Grants and Opportunities
June 2026: Opportunities from BRIC Foundation, NBC, NASA and more!
Name of Opportunity: 2026 Animation Co-op Grant
Opportunity Type: Grant
Fee: No Fee
Details (eg, cash prize and amount, mentorship, etc.):
BRIC Foundation and Legends Animated have teamed up to launch the 2026 Animation Co-op Grant, awarding $10,000 to support the formation of an animation creator co-op company made up of 3 or more individuals that are wanting to tell inclusive animated stories.
Deadline: Jun 7, 2026 11:59 PM PDT
Name of Opportunity: SFFILM Rainin Filmmakers with Disability Grant
Opportunity Type: Grant
Fee: No Fee
Details (eg, cash prize and amount, mentorship, etc.):
The SFFILM Rainin Filmmakers with Disability Grant supports filmmakers who identify as having a disability with films that specifically address stories within the disability community. Awards are made for up to 4 projects each year in the fall, in the categories of screenwriting, development, or post-production. This grant is eligible for feature and short films, narratives, and documentaries, with at least one for a San Francisco Bay Area filmmaker.
In addition to a cash grant between $5,000- $25,000, recipients receive access to the FilmHouse (located in San Francisco) and benefit from SFFILM’s comprehensive and dynamic artist development programs.
Regular Deadline: Jun 9, 2026
Final Deadline: Jul 7, 2026
Name of Opportunity: SFFILM Documentary Film Fund
Opportunity Type: Grant
Fee: (Regular Deadline: $30) (Final Deadline: $50)
Details (eg, cash prize and amount, mentorship, etc.):
The SFFILM Documentary Film Fund (DFF) supports engaging documentaries in post-production that exhibit compelling stories, intriguing characters, and an original, innovative visual approach. DFF grants are awarded once each year to documentary feature projects and are open to filmmakers internationally. The Documentary Film Fund supports approximately 3–4 projects each year with grants of $10,000–$20,000. As with all SFFILM grants, in addition to the cash awards, recipients will gain access to numerous benefits through the comprehensive and dynamic SFFILM Makers artist development program.
Regular Deadline: Jun 9, 2026
Final Deadline: Jul 7, 2026
Name of Opportunity: Erin Carine Grant for Queer Creatives
Opportunity Type: Grant
Fee: No Fee
Details (eg, cash prize and amount, mentorship, etc.):
Presented by Grove & Pines Film Festival, the Erin Carine Grant for Queer Creatives is a $5,000 annual award supporting filmmakers whose work embodies creativity, courage, and a deep commitment to authentic queer storytelling. This grant honors the legacy and spirit of Erin Carine, whose unwavering belief in queer artistry, community, and self-expression continues to inspire GAPFF’s mission.
Deadline: Jun 10, 2026
Name of Opportunity: Agog Open Call | Climate Futures + Immersive Media
Opportunity Type: Grant
Fee: No Fee
Details (eg, cash prize and amount, mentorship, etc.):
Agog: The Immersive Media Institute is launching an open call committing up to $1 million in funding to support innovators, technologists, artists, organizers, researchers, organizations, and creative teams using immersive media to engage people on climate, from awareness to action. This open call supports immersive media projects that help people better understand and respond to climate challenges and imagine what a better world could be.
We welcome proposals that use immersive technologies—including smart glasses, augmented reality, spatial sound, and mixed reality—to create more engaging, experiential forms of climate storytelling and civic participation.
Deadline: Jun 12, 2026 11:59 PM PDT
Name of Opportunity: Black Film Space x cliveRd. | Proof of Concept Short Film Grant
Opportunity Type: Grant
Fee: (Non-members: $35 | Free for Black Film Space Members)
Details (eg, cash prize and amount, mentorship, etc.):
The Black Film Space x cliveRd. Proof of Concept Short Film Grant is seeking one short film script under 20 minutes/pages that aims to serve as a teaser/preview for a feature film with narratives that feature nature. The grant total will be $8,000, in addition, the winner will have the option to shoot at a private estate in Jamaica—an exclusive, complimentary location provided by cliveRd.
Extended Deadline: Jun 12, 2026 11:59 PM EST
Name of Opportunity: NBCULaunch Unscripted Pitch Accelerator
Opportunity Type: Development Initiative
Fee: No Fee
Details (eg, cash prize and amount, mentorship, etc.):
NBCUniversal LAUNCH, in partnership with Universal Television Entertainment, is looking for the next, big unscripted idea through the second installment of the UNSCRIPTED PITCH ACCELERATOR. The NBCU LAUNCH UNSCRIPTED PITCH ACCELERATOR provides access for independent producers and content creators to get their projects in front of our unscripted teams for potential development across our various platforms. The conventional pathway to pitching a project typically requires one to come in with representation or an established production company/studio attached.
This Accelerator eliminates that requirement to expand our consideration pool to include anyone with a great idea. Up to five pitches will be selected to receive a $20,000 development deal with Universal Television Entertainment and will be paired with our internal studio, Universal Television Alternative Studio (UTAS), to further develop the concept for possible greenlight consideration.
Deadline: Jun 14, 2026 11:59 PM PDT
Name of Opportunity: Artists Creative Fund
Opportunity Type: Grant
Fee: No Fee
Details (eg, cash prize and amount, mentorship, etc.):
The Artists Creative Fund provides funding, visibility, and professional development for artists and creatives living in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Through this fund, 20 project-specific awards of $10,000 each will be invested in a diverse group of artists to test ideas, explore collaborations, and build skills in the process of generating innovative creative work.
This fund rewards artistic accomplishments to date and supports the continued development of creative projects in dance, theater, music, spoken word, performance art, traditional and folk arts, visual art (2D and 3D), film, literary arts, and/or any multi-disciplinary combination of the above.
Deadline: Jun 15, 2026 5:00 PM CST
Name of Opportunity: 2026 Film at Lincoln Center Academy Programs
Opportunity Type: Mentorship Program
Fee: No Fee
Details (eg, cash prize and amount, mentorship, etc.):
The mission of the Film at Lincoln Center Academy Programs is to support the next generation of film artists and critics and to foster a film culture that encourages diverse storytelling and points of view. Designed for aspiring artists and critics early in their careers, the FLC Artists Academy and FLC Critics Academy offer tailored multiday workshops during the New York Film Festival, providing real-world experience and mentorship from leaders in their fields.
Deadline: Jun 18, 2026 11:59 PM EST
Name of Opportunity: NBC TV Writers Program
Opportunity Type: Fellowship
Fee: No Fee
Details (eg, cash prize and amount, mentorship, etc.):
The NBC TV Writers Program is NBCUniversal’s premier program for emerging episodic television writers with the goal of creating the next generation of showrunners and content creators. The program develops writers whose distinct points of view and lived experiences provide unique perspectives to the writers’ room. During the program, writers develop an original pilot to which they retain all rights. They are paired with NBCUniversal development and current programming executives who mentor them, as they write their original pilot and polish samples for staffing consideration.
Deadline: Jun 21, 2026 11:59 PM PDT
Name of Opportunity: UnionDocs Collaborative Studio
Opportunity Type: Residency
Fee: See website for fee details.
Details (eg, cash prize and amount, mentorship, etc.):
The UnionDocs Collaborative Studio (CoLAB) will span 8 months, inviting a select group of media artists to come together for a unique opportunity in one of NYC’s most exciting neighborhoods, Ridgewood, Queens.
The CoLAB offers a platform for exploring contemporary approaches to the documentary arts and a process for developing an innovative collaborative project with this group. The program consists of weekly production meetings, seminars, screenings and other public events, along with regular critiques and encounters with visiting artists.
Final Deadline: Jun 21, 2026 11:59 PM EST
Name of Opportunity: Advancing Black Arts in Pittsburgh
Opportunity Type: Grant
Fee: No Fee
Details (eg, cash prize and amount, mentorship, etc.):
Advancing Black Arts in Pittsburgh funds individual artists, artist residencies, nonprofit organizations or community-based programs with a documented history of regularly/consistently producing or presenting Black art and/or cultural events advancing the art of the African diaspora.
Eligible artistic disciplines include: craft, dance, design, film, media, music, theater and performance, multidisciplinary, visual art, literary arts, and traditional arts.
Deadline: Jun 24, 2026 5:00 PM EST
Name of Opportunity: Tubi x Black List Horror Initiative
Opportunity Type: Filmmaker Lab
Fee: See application for fee details.
Details (eg, cash prize and amount, mentorship, etc.):
The Black List and Tubi have partnered to identify a feature horror script for Tubi to purchase and develop, with the intent to greenlight it for production and distribution.
Deadline: Jun 30, 2026
Name of Opportunity: Sofia Coppola Short Film Award
Opportunity Type: Grant
Fee: See application for fee details.
Details (eg, cash prize and amount, mentorship, etc.):
This award draws from that legacy: like Sofia’s unique voice, we’re aiming to identify and celebrate a filmmaker with a distinct creative point of view, confident visual sensibility, and an instinct for storytelling that feels personal and unmistakably their own. The award includes $20,000 to produce a short film, mentoring support, plus more!
Deadline: Jun 30, 2026
Name of Opportunity: NYWIFT Women Calling the Shots Showcase
Opportunity Type: Film Festival
Fee: See website for fee and eligibility details.
Details (eg, cash prize and amount, mentorship, etc.):
The NYWIFT Women Calling the Shots showcase of short films made by women filmmakers will take place at the 34th Annual Hamptons International Film Festival (October 2-12, 2026).
A partnership between the Hamptons International Film Festival (HIFF) and New York Women In Film & Television (NYWIFT), Women Calling the Shots is in its 23rd year. The series gives voice to the creative visions of women through film and video, including scripted, documentary, animation and experimental works. NYWIFT invites its members, as well as members of Women in Film chapters worldwide to submit their short films for consideration for this program that is curated by NYWIFT and HIFF. No submission fee is required for applications.
Deadline: Jun 30, 2026 11:59 PM EST
Name of Opportunity: Call for Creatives: NASA Seeks Help Illuminating Mission Storytelling
Opportunity Type:
Fee: No Fee
Details (eg, cash prize and amount, mentorship, etc.):
As NASA pushes the boundaries of exploration and innovation for the benefit of humanity, the agency is seeking partners to share mission stories on Artemis Moon missions, nuclear propulsion, aeronautics, and more. The agency is seeking proposals from filmmakers, documentarians, songwriters, storytellers, poets, and visual artists.
Please see the agency’s official announcement for proposals for full guidelines.
Deadline: Jun 30, 2026 11:59 PM EST
Name of Opportunity: Half Initiative | Director Shadowing Program
Opportunity Type: Mentorship Program
Fee: No Fee
Details (eg, cash prize and amount, mentorship, etc.):
Half Initiative provides an educational Director Shadowing Program in which professional episodic directors on every Ryan Murphy Production mentor emerging and mid-career women, BIPOC, LGBTQ, non-binary and minority directors (mentees).
Accepted mentee directors are placed on a Ryan Murphy Production to shadow the director from pre-production through post, on a single episode. Mentees receive a significant stipend for their commitment. These funds provided critical funding for travel, lodging, and daycare for working mothers, allowing mentees to meet personal financial obligations while gaining unprecedented access to further education and career growth.
After shadowing, mentees continue their education by attending ongoing panels, workshops and networking opportunities with other mentees to learn from Ryan Murphy Production producers, writers, directors and key department heads.
Deadline: Jun 30, 2026 11:59 PM PDT
Name of Opportunity: The Black Women Film Network Short Film Festival
Opportunity Type: Film Festival
Fee: See application for fee details.
Details (eg, cash prize and amount, mentorship, etc.):
Established in 1997, the Black Women Film Network (BWFN) was founded to prepare Black women to enter the film and television industries. The organization seeks to preserve the voice of these women through film and educational programs that empower and inform.
The Black Women Film Network Short Film Festival is open for submissions. Submitted shorts must be produced, directed by or featuring a Black woman in a leading role.
Regular Deadline: Jun 30, 2026
Late Deadline: Aug 16, 2026
— Compiled by Maia Wheaton
THANK YOU!!!