Film Independent Grants & Awards allow filmmakers to advance their current projects and help recognize professional accomplishments in independent film. With questions and for more information about Film Independent Grants & Awards, please email us at artistdevelopment@filmindependent.org.

Donors have the opportunity to directly support individual filmmakers by establishing donor-named Fellowships that provide unrestricted cash grants, education and experience for exceptional artists. To learn more about supporting Film Independent Fellows, please email Kate Walker D’Angelo at kwalker@filmindependent.org.
 

Spirit Awards Emerging Filmmaker Grants

Each year, Film Independent recognizes exceptional rising film talent via the Emerging Filmmaker Awards categories at the Spirit Awards. These three feature film awards (Someone to Watch, Truer Than Fiction and Producers Award) can include an unrestricted cash prize of $25,000 each. Nominees and winners are determined by the Spirit Awards nominations committee.

For more information, please email sawards@filmindependent.org.
 

Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Grants

Since 2007, Film Independent and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation have joined forces to encourage filmmakers to create more realistic and accurate stories about science and technology and to challenge existing stereotypes about scientists and engineers in the popular imagination. Learn more about our Episodic, Producing and Fast Track grants, as well as our Distribution Grant.
 

Fellowships

Through donor-named fellowships, we are able to support our Fellows with cash grants.

Amplifier Fellowship

The Amplifier Fellowship, supported by founding sponsor Netflix, provides a $30,000 unrestricted grant to six Black artists, plus additional year-round support. Applicants must identify as Black or African American; be an alum of Film Independent’s Project Involve or Artist Development program(s), or a past Spirit Awards nominee, or be nominated by a colleague arts organization; be a writer, director or producer; and apply with a current project in development (feature or episodic, fiction or nonfiction).

Cayton-Goldrich Family Foundation Fellowship

The Cayton-Goldrich Family Foundation Fellowships provide $10,000 grants to two (2) Jewish filmmakers who are accepted into Film Independent’s Artist Development programs.

The Climate Entertainment Development Grant

The Climate Entertainment Initiative will award a $25,000 development grant to a filmmaker who is accepted into Film Independent’s Screenwriting Lab or Fast Track with a climate-focused fiction feature.

Dolby Institute Fellowship

The Dolby Institute Fellowship will award an internationally-based Film Independent Fellow a direct post-production grant valued at $50,000, enabling the film to utilize the ultra-vivid color of Dolby Vision and the immersive sound of Dolby Atmos.

Imaginar Producers Residency

The inaugural Imaginar Producers Residency, made possible by The Walt Disney Company and Searchlight Pictures, and in collaboration with NALIP, supports three Latinx producers over a nine-month period, with each Fellow receiving a $50,000 grant and professional mentorship to further their projects and careers.

Imaginar TV Incubator for Fearless Latinx Creators

The inaugural Imaginar TV Incubator for Fearless Latinx Creators, made possible by FX Networks, in collaboration with NALIP, will sponsor six Latinx Creators, with each Fellow receiving a $3,000 grant and valuable support, insight on the FX Networks drama programming brand and direct access to industry leaders.

MPAC Hollywood Bureau Fellowship

The MPAC Hollywood Bureau Fellowship provides a $10,000 grant to a filmmaker that identifies as American-Muslim who is accepted into Film Independent’s Artist Development programs.
 

Project Involve Fellowships

The following Fellowships are available to select Fellows who participate in our signature program, Project Involve, which offers career opportunities to filmmakers from communities typically underrepresented in film & entertainment.

Amazon MGM Studios Film Fellowship

The Amazon MGM Studios Film Fellowship provides a $10,000 grant to a visionary filmmaker in Project Involve.

The Climate Entertainment Commissioning Grant

The Climate Entertainment Initiative will award a $25,000 commissioning grant to a screenwriter accepted into Project Involve, to write a new climate-focused fiction feature script.

LAIKA Animation Track

The LAIKA Animation Track in Project Involve provides a production grant to five filmmakers to create a stop-motion animated short film during a two-year period. Additionally, each of the five LAIKA Animation Fellows will receive a cash stipend in recognition of their commitment to the program.

Los Angeles Media Fund Fellowship

The Los Angeles Media Fund Fellowship provides a $10,000 grant to a remarkable Project Involve Fellow.

Panavision Fellowship

The Panavision Fellowship provides an outstanding cinematographer in Project Involve with a camera rental package valued at $60,000 for use on a future project produced in the US.

Sony Pictures Entertainment Fellowship

Now in its 10th year, the Sony Pictures Entertainment Fellowship provides a $10,000 grant to an outstanding filmmaker in Project Involve.
 

Production Grants

In collaboration with various industry partners, Film Independent supports filmmakers with production services, equipment and permits. Current production grants are available to our alumni via application.

Picture Shop Feature Film Grant

The Picture Shop Feature Film Grant is open to all fiction and nonfiction filmmakers (director, producer, cinematographer or editor) with a feature-length project in post-production. Film Independent will select a qualified filmmaker who will receive up to $50,000 in color correction and digital intermediate services for their feature film. View application dates and info.