Film Grants Available Right Now (2026 Edition)
For filmmakers seeking funding, timing and awareness are everything. Below is a curated list of active film grants currently open or approaching deadlines. These opportunities span documentaries, narrative features, co-productions, post-production support, and distribution funding across multiple regions. If you have a project in development, production, or completion, this is a strong window to secure financing.
Cultural Features and Documentaries
This grant supports feature films and documentaries that highlight cultural diversity and authentic storytelling, particularly from regions with limited film infrastructure.
Value: Funding plus distribution support in Germany
Deadline: March 4, 2026
Science and Technology Documentary Grant
Open worldwide for documentary projects exploring science and culture. Supports development, production, and post-production.
Value: Up to $100,000
Deadline: March 11, 2026
European Co-Production Fund
Designed for international co-productions of fiction, animation, or documentary features within Europe.
Value: Up to €500,000
Deadline: March 30, 2026
Middle East Documentary Fund
Supports creative documentary films by Arab directors.
Value: $10,000–$50,000
Deadline: April 2, 2026
Indigenous Language Documentary Grant
Supports young filmmakers from Africa, Asia, or Latin America creating documentaries in Indigenous languages and focusing on globally relevant stories.
Value: Up to $10,000
Deadline: May 15, 2026
Documentary Post-Production Fund
Designed for feature-length documentaries currently in post-production, offering both funding and industry support.
Value: $50,000
Deadline: June 23, 2026
Feature Film Distribution Grant
Supports narrative fiction films entering distribution with themes related to science, technology, or economics.
Value: $50,000
Deadline: June 27, 2026
Region: USA and Canada
Script and Project Development Grant
Supports narrative feature film co-productions between European producers and filmmakers from Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe. Budget cap applies.
Value: €60,000
Deadline: November 16, 2026
Rolling Documentary Investment Fund
Invests in 10–15 feature-length or episodic documentaries annually. Applications accepted year-round.
Value: $30,000–$100,000
Deadline: December 15, 2026
Why These Matter
Grants like these do more than provide cash. They often include distribution access, industry introductions, mentorship, or festival pathways. In today’s production landscape, layered financing is the norm. Smart filmmakers combine grants, tax incentives, co-production deals, and private investment to build viable budgets.
Strategic Tip
Apply to multiple grants simultaneously when eligibility overlaps. Funders expect this, and it increases your chances of securing at least one award. Keep a master application file with your synopsis, director's statement, budget top sheet, and visual references so you can respond quickly to deadlines.
Source credit: Information compiled from FilmDaily.tv funding alerts.