, public pitch session - the Points North Pitch. Past panelists at the pitch include representatives from BBC, HBO, A&E IndieFilms, ITVS, POV, Sundance Institute, Tribeca Film Institute, Participant Media, Al Jazeera, Discovery and ARTE.
Deadline: July 18
If you're just starting out on a documentary, you know how hard it is to raise money for it in the beginning -- especially when you have nothing to show for it yet (because, hey, you need money to shoot!). The Catapult Film Fund will give you $5,000 to $20,000 to shoot enough footage so you can fundraise for the rest of the project. From Catapult:
Catapult Film Fund provides development funding to documentary filmmakers who have a compelling story to tell, have secured access to their story and are ready to shoot and edit a piece for production fundraising purposes. Our mission is to enable filmmakers to develop their film projects to the next level at a moment where funding is hard to find. We support powerful stories, and moving storytelling, across a broad spectrum of issues and perspectives.
Deadline: August 25
If you're documentary is nearly done, and has the potential to make a difference in the world about an important issue, the Fledgling Fund will support outreach and audience engagement strategies to the tune of $5,000 to $30,000. From the Fledgling Fund:
We know that the power of documentary film often happens when the lights come up and people can connect with the issues in new ways. How does this happen? This happens with thoughtfully crafted plans designed to move audiences to action. We support our grantees in their efforts to design and execute these plans.
Deadline: July 15
If you're working on a documentary that touches on mountain culture or the environment, the MountainFilm Commitment Grant will support up to five filmmakers a year with $5,000. From MountainFilm:
Grants are awarded to filmmakers, photographers, artists and adventurers whose projects are intended to move audiences to action on issues that matter. Interested parties should apply if they’re creating a work that can be presented in a theater, gallery or more broadly on television and online. We are particularly looking for projects that will have a positive and tangible effect on specific and vital issues. It's also essential that the project is invested with both the passion and capacity to be completed fully.
Deadline: June 30
Not so much a grant as a co-production investment, ITVS puts in serious cash for documentaries, and while they don't give out feedback to all applicants anymore, they will do so if you make it to the second round. (Filmmakers have often said applying multiple times to Open Call is the only way to go!) From ITVS:
Open Call provides completion funds for single nonfiction public television programs on any subject, and from any viewpoint. Projects must have begun production as evidenced by a work-in-progress video. Open Call funding is only available to independent producers who are citizens or legal residents of the U.S. and its external territories.
Deadline: August 8
The National Endowment for the Humanities is the big daddy of government support for documentaries that address the humanities. The application process isn't easy (you need an experienced team, a non-profit organization or fiscal sponsor, two humanities advisors, and a lengthy application -- Ken Burns' project descriptions are rumored to have been around 40 pages) but the payoff is worth is: one to three year grants in the $100,000 to $650,000 range. From NEH:
NEH encourages projects that feature multiple formats to engage the public in the exploration of humanities ideas. Film and television projects may be single programs or a series addressing significant figures, events, or ideas and drawing their content from humanities scholarship. They must be intended for national distribution. The program welcomes projects ranging in length from short-form to broadcast-length video.
Deadline: August 13
Like the above production grants, the development grants are for documentaries that address topics in the humanities, and the application process is just as extensive. The awards range from $40,000 to $75,000. From NEH:
Development grants enable media producers to collaborate with scholars to develop humanities content and to prepare programs for production. Grants should result in a script or a design document and should also yield a detailed plan for outreach and public engagement in collaboration with a partner organization or organizations.
Deadline: August 13
The Alter-Ciné Foundation offers $10,000 (Canadian) to filmmakers born and living in Africa, Asia or Latin America with a documentary project in your native language that fits in with the aims of the Foundation. From Alter-Ciné:
The Alter-Ciné Foundation is inspired by this ethics. The Foundation offers a yearly grant to young film and video makers from Africa, Asia and Latin America to direct a documentary film on the theme of rights and freedoms, including social and economic rights, women’s rights, the right to culture and artistic creation.
Deadline: August 15
If you're a film based in Asia, Africa, Latin America, and Eastern Europe and you're looking for either production or post-production support, Visions Sud Est can be good for 20,000 Swiss francs on narrative features and 10,000 Swiss francs for documentaries. From Visions Sud Est:
The Swiss fund Visions Sud Est was initiated by the Foundation trigon-film Baden and the Fribourg Film Festival, with the collaboration of Nyon's Visions du Reel and the support of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation. It supports film productions from Asia, Africa, Latin America and Eastern Europe, aims at making them visible worldwide and guarantees their distribution in Switzerland.
Deadline: August 15
ITVS funded LINCS (Linking Independents and Co-producing Stations) offers a matching-funds program to docs aimed at public television. From ITVS:
LINCS provides matching funds to producer-station partnerships. Up to $100,000 in matching funds is available for a single broadcast program.
Deadline: Rolling
The Scottish Documentary Institute Consultancies
The Scottish Documentary Institute is rapidly becoming a renowned force behind interesting documentaries coming out of the region, so if you're based in Scotland, the Consultancies are a good way to get your foot in the door. From SDI:
Scottish Documentary Institute is offering year-round submissions of Scottish documentary projects in development (shorts and features) to our Docscene project pool. The projects will then be steered towards forthcoming training programmes or other funding opportunities, depending on theme and scope: Seed Funding, Interdoc, the Edinburgh Pitch and prepared for other submissions to funders, meet markets or pitching forums. The aim is to improve quality of project development and increase the talent pool.
Deadline: Rolling
The Bertha BRITDOC Documentary Journalism Fund
This new fund offers £10,000-50,000 to doc filmmakers from any country in a mix of grants and investments. From BRITDOC:
The fund supports projects at the intersection of film and investigative journalism that break the important stories of our time, expose injustice, bring attention to unreported issues, and cameras into regions previously unseen.
Deadline: Rolling
If you have a social justice documentary at the rough cut stage, take a look at the JustFilms eligiblity to see if you can apply. (A few topics of docs that are not eligible: health, sports, early childhood, advocacy, educational, scientific.) If you are located internationally, see if you are in one of the ten places where the Ford Foundation has regional offices. From the Ford Foundation:
JustFilms focuses on film, video and digital works that show courageous people confronting difficult issues and actively pursuing a more just, secure and sustainable world...Beginning in 2011, we are investing $10 million a year over five years in documentary projects that address urgent social issues and help us understand our past, explore our present and build our future. Our goal is to expand the community of emerging and established filmmakers who often lack funding, and help them to realize their visions and reach audiences.
Deadline: Rolling
Narrative
Since narrative film is based on a for-profit model (even a tenuous one) there are less grants and more potential investors than its documentary counterpart. However, grants are out there! If you find your project ineligible, there are also film co-production markets -- where you can meet and pitch your film to the financiers who are in a position to fund your film. From TV pilot competitions to 3D film markets, here’s the lineup of opportunities with deadlines this summer.
NVTVF's Independent Pilot Competition (IPC)
Every year, NVTVF accepts independently-produced television pilots and web series from around the world for exposure, awards and development deals with Lionsgate, NatGeo, the Travel Channel, and Sundance Channel, to name a few. From NVTVF:
IPC submissions should be between 4 and 22 minutes in length, and all genres are welcome (Comedy, Unscripted, Drama, Family, Animation, etc). If submitting an unscripted/docu-series pilot, sizzle reels and/or character tapes are allowed. Official Selections in the IPC have the exclusive opportunity to screen in competition at the annual New York Television Festival, held each fall in NYC. IPC Official Selections are also eligible for the competition's category and individual achievement awards as well as guaranteed development deals from Festival Development Partners.
Deadline: June 15
Loreen Arbus Disability Awareness Grant*
This grant, established through New York Women in Film and Television, gives funds to a woman filmmaker with a rough cut of a film of any genre that touches on disability issues. From NYWFT:
The film completion grant for $7,500 will be awarded to a woman filmmaker for a film on physical or developmental disability issues. Directors and producers are eligible to apply. The Grant will be awarded to help complete a work-in-progress. Films must have completed principle photography to be eligible. Finished films are not eligible. Filmmakers
must be US-based.
Deadline: June 22
The Europe-Latin America Co-Production Forum
If you're developing a film that is based in Europe and Latin America, and have at least 20% of your funding secured, this third annual co-production forum from the San Sebastien Film Festival might be your ticket to the other 80% you need! From SSF:
Intended for developing works, the Co-production Forum is open to film projects from Europe and Latin America. Those responsible for projects will have the opportunity to present their works to industry members at pitching sessions and they will receive a personal agenda of appointments with professionals interested in participating in their projects. The Festival will present the Europe-Latin America Co-production Forum Award 2014 to the Best Project, carrying EUR10,000 for the producer of one of the selected projects.
Deadline: June 30
Film London Production Finance Market (PFM)
Coinciding with the BFI London Film Festival, the PFM selects project to meet potential investors for films with a budget over €1 million, and has a parallel MicroMarket for films with budgets under that amount. From Film London:
TheFilm London Production Finance Market (PFM) brings producers and financers together to foster relationships and source financing for specific projects. Attendance is available by application only. The PFM is open to producers with feature film projects of €1 million and above aimed at the international theatrical market. Alongside PFM, Film London held its first MicroMarket, a day of meetings between film-makers and financers interested in sourcing projects under €1 million.
Deadline: July 6
Screen Australia’s Feature Film Production Program
If you're an Australian-based filmmaker, you have got to get in touch with Screen Australia! The government film agency throws down major funds low-budget features, documentaries, and large format programs. From Screen Australia:
Screen Australia’s Feature Film Production Program aims to assist in the creation of a diverse range of successful Australian films that resonate with their audiences – films that entertain, enlighten and reflect an Australian sense of identity both domestically and internationally.
Deadline: July 7
SANAD, the Development and Post-Production Fund of the Abu Dhabi
Film Festival*
For filmmakers based in the Arab world, you could get $20,000 towards Development or $60,000 towards Post-Production, plus year round suppport, if your narrative or documentary is selected. From SANAD:
SANAD provides talented filmmakers from the Arab world with meaningful support from within the region towards the development or completion of their narrative and documentary feature-length films. SANAD seeks out bold and remarkable projects from both new and established filmmakers with the aim of encouraging intercultural dialogue and artistic innovation while building stronger networks withinthe region’s film industry.
Deadline: July 15
If you're making a film that touches on important issues and can be involved with the San Francisco film scene at some point between pre and post production, you could get $15,000-$50,000 to make it from the San Francisco Film Society! From SFFS:
The SFFS/KRF Filmmaking Grants support feature narrative films that through plot, character, theme or setting explore human and civil rights, antidiscrimination, gender and sexual identity and other social issues of our time.The SFFS/KRF Filmmaking Grant provides tangible encouragement and support to meaningful projects nationally that benefit and uplift the Bay Area filmmaking community in a professional and economic capacity. In addition to the cash grant, recipients receive various benefits through the Film Society's comprehensive and dynamic filmmaker services programs.
Deadline: July 28 (early), August 4 (late)
World Cinema Fund Production Grant*
If you have a production company in Latin America, Central America, the Caribbean, Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia, Southeast Asia and the Caucasus, or a German production company with a partner in one of those areas, you could get 80,000 EUR for your next narrative feature or documentary. From WCF:
Together with the Federal Foundation for Culture and in cooperation with the Goethe Institute, the Foreign Ministry and German producers, the World Cinema Fund works to develop and support cinema in regions with a weak film infrastructure, while fostering cultural diversity in German cinemas. The World Cinema Fund supports films that could not be made without additional funding: films that stand out with an unconventional aesthetic approach, that tell powerful stories and transmit an authentic image of their cultural roots.
Deadline: July 27
This Film London initiative is meant to warm-up low-budget features from emerging British filmmakers with production funding and professional training. Twelve projects get £1-7,000, and two final films will get £100,000 and additional support to make the films. From Film London:
Microwave is Film London’s micro-budget feature film-making scheme. Aimed at commissioning the next generation of film-making talent in the capital, Microwave has gone from strength to strength since its launch in 2006. In partnership with the BFI and BBC Films and supported by Creative Skillset, this unique training-through-production scheme offers
fledgling talent an avenue into feature production.
Deadline: July 30
CROSSROADS Co-Production Forum
If you have a film that has a strong connection to the Mediterranean, the Balkan regions, or Central Europe, this co-production forum might be for you. From Thessaloniki IFF:
CROSSROADS introduces producers and directors to a variety of industry professionals from all over the world. The programme is varied and provides the opportunity to meet, formally and informally, distributors, broadcasters, sales agents and consultants. CROSSROADS’ goal is to support the producers of feature-length fiction film projects that contain a link to the Mediterranean and Balkan regions as well as Central Europe. Qualifying features will be produced or co-produced by a country in this area or are movies that contain story elements based in these regions.
Deadline: July 31
NEXT EXPOSURE: Low Budget Independent Film Completion Grant
If you were thinking of a great place to shoot your next film and Suffolk County might fit, you could get a $6,000 grant to do just that. From the Suffolk County Film Commission:
The Next Exposure: Suffolk County Low Budget Independent Film Completion Grant is a Suffolk County Film Commission initiative administered by the Cinema Arts Centre of Huntington. The purpose of the grant is to create opportunities for filmmakers who shoot in Suffolk County. There will be two $6,000 grants available in 2014, one of which is dedicated to a film that is accepted into the Hamptons International Film Festival Views From Long Island section.
Deadline: August 1
If you are planning a production in Flanders, or thinking of co-producing with someone based their, the Flanders AudioVisual gets €12.5 million a year, and spends 78% of that money on film production. From VAF:
The Flanders Audiovisual Fund (VAF) supports audiovisual production in, as well as international co-productions with Flanders. The Fund was set up by the Flanders government in 2002 and is headquartered in Brussels.
The aims of the Flanders Audiovisual Fund are threefold: to develop a sustainable audiovisual industry, to encourage and support upcoming audiovisual talent and to promote a vibrant audiovisual culture in Flanders.
Deadline: August 25
3D Content Financing Market (3DFM)
Have a 3D film in mind you're looking to get money for? The 3D Mart is the first international financing market just for stereoscopic 3D! From 3DFM:
3DFM is open to experienced S-3D producers, and to persons with demonstrated artistic abilities in other domains. Wherever you are in the world, you are invited to submit your qualifying project(s)! All participants registered can attend the pitches, and they can network with the international producers, financiers, sales agents, distributors, and co-producers present at the market. The selection committee examines the projects, and then assigns each qualifying project either to an oral presentation/pitch to financiers and co-producers, or to a poster presentation.
Deadline: August 31
The Roy Dean Grant/From the Heart Productions Summer Grant*
The Roy Dean Summer Grant includes over $30k of in-kind services and products is open for shorts, docs, and features films with a budget under $500,000. From FTHP:
We fund compelling stories about little known subjects, historical films, and films that touch hearts. We like films that expose, and bring, important information to light; as well as films about little known people when there is a good story.
Deadline: June 30
National Film Board of Canada Filmmaker Assistance Program*
If you're a Canadian citizen or a landed immigrant, the Film Board of Canada has ten provinces that offer emerging filmmakers $3,000-$5,000 grants a year in technical services to complete your film. Deadlines depend on the province, so be sure to check them out individually. From NFBC:
The National Film Board’s mandate is to reflect Canadian values and perspectives through the production and distribution of innovative Canadian audiovisual works accessible in relevant media of today. The Filmmaker Assistance Program (FAP) is designed to help developing independent filmmakers complete their films/videos by providing technical services and support.
Deadline: June 27
If you're looking to get your film seen, and possibly financed, by the international film community, CineMart, hosted by the prestigious International Rotterdam Film Festival, is the place to be. Each year, CineMart chooses about 35 projects in need of financing. From IFFR:
Each year, CineMart invites a select number of directors/producers to present their film projects to co-producers, funds, sales agents, distributors, TV stations and other potential financiers. Over the years, more than 454 CineMart selected films have been completed and launched.
Deadline: September 1
The Jerome Foundation’s Film and Video Grant Program*
The Jerome Foundation has a good track record of supporting filmmakers in New York and Minnesota with innovative artistic sensibilities. From JF:
The Jerome Foundation’s Film and Video Grant Program is a production grant program for individual film and video artists who work in the genres of experimental, narrative, animation, and documentary production. Applicants must reside in one of the five boroughs and must be emerging artists whose work shows promise of excellence.
Deadline: Rolling
Nextpix/Firstpix Crowdfunding Grant
An interesting take on granting, Nextpix/Firstpix will fund films with a budget under $250k that are the first or second film by a director and are crowdfunding part of that budget. From N/FCG:
Rather than fund on a pre-determined cycle, we will accept queries from any film that is being crowfunded at any point during the year. Once we’ve received your query please give us 30 days to respond. The film should have a positive humanitarian message.
Deadline: Rolling
A new start-up aimed at making a LinkedIn type of networking platform specifically for filmmakers, they are giving away $5k each month to selected features or shorts:
Our mission is to help film and media makers create more work. We’re giving away up to $5,000 in grants each month. Projects can be at any stage.
Deadline: Rolling
Panavision’s New Filmmaker Program
If you are a student or a low-budget indie, Panavision might supply you with free camera packages. From Panavision:
The New Filmmaker Program loans film or digital camera packages (based on availability) to filmmakers for student thesis films, “low-budget” independent features, showcase reels, Public Service Announcements, or any other type of short not-for-profit project.
Deadline: Rolling
Screenwriting
If you are a UK-based writer looking for some recognition, and you happen to have a script suitable for children, then Scriptroom 7 could be a good chance to get a foot in the door. From the BBC:
This is not a free script-reading service, but a means by which the BBC seeks out the best new writing talent, offering writers without a track record, representation, or contacts the opportunity to have their work considered by the BBC. For Scriptroom 7, we will only be accepting the following: CBBC - Children’s drama, comedy or animation scripts for TV. Must be suitable for the 6 to 12 age group.
Deadline: July 7
This year-long program sanctioned by the WGA has launched the careers of writers from Maria Jacquemetton (Mad Men) to George Mastras (Breaking Bad). From Disney | ABC:
Writers become employees of Disney | ABC Television Group and will be paid a weekly salary of $961.54 ($50,000.00 annualized) plus any applicable benefits for which they are eligible in accordance with the then-current Company benefits plans. The program is designed to expose writers to key executives, producers and literary representatives – all essential in the development of a writing career.
Deadline: June 13
SFFS/Hearst Screenwriting Grant
The Hearst Screenwriting Grant from the San Francisco Film Society doles out $15,000 to a screenwriter with a promising treatment and first ten pages who has been around for at least five years and written a minimum of one feature screenplay. writing program gives you a salaried position for a year as you get hands-on experience writing specs and pitching stories. From SFFS:
The grant is open to writers residing in the United States whose project expresses both a unique personal perspective and an artistic approach to the subject. Priority is given to writers whose previous short or feature screenplays have been produced as an independent film.
Deadline: June 24 (early), July 1 (regular)
American Zoetrope Screenwriting Contest
If you haven't earned more than $5,000 on a screenplay, here's your chance to do that and get your script recognized for its compelling narrative by Francis Ford Coppola! From American Zoetrope:
The winner and ten finalists will be considered for representation by William Morris Endeavor, CAA, The Gersh Agency, Exile Entertainment, ICM, Oasis Media, UTA, The Radmin Company, Prolific Entertainment, Energy Entertainment, and Dontanville/Frattaroli. Their scripts will be considered for film option and development by leading production companies, including: American Zoetrope, Samuel Goldwyn Films, Fox Searchlight, Sony Pictures Classics, IFC Entertainment, Paramount Classics, Lionsgate...The contest's aim is to seek out and encourage compelling film narratives, and to introduce the next generation of great screenwriters to today's leading production companies and agencies.
Deadline: August 1 (regular), September 1 (late)
BlueCat Screenplay Competition
With prizes ranging from $15k for Best Feature, $10k for Best Short, as well as sums for UK scripts and International scripts, the BlueCat Screenplay Competition could mean some handsome sums for a lucky few. For those who don't win, everyone gets written analysis. From BlueCat:
Every year, BlueCat provides a community for the unknown screenwriter to develop their work, giving undiscovered talent a path to professional success. BlueCat accepts both feature length and short screenplays, and in keeping with our longstanding tradition, every screenplay will receive one written analysis, with our best screenplays receiving over $40,000 in cash prizes.
Deadline: June 15 (to get a written analysis by July 1), August 1 (final)
Sundance Screenwriters Lab -- International Applicants
The deadline may have passed for scripts from the USA, but if you're internationally based, you're in luck! Sundance Screenwriters Lab is a five-day screenwriting workshop – and it’s the gateway for all films chosen to be in the Director’s Lab, as well as eligibility to many of the Sundance grants. From the Sundance Institute:
Through one-on-one story sessions with Creative Advisors, Fellows engage in an artistically rigorous process that offers them indispensable lessons in craft, as well as the means to do the deep exploration needed to fully realize their material.
Deadline: Aug 15
Nevada Film Office Screenwriting Competition
If you have a script that could potentially be shot in Nevada (think desert) then you could a trip to the state and a look over by production companies courtesy of the NV Film Office. If that doesn't work out, maybe you'll get lucky on the slots! From the Nevada Film Office:
The winning script will be eligible for consideration to be pitched to production companies willing to read the winning script. Winner will also receive a complimentary posting of logline, synopsis and full script on the premier screenwriting marketplace InkTip.com, one certificate for one digital download of Final Draft 9 Screenwriting Software, two (2) complimentary roundtrip tickets on Southwest Airlines, and 3 day 2 night stay at the Riviera Hotel and Casino.
Deadline: September 1
Sundance/Sloan Commissioning Grant & Fellowship
For writers with a script that has real science, math, or technology in it (note: not science fiction) the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation can give you funds to either develop your idea or take your script to the next level under the guidance of Sundance. From the Sundance Institute on the partnership:
Only one of each is awarded each year. We are looking for a diversity of stories that not only highlight science (which can include math, technology, and medical research) as a central component, but also go beyond that thematically to engage us with strong characters and resonant themes. While biopics and historical films are welcome, we also encourage you to think outside the traditional mold of what a science film is, and to think in terms of using the science/technology as a backdrop to stories about individuals, how it influences their lives, relationships, and unique perspectives.
Deadline: Early September TBA
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Best of luck!
Do you know of a summer grant that’s not listed here that should be? Please let us know in the comments so we can add it to the list! And, if you go to any markets or apply to grants, let us know about your experiences!
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