Embedded Files
Welcome to February!
WIFSFBA Celebrates Black History Month
Image by Freepik
February is Black History Month! Please join us in celebrating and supporting the creative works and contributions of Black storytellers. This year's theme for Black History Month – set by the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) – is "A Century of Black History Commemorations.”
“2026 marks a century of national commemorations of Black history. Dr. Carter Godwin Woodson, George Cleveland Hall, William B. Hartgrove, Jesse E. Moorland, Alexander L. Jackson, and James E. Stamps institutionalized the teaching, study, dissemination, and commemoration of Black history when they founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH) on September 9, 1915.
In 1925, when Dr. Carter G. Woodson planned the inaugural week-long observance of Black history, he could hardly have anticipated the imprint he would leave on the world. From Negro History Week to Black History Month, ASALH has carried forth the tradition, and the observances have become part of the warp and weft of American culture and increasingly the global community. For our 100th theme, the founders of Black History Month urge us to explore the impact and meaning of Black history and life commemorations in transforming the status of Black peoples in the modern world.”
Please read more here: Black History Month theme AND sign up to get 28 days of Black History Month via a daily newsletter here: 28 Days of Black History
Black History Month Film Events in the Bay Area
Black History Month at the Museum of the African Diaspora
When: Throughout February
Where: Museum of the African Diaspora, 685 Mission St., San Francisco.
MoAD will honor Black History Month with a full month of programs and events celebrating Black history, voices, art, film, literature, fashion, food and comedy. Prices vary.
MORE INFO: MoAD Events
Second Annual Kingmakers Black History Month Film Festival
When: 4:00-9:00 PM, February 12, 2026
Where: The New Parkway Theater, 474 24th St, Oakland, CA 94612
“On Monday, February 12, 2026, from 4 pm to 9 pm, the lights will dim and the screen will rise at The New Parkway Theater in Oakland as Kingmakers of Oakland proudly presents the 3rd Annual KOO Black Film Festival. This is more than a night at the movies; it is a communal gathering of hearts and minds where art, activism, and community intersect. At the heart of this year’s festival is a new collection of visual works created by and for our community. These films speak to the lived experiences of Black youth, families, and leaders shaping a new narrative for justice, joy, and liberation.
Each film is a window into the brilliance, creativity, and resilience of our young Kings and Queens, as well as community members, families, and storytellers who are reclaiming and reshaping our narrative. Whether through spoken word, documentary storytelling, or powerful visuals set to KOO music, the stories featured this year honor our collective past, confront the present, and imagine a future where our communities thrive unapologetically. These are not just films; they are collections of hope, resistance, and radical love.
As we gather in community, we do so with intention. The KOO Black Film Festival is a celebration of Black culture, legacy, and possibility. It is a reminder that we are the authors of our own stories and narratives. These stories deserve to be seen, heard, and lifted. As we move into 2026, we welcome you to bring your whole self, your family, your pride, and your presence. This is not just a screening; it is a movement. Let us celebrate our beauty, bear witness to our truth, and leave inspired to build the future our youth so powerfully imagine.”
MORE INFO: Kingmakers Film Festival
Black History Month in Oakland
When: throughout February
Where: Oakland, CA
“Oakland is a city renowned for its diversity and deep roots in Black culture. Throughout Oakland's history there have been a number of pioneers and trailblazers who helped make this city as great as it is today. Oakland is also home to dozens of influential Black-owned businesses to celebrate all year: from restaurants and fashion retailers to Oakland’s only Black-owned adult store and ‘crystal botanica’. This month we celebrate all of this a little extra, but Oakland's Black legacy is on display year-round.
The Oakland Museum of California has an exhibit as part of the Gallery of California History about the Black Power movement. In response to the widely-popular 2016 exhibition All Power to the People: Black Panthers at 50, this installation is an on-going exhibit that illustrates the creative ways black anti-racist activists in California supported their communities and challenged the U.S. government.
You may also plan a visit to the African American Museum and Library, a museum dedicated to the discovery, preservation, interpretation, and sharing of historical and cultural experiences of African Americans in California and the West for present and future generations.”
MORE INFO: Black History Month - Oakland
BAMPFA - Black Life: Memory as Miracle
When: Saturday, Feb. 7th, 5:00pm
Where: BAMPFA, 2155 Center Street Berkeley, CA
“Experience the vitality and range of cultural production in the African diaspora through this multidisciplinary event series.
Black Life Series Curator Gabriele Christian
Performer and new Black Life series guest curator Gabriele Christian presents AS LONG AS THERE ARE CATASTROPHES, THERE WILL BE MIRACLES, a series of four encounters over the four seasons, each a collision between two performance or visual artists who neither the audience nor the artists themselves will know until the day of the show. We will witness the miracle of what emerges from a first glance. As curator, I hold the whims of the two artists, their fantasies and obsessions, and share with them respectively as medium; this active curation, this intermediary curation, will offer a freedom and spontaneous combustion when the artists finally find each other on the floor. Like how Black Life has always been - surreptitious, miraculous, superb.”
MORE INFO: Black Life
Letter from the President
Dear WIFSFBA Community,
February has always felt like the month of love to me. Love in all its fierce, complicated, imperfect beauty. This year, that feeling is mixed with heartbreak for me and yet February is also Black History Month, which invites me to pause, celebrate and recognize the extraordinary contributions and voices of Black artists and storytellers who continue to shape our culture and our industry. Extraordinary films this year such as Sinners and Origin are reminders of the power of authentic representation and why it matters. It is also a moment to acknowledge the many underappreciated communities and minorities whose stories are still too often overlooked, and to recommit, as women in film, to widening the circle so more voices are seen, heard, and valued.
Lately, it feels as though the widening circle is being choked, and I cannot read or turn on the news without feeling shattered, heartbroken, and deeply infuriated about the inflicted suffering in our world. I want to turn it off and at the same time, I feel a moral obligation to stay informed. It’s a painful tug-of-war: one part of me wants to stay aware, the other wants to turn it all off and simply feel the beauty of each day. But the truth is, the answer cannot be to go numb. Numbness is not an option. Not for artists. Not for women. Not for us filmmakers.
I’m writing this letter from the beach on the North Shore of Oahu. That I know sounds wonderful, but I had a horrible fever last night and I’m not feeling well. This is my vacation so I’m trying to make the best of it.
I actually lived here many years ago, before my aunt and uncle ever came. Then, like a quiet migration of hearts, my family eventually followed. My aunt and uncle moved here twenty-five years ago, my cousin followed soon after, and our family became rooted on this island in a way I never could have predicted. My uncle became an administrator of a wonderful hospital in Honolulu and helped create a Zen healing center there. He built a place of koi ponds, waterfalls, and calm for families who would otherwise be trapped in fluorescent rooms and bad news. It was his way of making the world gentler.
Now my uncle spends his days in that very hospital after a stroke, and my aunt Barbara Jane Megara just passed away. She was the woman who stepped in when my mother became gravely ill when I was twelve. She was brilliant, spiritual, intellectual, and complicated. She guided me, challenged me, and sometimes hurt me. And like many complicated relationships, her passing opened a flood of unresolved feelings: love, anger, sadness, gratitude… all tangled together.
She and my mother (her sister) were true activists. My aunt Barbara was a literal global leader who traveled the country for La Leche League International, making sure that women who wanted to nurse their babies received correct, science-based information at a time when formula companies and certain medical practices were distorting the truth. She even came to San Francisco during that period to speak and advocate. So when I say I come from strong women, I mean it. I come from women who cared deeply about the women who would come after them and refused to let profit, politics, or convenience silence the truth.
Unfortunately, she had stage four lung cancer for eight years, then more recently, another more progressive lung cancer. She was gone within eight months. She fought longer than anyone expected because she wanted to be there for her family, friends, and my uncle; to care for him, to show up. That, I think, is what we’re here to do as humans: to show up for each other, especially when the world is at its worst.
And here’s what keeps breaking my heart open here in Hawaii as I look at the ocean. There is a rare sandbar shimmering in the sun, people laughing, surfers drifting in the lineup, children building castles and I think to myself the world is burning, and yet there is still beauty. We must learn to hold both. To feel the sorrow and not look away. To feel the joy and not apologize for it.
So here is my radical suggestion for February, the month of love: Do not go numb. Feel it. All of it. Let the world break your heart open, not close it. Cry if you need to. Rage if you need to. Get sick with it, then rise with it. And then pick up your pen, iPad, or camera. Because we are filmmakers. We are storytellers and through those incredible stories can help inspire real change. We are women. And we are powerful.
I’m going to take my heartbreak, my fury, my tenderness, and make something.
There’s a lot of pain in the world right now so film it. Photograph it. Write it. Sing it. Sculpt it. Whatever your medium, use it. Art is how we remain human. Art is how we change culture. And culture is how we change the world.
So let February be the month we choose love, not the soft, greeting-card version, but the fierce, inconvenient, world-changing kind. The kind that refuses to go numb.
Wishing you love, courage, creation, health and peace.
With solidarity and heart,
Julie Rubio
President, Women in Film San Francisco Bay Area
WIFSFBA EVENTS
Script Incubator Monthly Table Reads
Script Incubator Monthly Table Reads
When: Monday, February 9th, 7:00-9:00pm PDT
Where: Zoom
The Script Incubator meets on Zoom every third Monday from 7:00-9:00 p.m. to discuss the group’s work, which includes TV pilots, features, shorts, and web series. For 2026, we are reviewing each other's work "table read" style, in which we will read aloud up to 3 script portions of 1-10 pages each. No homework! We are also seeking actors to bring the parts alive so the scriptwriters can hear their words aloud. Each Zoom session will be recorded so the screenwriter can go back and see what worked and what didn't. And all participants will be encouraged to give feedback and support each other during the meetings.
If you have any questions about the table-read or would like to reserve a spot for your script at the next meeting, feel free to contact Carol Hall at bod-admin@wifsfba.org with “Script Incubator” in the subject line.
Second Annual WIFSFBA Town Hall!
When: 6:00 - 7:30 PM, February 10th, 2026
Where: Zoom
Cost: Free
Get ready for our second annual WIFSFBA Town Hall Meeting - an evening of connection, collaboration, and creativity! This virtual gathering is your chance to join forces with current and prospective members of Women in Film San Francisco Bay Area and help shape the future of our vibrant community.
Join us to celebrate our shared passion for supporting women in the film and creative industries. The Town Hall will feature large group discussions and breakout conversations, providing the perfect space to exchange ideas, share your vision, and imagine possibilities for the year ahead.
Whether you want to suggest ways to enhance existing programs, pitch fresh event ideas, or suggest new activities to inspire creative growth, this is your opportunity to be heard, make an impact, and help guide the direction of WIFSFBA. Together, we’ll design initiatives that empower, connect, and uplift our incredible community of creatives.
If you know anybody interested in WIFSFBA, invite them to join!
MORE INFO & Sign up here: WIFSFBA Town Hall
February Community Networking
The Vine: The Video Instudty Networking Event
When: February 5th, 6:00-8:00 PM PDT
Where: Port Labs, 2044 Franklin St., Oakland, CA
Cost: $5
“Our special 2 year 𝗩𝗶𝗻𝗲-𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝗿𝘆 is a 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆! We will have delicious catered food, wine and a DJ spinning 𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗛𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗰!
Whether you're a filmmaker, DP, motion designer, producer, editor, or play ANY role in the video industry, The VINE is the place to be for networking, promotion and inspiration. And as usual, your $5 admission gets you pizza, wine and other refreshments.
Also, you'll have the opportunity to promote yourself and what you are working on, during the last portion of the evening in a segment we call ‘Voices of the Vine.’”
Register here: Vine Mixer Event
SF Wednesday Winedown
Join member Kristin Tieche for the Wednesday Winedown in San Francisco every month!
Keep a lookout for the announcement on our social media channels, WIFchat and the WIFSFBA website local meetups page!
East Bay Meetup
WIFSFBA members (Beth Barany and Amy Boyd) have organized a monthly East Bay meet-n-greet in Oakland, a WIFSFBA hub.
Ideally, we'll meet monthly on the third Wednesday of the month. Keep an eye out on WIFchat or social media! Come join us to connect, share, schmooze, and make new filmmaking friends!
Open to all -- Bring your filmmaking buddies and colleagues. Keep an eye out on WIFchat and the WIFSFBA website local meetups page!
WIFSFBA UPDATES
WIFSFBA NYWIFT Online Mixer Wrap-up
Thanks to everyone for joining us at the joint NYWIFT and WIFSFBA mixer event online January 20th! It was great to see so many new faces from both coasts. Ideas were shared, suggestions made, and potential collaborations flourished!
News from Sundance 2026
WIFSFBA Board members Kelli White and Nil Unerdem attended the last Sundance Film Festival in Park City this year! There were a lot of panels, networking, and get togethers as well as some amazing short films, episodic shows, and narrative and documentary features. Nil also got to pitch her sci-fi comedy horror feature Human Stalk at the Impact Lounge in front of an audience and a panel of literary managers through the Roadmap Writers program!
Become a Dual Member of WIFSFBA & New York Women in Film and Television
New York Women In Film and Television (NYWIFT) is offering dual membership to WIFSFBA members. If you are a WIFSFBA member in good standing, you may purchase a NYWIFT Industry Level membership for $100 (plus a $50 initiation fee), a saving of 50% off the normal $200 membership. Membership in NYWIFT includes:
Online and in-person networking and learning events
Marketing Creative Talent in weekly e-blast, Twitter, and Members in the News Webpage
Advanced Screenings
Online Member Center
Benefits Program
Fiscal Sponsorship
Affinity Groups and Committees
Electronic Copies of NYWIFT Publications
One Member-Price Ticket to the NYWIFT Muse Awards
For more information, please see the description here, and download and fill out form. Applications may be emailed or snail mailed to the addresses inside the application. If you have any questions, please email membership@nywift.org or call 212 679-0870 x 31.
WIFSFBA Public Member Crew List
One perk of individual WIFSFBA membership is the Public Member Crew List that you can opt into, accessed through the WIFSFBA website under "Join Us" then "Hire Us." Take a look here to find your next crew, or list yourself and your skills!
Check it out here: Women In Film San Francisco Bay Area - Public Member Crew List
WIFSFBA Private Member Crew List
A similar perk of individual WIFSFBA membership is the private version of the public list (those who prefer to only be viewed by other WIFSFBA members). This Private Member Crew List can be seen by logging into our website. This is another great resource to find collaborators, crew, and connections!
Check it out here: Women In Film San Francisco Bay Area - Member Directory
IMDB Pro Member Discount
The new 2025 IMDbPro discount code for 30% off an annual or monthly membership is available if you are a WIFSFBA member. Please email bod-admin@wifsfba.org with “IMDBPro discount” in the subject line for the code.
To redeem the code, users must go to IMDbpro.com/redeem, enter the promo code and log in. Please note offers may not be combined and entering a new promo code will override any lesser discount that has been applied to your account. Promotional discounts will be applied at the start of your next billing cycle. This offer is limited to members only and is non-transferable.
WIFSFBA Merch Store!
Check out our exclusive new WIFSFBA Film Role Apparel (Producer, Director, Screenwriter, etc.)! Wear your film role with pride AND support Women in Film San Francisco Bay Area at the same time! Whether you're treating yourself or finding the ideal gift for a friend, we've got something special for everyone. Check out the online store here: WIFSFBA merch!
MEMBERS IN THE NEWS
MEMBERS IN THE NEWS
WIFSFBA Member Kate Schultz's short film "End Run" at the 2026 Poppy Jasper Film Festival!
Kate Schultz’s short “End Run” will be screened in April 2026 at the Poppy Jasper Film Festival, date to be announced. As Kate describes, “it’s about a dying patient seeking physician-assisted Death with Dignity, but it's illegal in his state of Texas.”
Congratulations Kate!
MORE INFO: Kate Schultz & trailer END_RUN_FINAL_Trailer on Vimeo
The True Story of Tamara de Lempicka & The Art of Survival at the National Museum of Women in the Arts!
From our President, Julie Rubio:
“Dear Women in Film San Francisco Bay Area Community,
We are delighted to share that the Sacramento Jewish Film Festival, in collaboration with the Crocker Art Museum, will launch its first event of 2026 with a special screening of The True Story of Tamara de Lempicka & The Art of Survival.
If you are located in the Sacramento region — or have friends, colleagues, or film lovers there — we warmly encourage you to attend or help spread the word.
This visually stunning feature documentary traces the extraordinary life of the celebrated Art Deco painter Tamara de Lempicka. From her meteoric rise in 1920s Paris to her emigration to the United States while fleeing fascism in the 1940s, the film follows a remarkable refugee who reinvented herself across continents and identities. Moving beyond her public persona, the documentary explores the resilience, talent, and artistic freedom of a bisexual Jewish artist whose legacy continues to inspire generations.
Post-Film Discussion & Reception
Following the screening, join an engaging conversation with the filmmakers:
Julie Rubio — Award-winning director, producer, writer, and actor
Blake Wellen — Associate and Co-Producer, East Meets West Productions, LLC
Tickets will be available through the Crocker Art Museum beginning Spring 2026.
Since 1997, the Sacramento Jewish Film Festival has presented thought-provoking films celebrating the cultural diversity and richness of Jewish stories worldwide.”
Congratulations Julie!
MORE INFO: Sacramento Jewish Film Festival
WIFSFBA Secretary Nil Unerdem at the Impact Lounge @Sundance
That's me, fourth from the left! Through the Top Tier program at Roadmap Writers, I got to pitch my sci-fi horror comedy feature called Human Stalk at the Impact Lounge at the Sundance Film Festival this year! Here’s some more info on the event: Pitch Bites
And my logline: A selfish corporate lawyer must race to save her husband when melting ice caps unleash deadly spores that turn people into rabid environmentalists. It’s like Invasion of the Body Snatchers meets Don’t Look Up.
Each day preceding the pitch, there were practice sessions with feedback from Joey Tuccio, the head of Roadmap Writers. I memorized what I was going to say so I wouldn’t be nervous about skipping any lines, and had to keep it near the three minute mark. I’m glad there weren’t any major hiccups (except for a slight technical slide hitch) and it sounded conversational during the actual pitch. I got some good feedback and met a lot of potential future collaborators, people into science, fungi, and horror comedy…now if only I had funding! I think the most valuable part was meeting other writers and filmmakers, and getting practice pitching in front of real people instead of a Zoom room.
Storytelling is now more important than ever to spark dialogue, understanding, and compassion in our communities and I feel very lucky to have had this opportunity.
-Nil
Do you have career or event news you’d like to share with fellow members?
We’d really like to hear about any recent career accomplishments, awards, new ventures, or a positive experience having to do with our industry. This is one of the advantages to being part of an organization like WIFSFBA -- by letting others know what you’re doing, you can expand your creative family and even find new collaborators for future projects.
So…take a moment to sit down and write something you’d like to share with your WIFSFBA sisters. Then email that blurb and any related images to bod-admin@wifsfba.org with ‘Members in the News’ in the subject line. Do it now rather than next week -- you deserve to shine! Submit one week before the end of the month to be included in the next newsletter.
Community Partners:
Events & Invitations
A BIG THANKS to all our COMMUNITY PARTNERS for their support of our Mission and Events:
A BIG THANKS to all our COMMUNITY PARTNERS for their support of our Mission and Events:
Call for Submissions
ATX TV Festival - Indie TV Pilot
ATX TV Festival - Indie TV Pilot
Submission Deadline: February 28, 2026
Fee: $65 per pilot/submission
“The competition will give fully-produced, independent TV pilots an opportunity to be considered for the festival’s Indie TV Pilot Showcase hosted at ATX TV Festival Season 15 (May 28-31, 2026) in Austin, where one submission will be selected as Best Indie TV Pilot. Creators (writers, directors, producers, etc) may submit completed Pilot episodes between 20-65 minutes in length, across all genres (scripted and unscripted).”
MORE INFO: ATX TV Festival
ShortsTV
ShortsTV
“We have the world’s largest catalogue of high-quality shot movies and series available on TV, on mobile, online, and in theaters, and also produce original short film content for broadcasters and brands. Are you the world’s next biggest filmmaker? We are always looking for short movies from exciting talents to broadcast on our TV networks and beyond. If you have a short movie that you would like us to con sidere, please complete the form below. Our acquisitions team will watch your film and contact you if they are interested in discussing a license agreement.”
MORE INFO: Shorts TV
LA Film Festivals
LA Film Festivals
Submission Dates: various
Submission Fees: various
“LA Film Festivals is a creative hub for Los Angeles’s top independent film festivals, and a home for independent filmmakers.” Each of the following LA festivals has its own requirements, submission deadlines, and fees:
LA Comedy Film Festival
LA Indie Film Festival
LA Queer Film Festival
LA Women in Film Festival
LA Black Film Festival
LA Asian Film Festival
LA Latinx Film Festival
LA Sci-Fi Film Festival
LA Action Film Festival
LA Horror Film Festival
LA Animated Film Festival
LA Student Film Festival”
For submission info on individual festivals: LA Film Festivals
19th Annual Script Pipeline TV Writing Contest
19th Annual Script Pipeline TV Writing Contest
Early: March 5, 2026
Regular: May 1, 2026
Late: May 15, 2026
Extended: May 31, 2026
Submission Fee: $40
“Script Pipeline is searching for extraordinary writers with original television pilots or unproduced indie series scripts.
Together with the Screenwriting Contest, we focus foremost on finding writer representation, supporting diverse voices, championing ambitious storytelling, and pushing original projects into production.
We're currently the only competition offering an intensive, personalized process to our Quarterfinalists and higher: 1-on-1 development, long-term mentorship, career guidance, and circulation to only the leading industry execs. This has resulted in over $8 million in spec sales to studios, multiple films produced, and hundreds of emerging writers introduced to reps.”
Submit Here: Script Pipeline TV Writing Contest
24th Annual Script Pipeline Screenwriting Contest
24th Annual Script Pipeline Screenwriting Contest
Early: March 5, 2026
Regular: May 1, 2026
Late: May 15, 2026
Extended: May 31, 2026
Submission Fee: $40+
“The 24th Annual Script Pipeline Screenwriting Contest is searching for extraordinary writers with feature screenplays across all genres.
We focus foremost on finding writers representation, supporting diverse voices, championing ambitious storytelling, and pushing original projects into production.
We're currently the only competition offering an intensive, personalized process to our Quarterfinalists and higher: 1-on-1 development, long-term mentorship, career guidance, and circulation to only the leading industry execs. This has resulted in over $8 million in spec sales to studios, multiple films produced, and hundreds of emerging writers introduced to reps.”
Submit Here: Script Pipeline Screenwriting Contest
Portland Film Festival
Portland Film Festival
Extended Deadline: February 11, 2026
Final Deadline: February 25, 2026
Submission Fee: $30-$80
“The festival is jam-packed with networking, workshops, guest speakers, film premieres, financing talks, director Q&As and more. This year’s event will be hosted at the Center for Native Arts & Cultures. Come be a part of what MovieMaker Magazine calls “one of the coolest film festivals in the world.” Jury prizes will be given in the following categories:
Best Narrative Feature
Best Documentary Feature
Best Narrative Short
Best Documentary Short
Will Vinton Creativity Award
Stacey Stevens Indigenous Spirit Award
Portland Shorts Winner
Portland Feature Winner
MORE INFO: https://filmfreeway.com/PortlandFilm
Grants, Fellowships, and Funding Corner
Chicken & Egg Films Research & Development Grants
Final application deadline: Wednesday, February 4, 2026 at 11:59pm ET
Fee: $35.
“Now in its 4th year, the Research & Development Grant supports filmmakers from around the world who have directed at least one feature-length documentary and are in the research & development stage of their next feature-length film. With continued grant-making support by Netflix, the grant supports directors to ideate and plan for their next feature-length film. It is hard to secure funding for a new project without significant sample material, yet producing material without external funding can be almost impossible. To address this challenge, this grant provides financial support to directors during a filmmaking stage that is too often unpaid and unsupported.
A total of $450,000 will be awarded in the following grant amounts:
-$10,000 USDF grants for Research
-$20,000 USD grants for development"
MORE INFO: Chicken & Egg Films
AT&T Untold Stories - in collaboration with the Tribeca Festival
Submission Deadline: February 6, 2026
“This program goes beyond funding, offering comprehensive mentorship and distribution support to help unique stories onto the screen. At the 2026 Tribeca Festival, 5 new filmmaking teams will pitch their original feature scripted film projects to an esteemed committee of industry professionals to decide who will be the next $1.2 million dollar recipient.
The winning film will be guaranteed a premiere at the 2027 Tribeca Festival, and the additional 4 finalist teams will receive a $15,000 grant for development support.
Throughout the year, Tribeca Studios works closely with the winner, offering creative feedback, giving script notes, and providing production, casting and crew consultations. We also coordinate screenings of rough cuts to ensure the film is festival ready. The winner is also counseled on their film’s festival strategy, distribution plan and more.”
MORE INFO: ATT/Tribeca Untold Stories
Sundance Institure - 2026 Feature Film Producers Track
Submission Deadline: February 11, 2026
--Applicants will be considered for the Producer’s Lab and Fellowship (yearlong program commencing July 2026)
“The 2026-2027 Feature Film Producers Fellowship is a yearlong program designed to nurture emerging producers with project-specific support through the Producers Lab, year-round mentorship from a dedicated industry mentor, film industry networking opportunities, professional development and project advancement strategy workshops, and ongoing support from Sundance Institute staff. The program is designed to hone emerging producers’ creative instincts and evolve their communication and problem-solving skills at all stages of their next feature film.”
Submit application here: Sundance Feature Film Producers Track
Note: There is a separate Producers Track application for producers working on a documentary film. More info can be found about support for nonfiction projects here: Sundance Doc Program
Roy W. Dean Short Film Grant (From the Heart Productions)
Spring Grant Application (Deadline: March 31st, 2026)
Short Film Grant Application (Deadline: April 29th, 2026)
Summer Grant Application (Deadline: June 30th, 2026)
Fall Grant Application (Deadline: October 31st, 2026)
Carole Dorothy Joyce Grant (Deadline: November 30th, 2026)
“Now in its 35th year, this respected grant supports independent filmmakers creating meaningful, socially impactful work.
Eligible Projects: Documentary, narrative feature, short film, and web series
Budgets under $500,000 (students encouraged to apply)
Spring 2026 Award Includes: 💵 $3,500 Cash, 🎥 Thousands in donated film products & services, including:
IndiPro Kratos Battery Kit ($600 value)
40% off ProMedia NYC post-production services
$500 Filmtools equipment credit
$1,600 Silver Sound mix session
✨ New This Year: Stories That Matter Awards
Three additional $500 awards honoring films reflecting real lives and pressing social issues.
🏆 Britt Penrod Award
$500 cash award recognizing a film making an exceptional contribution to society.
📞 Every applicant receives a complimentary 15-minute consultation.
Apply here: Roy W. Dean Grant Application - From the Heart Productions
Questions: info@fromtheheartproductions.com | 805-984-0098”
MORE INFO: Documentary & Film Fiscal Sponsorship Program For Filmmakers
Women Make Movies Production Grant
--Production Assistance Program
Rolling Applications
“This program focuses on supporting BIPOC/ALAANA, LGBTQIA women, older women, and women in film with disabilities. It provides fiscal sponsorship and offers personalized consultations, workshops and networking opportunities. Recipients get access to one-on-one consultations and pay reduced rates for industry workshops. Projects need to raise at least $50,000 in funding.”
You must be a woman filmmaker serving as project director or co-director, and should show a clear direction and realistic plan for distribution in your application.
MORE INFO: WMM Production Grant
FEAR FILMS: Film Incubation Fund - In Association with the Independent Horror Society
Rolling Deadline
“Turn your nightmare into a reality with FEAR and FILM3! Apply for funding for your short horror film.”
FOR MORE INFO AND APPLICATION: Horror Short Film Fund | Apply for Funding
Impact Partners Development Fund
Application Deadline: rolling deadline
“For early-stage documentary features, series, or projects that could be either. Impact Partners will invest in the development of 4-8 projects a year, with a range of $10K -$100K per project. We are now accepting applications. Filmmakers can apply to the fund for a variety of reasons as they get their projects off the ground, including development shoots, cutting a trailer or reel, conducting archival research, casting characters, etc.”
MORE INFO: Impact Partners
Rolling Applications
"Administered through Film Independent, the Sloan Distribution Grant awards $50,000 to a maximum of three narrative features that are entering their distribution phase. Eligible films must depict themes, stories, and characters grounded in real science, technology, or economics.
Films with innovative marketing and distribution plans are encouraged to apply."
MORE INFO: Sloan Distribution Grant
Thanks to newsletter contributors: Diane Walsh, Julie Rubio, Nil Unerdem
Newsletter designed by Lina Indeeva and edited by Nil Unerdem
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