Call SheetUpdated 17 Oct 2026
Short film grants, labs and competitions
Funds, labs and competitions that take short films and short scripts.
42 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
9-
- 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 70,000,000 for one short film; 70% repayable if the film earns net income
- Entry fee
- Not published
-
Euro Connection
NewRechecked 17 Oct
- Who can apply
- Short-film producers with a company in an associated European country and outside funding
- You get
- Pitch training and co-production meetings in Clermont-Ferrand; €160 travel grant, hotel and meals
- Entry fee
- Not published
-
- Who can apply
- Finland-registered production company with the rights; not sole traders or associations
- You get
- Up to €250,000 and up to 90% of approved costs; counts towards later production support
- Entry fee
- Not published
-
- Who can apply
- Finnish production company with rights, stable finances and distribution in place
- You get
- Up to €1,200,000, covering up to 90% of approved costs, including any development support
- Entry fee
- Not published
-
- Who can apply
- Indian citizens: emerging filmmakers with previous filmmaking experience
- You get
- A ₹12 lakh (INR 1,200,000) commissioning grant paid in three stages, plus mentorship
- Entry fee
- Not published
-
ECAMC — short completion
IMCINE · Mexico
Only for indigenous and Afro-descendant creators (self-identified)
NewRechecked 17 Oct
- Who can apply
- Indigenous or Afro-descendant people aged 18+ from Mexico or Central America
- You get
- Up to MXN 300,000 to finish a short with a final cut, plus mentoring and a residency
- Entry fee
- Not published
-
ECAMC — short production
IMCINE · Mexico
Only for indigenous and Afro-descendant creators
NewRechecked 17 Oct
- Who can apply
- Indigenous or Afro-descendant directors 18+ from Mexico or Central America
- You get
- Up to MXN 450,000 to make a short, plus a mentor, learning sessions and the ECAMC residency
- Entry fee
- Not published
-
- Who can apply
- Writer-directors 18+ with a short made, working in English; Qatar and MENA prioritised
- You get
- A place in an online short-script lab with one-to-one mentoring, 30 Nov–12 Dec 2026 (eight projects)
- Entry fee
- Not published
October
4-
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
-
Vail — Screenplay Contest 2026
NewCheck who can apply
- Who can apply
- Original, unproduced English-language features, shorts and TV pilots
- You get
- Networking and film industry access through the Vail Film Festival
- Entry fee
- $70–85
November
13-
Atlanta Film Festival — Screenplay 2027
NewRechecked 17 OctOpen worldwide
- Who can apply
- Writers worldwide with an unoptioned, unproduced English script (no AI use)
- You get
- Cash prizes of $250–500, travel stipend, two nights' lodging, mentoring or a retreat, and a badge
- Entry fee
- $100–140
-
Cinequest — Screenwriting 2027
NewCheck who can apply
- Who can apply
- Screenwriters with screenplays or teleplays of any genre and length
- You get
- Finalists are honoured at the Cinequest Writers Celebration with industry events
- Entry fee
- $55–100
-
- Who can apply
- US residents, with proof of residence
- You get
- A $5,000 seed grant (five awards), plus mentorship and in-kind colouring services
- 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
-
CHIRAPAQ — Indigenous Cinema Fund
Peru
Only for indigenous filmmakers and collectives
NewRechecked 17 Oct
- Who can apply
- Indigenous people aged 18–35 living in Peru, and Indigenous organisations and collectives
- You get
- PEN 15,000 each (four awards), a Lima workshop with travel and stay covered, and mentoring
- Entry fee
- Not published
-
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
-
- Who can apply
- Filmmakers worldwide
- You get
- Up to $10,000, reimbursed against short-film production costs; the amount depends on entries
- Entry fee
- $25
-
- 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
- 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
6-
- Who can apply
- Emerging Southeast Asian filmmakers making short films
- You get
- SGD 10,000 cash each for six short films
- Entry fee
- Not published
-
- Who can apply
- German-based producer of a children's short (max 30 min) with German cultural character
- You get
- Up to €40,000 to produce a short film of up to 30 minutes
- 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
-
- 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
- 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
-
Sedona — Screenplay Competition 2027
NewRechecked 17 OctOpen worldwide
- Who can apply
- Writers worldwide with unsold, unoptioned English scripts
- You get
- First place per category: VIP pass, up to 4 hotel nights, table read, award, TV interview, coverage
- Entry fee
- $65–85
January 2027
3-
Beverly Hills — Screenplay Competition 2027
NewCheck who can apply
- Who can apply
- Screenplays of any genre; who may enter is not stated on the festival site
- You get
- Golden Palm Screenplay Award, plus first and second runner-up awards
- Entry fee
- $35–50
-
- Who can apply
- Professional scriptwriters or writing groups, for Finnish film production
- You get
- Grant of up to €24,000, paid at €2,000 per grant month
- Entry fee
- Not published
-
- 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
March 2027
5-
ISO — Marketing, Promotion & Distribution
Indigenous Screen Office (ISO) · Canada
Only for first Nations, Inuit and Métis
NewRechecked 17 Oct
- Who can apply
- Canadian companies at least 51% First Nations, Inuit or Métis owned and controlled
- You get
- Up to CAD 50,000 for features and series, or CAD 25,000 for shorts, web and immersive
- Entry fee
- Not published
-
- Who can apply
- Writers worldwide with an unproduced English short script of up to 15 pages
- You get
- Top three: option-purchase deals of CAD 1,000 or 500 and Crystal Awards; a chance of production
- Entry fee
- $50–75
-
Nantucket — Tony Cox 2027
NewRechecked 17 OctOpen worldwide
- Who can apply
- Writers worldwide with an unproduced English-language script
- You get
- Feature winner: USD 5,000, a month-long Almanack retreat on Nantucket and a festival trip
- Entry fee
- $25–95
-
- Who can apply
- Comedy writers; general international call, script rules not confirmed
- You get
- Genre recognition; the feature winner's package includes software and an industry meeting
- Entry fee
- $35–45
-
Raindance Script Competition — Short
NewRechecked 17 OctOpen worldwide
- Who can apply
- Writers anywhere with a finished, unproduced English-language short script (max 40 pages)
- You get
- Industry Discovery List for 4-5 short scripts; the winner gets a Script Angel consultation
- Entry fee
- £35–60
June 2027
1-
HollyShorts — Screenplay Contest 2027
NewOpen worldwide
- Who can apply
- Writers worldwide with English scripts; category limits apply
- You get
- TV winner: option via 88th Street; feature: Alta Global consultation; Female Short: $1,000
- Entry fee
- $40–50
July 2027
1-
Flickers' Rhode Island — Screenplay 2027
NewOpen worldwide
- Who can apply
- Writers worldwide who control the rights to an unproduced English script
- You get
- Festival-linked screenplay recognition; no production funding or sale verified
- Entry fee
- $50–65
More lists
A research snapshot, not legal advice or a promise that a call is open. The official page always wins. Updated every month.