Call SheetUpdated 17 Oct 2026
Documentary grants, labs and pitch forums
Funds, labs and pitch forums for documentary films, from the first idea to the finished cut.
57 calls that haven’t closed, soonest deadline first. Each one says who can apply, what you get, what it costs and what to send.
The calls, soonest first
In the next 7 days
4-
- Who can apply
- Chilean nationals, holders of a Chile-issued ID, or Chilean legal entities (18+)
- You get
- Accreditation, one return flight and up to 4 nights' lodging for Ventana Sur, Montevideo (6 places)
- Entry fee
- Not published
-
- Who can apply
- Paraguayan producers or companies with INAP producer and project nationality certificates
- You get
- Up to PYG 290,000,000 for one feature documentary; 70% repayable if the film earns net income
- Entry fee
- Not published
-
- Who can apply
- Professional scriptwriters or writing groups developing a Finnish documentary
- You get
- €2,000 a month for up to 12 months, at most €24,000 per film, to write a documentary
- Entry fee
- Not published
-
Screen Australia — First Nations Development
Australia
Only for australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander creators
NewRechecked 17 Oct
- Who can apply
- First Nations Australian writers, directors and producers with eligible credits
- You get
- Development funding up to AUD 30,000 (docs), AUD 45,000 (features) or AUD 65,000 (TV series)
- Entry fee
- Not published
October
3-
Film Independent x Humana Foundation Shorts
Film Independent / Humana Foundation · US
NewRechecked 17 Oct
- Who can apply
- Director–producer teams physically in the US with unrestricted work rights
- You get
- A $100,000 all-in production budget per team (five teams); Film Independent owns the film
- Entry fee
- $45–65
-
- Who can apply
- Films with a Mexican premiere; Mexican, Ibero-American and international sections
- You get
- Mayahuel awards, with cash prizes of up to MXN 500,000 in the top sections
- Entry fee
- MXN 200–400
-
- Who can apply
- Filmmakers anywhere (international applicants accepted)
- You get
- A $3,500 cheque plus $20,000+ in services and discounts (one winner)
- Entry fee
- $38–48
November
25-
Big Sky Pitch 2027
NewRechecked 17 OctCheck who can apply
- Who can apply
- Teams with a feature documentary work in progress, any form or subject
- You get
- A 10-minute pitch to commissioning editors and funders, with feedback and 1-1 coaching
- Entry fee
- $60
-
- Who can apply
- Documentary authors who are French or from listed EU and European treaty countries
- You get
- A fixed €10,000 writing award, paid directly to the author or authors
- Entry fee
- Not published
-
CPH:FORUM
NewRechecked 17 OctOpen worldwide
- Who can apply
- Documentary teams anywhere with a 52+ min feature, a series or a hybrid project
- You get
- A pitch and financier meetings at CPH:DOX, free accreditation for two, and pitch-award eligibility
- Entry fee
- DKK 250
-
Sundance — Merata Mita Fellowship 2027
Sundance Institute · US
Only for indigenous women
NewRechecked 17 Oct
- Who can apply
- Indigenous artists who identify as women, worldwide
- You get
- A cash grant (amount not stated), a year of support, mentorship and a trip to Sundance
- Entry fee
- Free to enter
-
TorinoFilmLab FeatureLab
NewRechecked 17 OctOpen worldwide
- Who can apply
- Teams anywhere on a director's first or second feature, with at least a first draft
- You get
- Three workshops, industry meetings and a chance at production awards of up to €50,000
- Entry fee
- Not published
-
The Louies 2027 — Documentary Feature
Miami Film Festival / Miami Dade College · US
NewRechecked 17 Oct
- Who can apply
- Miami-Dade County residents who are US citizens or permanent residents, 18+
- You get
- A $50,000 grant for a documentary of 50 minutes or more (one award), plus free archive access
- Entry fee
- Not published
-
The Louies 2027 — Documentary Feature Finishing
Miami Film Festival / Miami Dade College · US
NewRechecked 17 Oct
- Who can apply
- Miami-Dade County residents who are US citizens or permanent residents, 18+
- You get
- $10,000 to finish a feature documentary in post-production (two awards), plus archive access
- Entry fee
- Not published
-
The Louies 2027 — Documentary Short
Miami Film Festival / Miami Dade College · US
NewRechecked 17 Oct
- Who can apply
- Miami-Dade County residents who are US citizens or permanent residents, 18+
- You get
- $10,000 each for three 8–12 min short documentaries, plus free use of the Wolfson archive
- Entry fee
- Not published
-
- Who can apply
- Rights-holders worldwide (18+) with a doc feature, one-hour single or factual series
- You get
- A live pitch to decision makers at AIDC 2027 in Sydney, plus mentoring and one-to-one meetings
- Entry fee
- AUD 66.50–76.50
-
NZFC — innovation-led production
New Zealand Film Commission (NZFC) · New Zealand
NewRechecked 17 Oct
- Who can apply
- NZ citizen or permanent-resident lead producers; NZ content or an official co-production
- You get
- Up to NZD 1,500,000 for an Innovation-led film; a grant if budget ≤NZD 1m and ask ≤NZD 500,000
- Entry fee
- Not published
-
- Who can apply
- NZ citizen or permanent-resident lead producers; significant NZ content or official co-pro
- You get
- Up to NZD 500,000 for post-production: a grant if the budget is NZD 1m or less, else equity
- Entry fee
- Not published
-
- Who can apply
- NZ citizen or permanent resident lead producers of a feature with significant NZ content
- You get
- Up to NZD 2.5m (NZD 500,000 for post); a grant if budget ≤ NZD 1m and ask ≤ NZD 500,000, else equity
- Entry fee
- Not published
-
Sundance — Graton Fellowship 2027
Sundance Institute / Graton Resort & Casino · US
Only for artists from California-based tribes
NewRechecked 17 Oct
- Who can apply
- Artists from federally or non-federally recognised California-based tribes
- You get
- $25,000 cash grant each (two fellows), plus a year of support, mentorship and a Sundance trip
- Entry fee
- Free to enter
-
Queens Arts Fund — New Work Grant 2027
NYFA / NYC Department of Cultural Affairs · US
NewRechecked 17 Oct
- Who can apply
- Queens residents, or artists with a year-round Queens studio lease
- You get
- 50–100% of a requested $3,000–$7,500 (no guaranteed $3,000 minimum)
- Entry fee
- Not published
-
EURODOC — Annual Programme
NewRechecked 17 OctOpen worldwide
- Who can apply
- Documentary producers anywhere with a project in development, not yet fully financed
- You get
- Three residential week-long sessions in Europe, online mentoring and meetings with decision makers
- Entry fee
- Not published
-
- Who can apply
- Experienced writers living in Austria or with Austrian, EU, EEA or Swiss citizenship
- You get
- Script development grant of up to EUR 12,000, or up to EUR 15,000 with several writers
- Entry fee
- Not published
-
- Who can apply
- Minnesota residents with an SSN or ITIN (citizenship not required)
- You get
- Production grant of up to USD 30,000
- Entry fee
- Not published
-
- Who can apply
- Minnesota residents with an SSN or ITIN (citizenship not required)
- You get
- Up to $10,000 for self-designed mentorship with experienced film professionals
- Entry fee
- Not published
-
- Who can apply
- New York City residents with an SSN or ITIN (citizenship not required)
- You get
- A production grant of up to USD 30,000
- Entry fee
- Not published
-
- Who can apply
- UK independent production company leading an international co-production
- You get
- Non-recoupable grant of up to £300,000, capped at 50% of the UK financial contribution
- Entry fee
- Not published
-
Thessaloniki Pitching Forum
NewRechecked 17 Oct
- Who can apply
- Documentary teams anywhere; focus on SE Europe, Eastern Mediterranean and North Africa
- You get
- Online lab, public pitch and one-to-one meetings, five nights' lodging and cash awards
- Entry fee
- Not published
-
- Who can apply
- Ibero-American directors with a documentary at first or second cut
- You get
- Analysis of a first or second cut in individual screening sessions
- Entry fee
- Free to enter
-
- Who can apply
- Films of any nationality made or premiered in 2026–2027 and not yet shown in Colombia
- You get
- Competition prizes from a pool of up to USD 100,000 shared across sections and WIP
- Entry fee
- $30–70
-
- Who can apply
- Features: Ibero-American director and lead company. Shorts: Colombian projects
- You get
- Post-production services for each category winner and a private industry screening
- Entry fee
- $10–15
-
Carole Dorothy Joyce Student Grant 2026
From the Heart Productions · US
Only for students
NewRechecked 17 Oct
- Who can apply
- Student filmmakers, worldwide (student ID required)
- You get
- $3,000 cash plus donated services and products
- Entry fee
- $28
December
12-
- Who can apply
- Feature documentaries about Southeast Asia in late edit or finishing
- You get
- SGD 10,000 cash each for three documentaries in late edit or finishing
- Entry fee
- Not published
-
- Who can apply
- Production companies established in France, for documentaries written in French
- You get
- Average €50,000 to fund a first shoot and a rough edit of a creative documentary
- Entry fee
- Not published
-
- Who can apply
- Indian documentary filmmakers with a feature on the 2026 theme of coexistence
- You get
- Share of an INR 1.2 crore fund for up to three projects, with mentorship and impact support
- Entry fee
- INR 2,000
-
- Who can apply
- Documentary or factual projects worldwide, development to post, financing not closed
- You get
- One-on-one pitch meetings with matched decision makers over three days
- Entry fee
- CAD 45
-
- Who can apply
- Independent production companies worldwide with a doc about 10–75% financed
- You get
- Pitch to a round table of international commissioners and funders, with pitch training
- Entry fee
- CAD 45
-
- Who can apply
- German-based producer with financial lead on a film of substantial German character
- You get
- Non-repayable production grant of up to €500,000, or up to €1 million in exceptional cases
- Entry fee
- Not published
-
Luxor African Film Festival
Egypt
Only for african directors, including the diaspora
NewRechecked 17 Oct
- Who can apply
- African directors, including the diaspora; a separate strand for Qena and Luxor directors
- You get
- A competition screening at the 16th festival in Luxor; prizes are not stated on this page
- Entry fee
- Not published
-
Visions du Réel — VdR–Pitching
NewRechecked 17 OctOpen worldwide
- Who can apply
- Teams anywhere with a nonfiction or hybrid feature over 60 min; no TV series
- You get
- Pitch to industry in Nyon with roundtables and one-to-one meetings; may qualify for €20,000 award
- Entry fee
- CHF 30–40
-
- Who can apply
- US residents with an SSN, or US nonprofits and fiscal sponsors
- You get
- Grant of up to USD 3,500
- Entry fee
- Not published
-
- Who can apply
- Rights-holders worldwide (18+) with a doc over 40 minutes or a factual series
- You get
- Pitch at Doc Edge 2027 with two Industry accreditations, mentoring and workshops
- Entry fee
- NZD 150–250
-
INAP–INCAA — Paraguay–Argentina Co-development / INAP route
INAP–INCAA — Paraguayan route · Paraguay
NewRechecked 17 Oct
- Who can apply
- Paraguayan majority producers with a genuine Argentine minority partner
- You get
- USD 35,000 co-development award; two Paraguayan and two Argentine projects are chosen
- Entry fee
- Not published
-
- Who can apply
- Legal residents of the 50 US states or DC, aged 18 or over
- You get
- USD 4,500 grant for one independent narrative or documentary project
- Entry fee
- Free to enter
January 2027
7-
- Who can apply
- Documentaries from anywhere completed after 1 January 2026; Ontario/Toronto premiere
- You get
- Festival selection and screening; selected films can compete for jury and audience awards
- Entry fee
- CAD 35–165
-
- Who can apply
- African feature fiction and documentaries; shorts and student films from any country
- You get
- Screening at DIFF, Southern Africa's only Oscar-qualifying festival, and its awards
- Entry fee
- Not published
-
- Who can apply
- European minority co-producers of documentaries by directors from IBF-listed countries
- You get
- Up to €40,000 per documentary, ideally from late production onwards
- Entry fee
- Not published
-
DocsBarcelona Pro
NewRechecked 17 OctCheck who can apply
- Who can apply
- Non-fiction projects at different stages of development
- You get
- Pitching, meetings, training and artistic consultancy programmes at DocsBarcelona Pro
- Entry fee
- Not published
-
- Who can apply
- Directors 18+ anywhere making a first 50+ min documentary, executive producer attached
- You get
- GBP 120,000 funding for the winner and a GBP 25,000 development award for the runner-up
- Entry fee
- Free to enter
-
- Who can apply
- Not yet published: awaits the Round Toru brief (a New Zealand public-media programme)
- You get
- Content funding (round caps not yet published)
- Entry fee
- Not published
-
- Who can apply
- Documentaries completed from 1 January 2026, with a New Zealand premiere
- You get
- Festival screening; the Best International Feature winner can qualify for Oscar consideration
- Entry fee
- Not published
February 2027
1-
Tribeca — Works in Progress 2027
NewRechecked 17 OctCheck who can apply
- Who can apply
- Fiction or documentary features in late production or post, not shown at a prior WIP
- You get
- Sneak-peek showcase for industry at Tribeca Pitch Market, plus two days of one-on-one meetings
- Entry fee
- $50–60
No fixed date yet
5-
—Rolling
- Who can apply
- French-based producers of projects given the Fund's writing award in the last 12 months
- You get
- Average €18,000 for scouting, technical tests, script work and finding finance
- Entry fee
- Not published
-
—TBC
- Who can apply
- African creative teams in past cycles; 2027 eligibility not yet published
- You get
- Not published in our notes
- Entry fee
- Not published
-
—Rolling
NZFC — Feature Film Development / Documentary
New Zealand Film Commission (NZFC) · New Zealand
NewRechecked 17 Oct
- Who can apply
- NZ citizens or permanent residents holding the rights, with qualifying credits
- You get
- Development funding of up to $35,000 per tranche, capped at $140,000 per project
- Entry fee
- Not published
-
—Rolling
- Who can apply
- Documentary projects on complex social, cultural or political issues
- You get
- Grants typically $25,000 to $150,000 per documentary project
- Entry fee
- Not published
-
—Rolling
- Who can apply
- Australian citizens, permanent residents and Australian companies with an ABN
- You get
- Up to A$30,000 per application to develop a documentary
- Entry fee
- Not published
More lists
A research snapshot, not legal advice or a promise that a call is open. The official page always wins. Updated every month.