Filmaker Resources

We’re still building this page, but we’re here to support you as you move forward in your creative journey. Whether you’re submitting to your first festival, applying for grants, or gathering tools to pitch and produce your work, you’ll find helpful guides, templates, and inspiration here. This space is being created with you—and your vision—in mind.

    • How to submit (with FilmFreeway link)

    • Key deadlines (Early, Regular, Late, Extended)

    • FAQ: genres, runtime, premiere status, etc.

    • Past program

  • Descripti

    1. Vimeo Short Film Grant

    https://vimeo.com/shortfilmgrant


    Deadline: April 3
    Amount: $30,000 (five awarded)
    About: Production grant for original short films. Includes camera access, mentorship, and festival screenings.

    2. Chicken & Egg Pictures – Eggcelerator Lab

    https://chickeneggpics.org/eggcelerator-lab


    Deadline: April 11
    Amount: $40,000 + mentorship + retreats
    About: For women and gender-expansive non-fiction filmmakers on their first or second feature. Supports social change and underrepresented stories.

    3. JustFilms by Ford Foundation

    https://www.fordfoundation.org/work/our-grants/justfilms/


    Deadline: April 3
    Amount: $25,000 to $100,000
    About: For artist-driven, feature-length documentaries exploring social justice themes. Global submissions welcome.

    4. Catapult Film Fund – Rough Cut Retreat

    https://catapultfilmfund.org/rough-cut-retreat/


    Deadline: April 3
    Amount: Retreat (no cash grant)
    About: 5-day retreat for feature documentaries in rough cut stage. Includes mentorship with top editors and producers.

    5. Film Independent Documentary Producing Lab

    https://www.filmindependent.org/programs/documentary/
    Deadline: April 29
    Amount: Mentorship + Lab (no cash)
    About: Week-long lab for non-fiction producers (not directors). Includes industry coaching and networking opportunities.

    6. Shore Scripts Short Film Fund

    https://www.shorescripts.com/shortfilmfund/


    Deadline: April 2 (Regular), May 2 (Final)
    Amount: $15,000 (production) + $4,000 (finishing)

    About: For emerging writers, directors, and producers to receive financial support for their short films.on text goes here

    • Link to masterclass

    • Downloadable Festival Tracker spreadsheet

    • Budget template (Google Sheet or PDF)

    • Call sheet and shooting schedule templates

    • Sample crew contract or agreement

    • Recommended tools (e.g. StudioBinder, Celtx, ShotDeck)

    • Link to Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts (NY + national)

    • Basic release forms (actor, location, music)

    • Intro to copyrights & fair use (cheat sheet)

    • Deal memo template for crew

    • Legal 101 for indie filmmakers (short article or video)

    • Free therapy & support group directories (e.g., Open Path, Artist Thrive)

    • Self-care toolkit for production weeks

    • Daily mental wellness checklist

    • List of creative-focused wellness apps (e.g., Insight Timer, Moodnotes)

    • Artist interviews on mental health & burnout

    • Overview of top platforms (e.g., FilmHub, Short of the Week, Seed&Spark)

    • Comparison chart: aggregator fees, reach, pros/cons

    • How to prep your film for distribution (specs, captions, etc.)

    • Festival-to-streaming strategy guide

    • Filmmaker stories: how they got their film distributed

    • Pitch deck template

    • Example pitch decks from successful projects

    • What to include in a press kit