ITVS is accepting application for their Short Form Open Call Fund to support development and co-production funding for short nonfiction projects under 30 minutes. ITVS are looking for exceptional nonfiction stories that spark dialogue and engage a young and diverse audience on public media’s web-based platforms. The deadline to apply is Dec 15. Learn more and apply.
Vision Media Maker announced an open call for documentary short proposals on indigenous legal history. The faculty in the Department of History and College of Law at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Vision Maker Media and the Institute for Policy, Politics, Law and History are leading the Law and Race Initiative funded by the Mellon Foundation. Together, they are seeking producers interested in making a short documentary about Indigenous legal history. The deadline to apply is Dec 31. Learn more and apply.
Applications are open for BRIC Media Share 2024. Media Share is BRIC’s NY Emmy-winning media education & production grant program. Since 2013, this in-kind grant has helped 80+ non-profit organizations create and use media to inform the public about their work in the community. During a 6-8 month grant cycle, organizations designate 1-2 staff members to take BRIC media classes and collaborate with a Producing Mentor to create a video or podcast project. Finished projects will air on Brooklyn Free Speech channels and on the organization’s website and social media platforms. Plus, participants have ongoing access to the BRIC Media Center. Applications are currently being accepted on a rolling bases. Learn more and apply.
SR Socially Relevant™ Film Festival New York is accepting submissions. SRFFNY is a film festival that focuses on socially relevant film content, and human interest stories that raise awareness to social problems and offer positive solutions through the powerful medium of cinema. The deadline to submit is and Final – Dec 14. Learn more and submit.
Enter code SR24NYWIFT for a fee waiver for a limited number submissions.
Enter code SR20NYWDIS for a 30% off discount code off submission fees.
HamptonsFilm Screenwriters Lab is now open for submissions. Celebrating its 24th Anniversary, the HamptonsFilm Screenwriters Lab champions the artistic visions of up-and-coming filmmakers from around the world. An intimate gathering taking place each spring in East Hampton, NY, the Lab fosters emerging talent by pairing selected fellows with established writers and creative producers for a weekend of one-on-one mentorship. The deadlines to submit are Earlybird – Nov 16, Regular – Dec 7, Late – Dec 21 and Extended – Jan 18. Learn more and submit. Enter code NYW1FT24 for 30% off submission fees.
Submissions are open for Queens World Film Festival. QWFF is an annual event that celebrates the art of cinema from around the world. With a commitment to diverse storytelling and fostering a sense of community among filmmakers, the festival provides a platform for bold ideas and exceptional craftsmanship. Through its curated selection and unique film grouping, QWFF brings global stories to the heart of Queens, New York, for audiences to enjoy and cherish. The deadlines to submit are Early Bird – Nov 20, Reg – Dec 11, Final – Jan 15. Learn more and submit. Enter code NYWIFT2525QW for 25% off submission fees.
The Telly Awards is accepting submissions. The Telly Awards are the leading award honoring video and television excellence across all screens. Work is accepted across branded content, commercials & marketing as well as immersive, interactive & XR, TV or online series, shows & segments, non-broadcast and social video. For their 45th season, they’re celebrating work that goes “Beyond the Frame” and pushes the boundaries of creativity and technology. The deadlines to submit are Early – Dec 8 and Final – Feb 23. Learn more and submit.
Sundance Institute is accepting applications for their Feature Film Producers Track and their Documentary Film Producers Track. Through a year-round continuum of support — including labs, fellowships, grants, networking events, funding, and educational resource opportunities — producers are given the opportunity to build community with fellow producers and industry members, hone creative skills, gain additional knowledge of the field, and develop strategies for pitching, producing, financing, and releasing their films. The deadline to apply for both tracks is Jan 3. Learn more and apply.
The Roy W. Dean Film Grant is now accepting submissions. Now in its 31st year, the grant is offered by non-profit From the Heart Productions. Over three decades, the grant has awarded over $2,500,000 to filmmakers to help them complete their projects. In addition to the feature film grant, The Roy W. Dean Short Film Grant is now open for entries. The grant offers the winner $3,000 and thousands more in donated services to help them complete their film. The grant seeks short films that are unique and that make a contribution to society. Grant is open to narrative fiction shorts, live action or animated, that are 40 minutes or less in length. The deadline to submit is Oct 31. Learn more and apply.
There are two weeks left to apply for the NYC Women’s Fund for Media, Music & Theatre! The NYC Women’s Fund for Media, Music and Theatre provides grants to encourage and support the creation of digital, film, music, and live or online theatre content that reflects the voices and perspectives of all who identify as women. The $1.8 million fund to be awarded in the fifth cycle will bring the grand total of Women’s Fund grants to $9.3 million, allocated to a current total of 343 recipients. The deadline to apply is Nov 1. Learn more and apply.
Athena Film Festival is accepting submissions for their brand-new Abortion Pipeline Project (APP). APP is an annual narrative screenplay competition for feature and short film scripts which seeks to seed and source a variety of narrative film projects which center abortion and will introduce writers to reproductive justice leaders to ensure the scripts are steeped in expertise with the goal to give creatives a positive and generative experience of collaboration with abortion justice experts within the reproductive justice movement. APP will work in collaboration with NYWIFT Member Jess Jacobs (filmmaker, activist), Renee Bracey-Sherman (Co-Executive Director, We Testify), Dr. Gretchen Sisson (Lead Researcher, ANSIRH’s Abortion Onscreen), and Melissa Silverstein (Artistic Director, Athena Film Festival). The deadline to submit is Nov 13. Learn more and submit.
The Honey Writes Screenplay Competition is accepting submissions.Honey Writes provides unique opportunities for screenwriters. By submitting a script to the competition categories, screenwriters have the opportunity to win the grand prize – having the winning script produced by Honey & Hemlock Productions! That’s right. Honey & Hemlock Productions will produce the winning script from this competition and it will be directed by one of our Co-Founders. Honey & Hemlock Productions was founded in 2021 by NYWIFT Members Melissa Bronski and Shanna Riker. The deadlines to submit are Regular – Dec 31 and Final – Mar 15. Learn more and submit. Enter code HWNYWIFT25 for a 25% discount off submission fees.
Dreamscape International Film Festival is accepting submissions. The Dreamscape International Film Festival will host its inaugural event in Houston in Fall 2024. The new festival will feature the largest monetary awards ever at a film festival or screenplay competition by awarding over $500,000 worth of cash prizes to both filmmakers and screenwriters. Celebrity guests at the festival will include Brian Austin Green, Fivel Stewart and Sharna Burgess with additional guests to be announced. The deadlines to submit are Earlybird – Nov 17, Official – Jan 12, Late – Mar 1, and Extended – Mar 31. Learn more and submit.
The 12th annual Winter Film Awards International Film Festival is accepting submissions. Winter Film Awards is New York City. Like the city itself, the festival showcases the eclectic diversity and excitement of the independent arts world. People are making films in the world’s biggest cities and tiniest villages. WFA believes that everyone deserves a fair shot to get their voice heard! They seek to show different genres, different viewpoints, different stories, different perspectives and different countries. The deadlines to submit are Regular – Oct 15, and Late – Nov 4. Learn more and submit. Enter code WFA24GRPD20 for 20% off submission fees.
The Women’s International Film & Arts Festival is now accepting films for their 2024 festival. The Women’s International Film Festival began in 2005 as a way to provide a venue to exhibit films for and about women. The Festival provides opportunities for industry professionals to network, hone their skills and showcase their work through screenings, lectures, discussions, workshops and the chance to meet industry peers from around the world. The festival will take place in March in NYC. Screenings will be held in person and online. The deadlines to submit are Earlybird – Oct 15, Official – Nov 15, Late – Dec 15, and Extended – Jan 7. Learn more and submit. Enter code WIFTNY24 for 20% off submission fees.
SR Socially Relevant™ Film Festival New York is accepting submissions. SRFFNY is a film festival that focuses on socially relevant film content, and human interest stories that raise awareness to social problems and offer positive solutions through the powerful medium of cinema. The deadlines to submit are Late – Nov 14 and Final – Dec 14. Learn more and submit.
Enter code SR24NYWIFT for a fee waiver for a limited number submissions.
Enter code SR20NYWDIS for a 30% off discount code off submission fees.
Athena Film Festival is accepting submissions for The AFF Documentary Pitch Program. Formerly known as the Athena Works in Progress program, the AFF Documentary Pitch Program is an intensive pitch training and storytelling-strengthening opportunity for documentarians working on women-centric projects. Selected filmmakers receive training, an opportunity to pitch their projects in front of a panel of esteemed industry representatives, peer mentorship, and a supportive community. The deadline to submit is Nov 15. Learn more and submit.
To honor the public media legacy of filmmaker Leanne Kaʻiulani Ferrer, American Public Television offers the Leanne Kaʻiulani Ferrer Content Fellowship Award. This award will provide a BIPOC producer with the opportunity to have an expense-paid attendance to APT Fall Marketplace or, if attending Fall Marketplace is not possible, a day with APT leadership at its Boston office. In addition, the fellowship recipient will have access to APT expertise and feedback from our team throughout the fellowship year. The deadline to apply is Sept 29. Learn more and apply.
Women in Media are accepting applications for their Developing Filmmaker Fellowship. WIM is introducing the Developing Filmmaker Fellowship, a two-year educational mentorship program available to young adults seeking entry-level career opportunities in the entertainment industry in the greater Los Angeles area. Two Fellows will receive complimentary pro-level Women In Media memberships for two years, complimentary admittance to all applicable programs, events and training opportunities offered by WiM during the Fellowship; one-on-one coaching from industry mentors; and the opportunity to receive a paid, entry-level internship with one of WiM’s industry partners. The deadline to apply is Oct 15. Learn more and apply.
Applications are now open for Indeed’s Rising Voices Season. Indeed has partnered with Lena Waithe’s Hillman Grad Productions and 271 Films to launch Rising Voices to help BIPOC filmmakers advance their careers in the film industry. The program awards 10 filmmakers up to a $100K production budget to make a short film, which will premiere at a major US film festival in June 2024. The prompt this year is “The Future of Work”. The program is looking for original 10-minute scripts that address the topic but can have a wide variety of tones. The program is aimed towards early-mid career BIPOC filmmakers (min 3 years of professional experience who have directed at least one narrative short). The deadline to apply is Oct 22. Learn more and apply.
Apply now to the Percy Martinez Cultural Diversity Scholarship Program. This scholarship is designed to celebrate the rich tapestry of cultures, traditions, and histories that make up our global community. The scholarship’s aim is to support students who are passionate about promoting cultural understanding, bridging divides, and fostering unity in diversity. $5,000 will be awarded to eligible High School, Undergraduate, and Graduate students. The deadline to apply is Dec 31. Learn more and apply.
Black Public Media, in partnership with The Redford Center, announces BPM’s 2023 Climate Stories Open Call. BPM will award a total of $230,000 in production funding for feature-length documentaries and shorts (nonfiction or scripted) that are currently in all stages of production. BPM are looking for traditional media projects that present the voice of the Black community as it relates to our changing environment. Applications are open Sept 1-25. Learn more and submit. NYWIFT Board President Leslie Fields-Cruz is the Executive Director of Black Public Media.
The 12th annual Winter Film Awards International Film Festival is accepting submissions. Winter Film Awards is New York City. Like the city itself, the festival showcases the eclectic diversity and excitement of the independent arts world. People are making films in the world’s biggest cities and tiniest villages. WFA believes that everyone deserves a fair shot to get their voice heard! They seek to show different genres, different viewpoints, different stories, different perspectives and different countries. The deadlines to submit are Regular – Oct 15, and Late – Nov 4. Learn more and submit. Enter code WFA24GRPD20 for 20% off submission fees.
CASCADIA International Women’s Film Festival is accepting short film submissions. Located in beautiful Bellingham, WA, CASCADIA International Women’s Film Festival is entering its eighth festival season dedicated to showcasing the exceptional work of women directors from around the world. To date, CASCADIA has proudly presented the work of more than 220 women directors worldwide. Approximately 40 films will be screened over the course of the four-day in person festival. An online festival version afterwards is also planned. The deadlines to submit are Earlybird – Sept 16, Regular – Nov 4, Late – Nov 25, Script Early – Dec 18, Script Regular – Jan 15. Learn more and submit. Enter code NYWIFT24 for 50% off submission fees.
From Script to PreProduction is accepting applications for the FS2P Lab and their new Writer’s Boot Camp. You’ve made some shorts. You’ve written a feature script. Or a series pilot. What’s stopping you from making your first feature or series pilot? At From Script to PreProduction, a lab for women filmmakers, the team helps you develop all the materials you need to go forward – loglines, synopses, pitches, lookbooks, reels, websites, schedules, budgets and pitch decks. The new Writer’s Boot Camp is a 4 two-hour sessions in October, so that writers can polish their scripts before applying.
The deadlines to apply for the Lab are Early Bird – Sep 29, Regular – Oct 21, Late – Nov 10.
The deadline to apply to the Writer’s Boot Camp is Sept 8.
The Roy W. Dean Film Grant is now accepting submissions. Now in its 31st year, the grant is offered by non-profit From the Heart Productions. Over three decades, the grant has awarded over $2,500,000 to filmmakers to help them complete their projects. In addition to the feature film grant, The Roy W. Dean Short Film Grant is now open for entries. The grant offers the winner $3,000 and thousands more in donated services to help them complete their film. The grant seeks short films that are unique and that make a contribution to society. Grant is open to narrative fiction shorts, live action or animated, that are 40 minutes or less in length. The deadline to submit is Oct 31. Learn more and apply.
Applications are now open for the NYC Women’s Fund for Media, Music and Theatre. The fund, run by The Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment (MOME) and New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA) provides grants to encourage and support the creation of digital, film, music, and live or online theatre content that reflects the voices and perspectives of all who identify as women. The deadline to apply is Nov 1. Learn more and apply.
Submit your film to the 10th annual New York WILD Film Festival. Eligible films must be documentaries with a focus on exploration, adventure, wildlife, conservation and/or the environment. New York WILD celebrates the filmmakers who, through the power of their images and storytelling, promote awareness, educate, and inspire interest in exploring and protecting the natural world around us. The festival will take place in April 2024. The deadlines to submit are Final – Sep 26. Learn more and submit. For questions, please email info.nywildff@gmail.com with “Festival Entry” in the subject. New York Wild Film Festival is a NYWIFT fiscally sponsored project.
Hunter Mountain Film Festival is generously waiving all submission fees for NYWIFT Members. HMFF honors the skill of filmmaking by connecting ambitious independent artist to share, learn, communicate, and network over the three day festival. Only 2 hours away from NYC, Hunter Mountain is the perfect festival destination bringing in many industry representatives to make your selection to this festival an exciting premiere event.The deadline to submit is Oct 6. Learn more and submit. Enter code HMFF2023WAIVER for free entry submission.
Haunted House FearFest Film Festival is accepting submissions. Haunted House FearFest is an independent horror film festival celebrating the passion for bone-chilling horror presented by cutting-edge independent filmmakers and game developers worldwide. Their goal is to share horror and its sub-genres such as giallo, monsters, slasher, zombie, gore, supernatural, psycho, and more! Submissions are open through Sept 10. Learn more and submit. Enter code HHFFEST2023 for 20% off submission fees.
Reel Families For Change is accepting applications for two financial support programs:
The Screenworkers’ Family Care Grant is returning to help narrative screen professionals in need cover care costs like medical, dependent care, and reproductive health. Grant applications are due on the 15th of each month. Awards will now be dispersed monthly. Learn more.
The BIPOC Artpreneur Training Program is a regional business accelerator for artist-entrepreneurs located in the Mid-Atlantic region. This program is intended to help close wealth, achievement, and network gaps between White artist-entrepreneurs and their BIPOC counterparts through business education and access to resources. We offer expert workshops, training, consultations, and (where applicable) funding to participants at no cost to them. Learn more.
Black Public Media is now accepting submissions for AfroPop on a rolling basis.To celebrate the 15th season of the award-winning series, AfroPoP: The Ultimate Cultural Exchange, BPM is revamping the application for their annual call for completed films. The Rolling Call, which kicks off this week, includes long form documentary projects as well as narrative and nonfiction shorts. BPM are looking for strong, completed films that capture the breadth, scope and diversity of the global Black experience. Learn more and submit.
Submissions are open for the 8th edition of The Greenwich Village Film Festival. The Greenwich Village Film Festival celebrates Greenwich Village as a physical place, as one of the most photogenic neighborhoods of New York City. Their mission is to honor and keep alive this sense of community and creative environment by discovering and bringing together new independent artists and their work. The festival was founded by NYWIFT member Alessia Gatti. The festival is currently accepting short films, short animations and short documentaries under 20 minutes in length. Learn more and submit. Enter code NYWIFT2022 to receive $5 off submission fees.
The Shiny Awards are now accepting submissions. New directors building a career in commercials are encouraged to submit. The Shiny Awards act a launch pad to further commissions and more awards. Many directors go on to be signed, commissioned and win elsewhere.
As anti-Asian violence continues to rise and it appears that police and government entities are reluctant to truly step up, the Asian American Film Lab is commissioning a multi-media project to stop AAPI hate. AAFL invites you to empower the community by sharing your voices and stories. Send AAFL your stories of anti-AAPI Haye and how you dealt with them. Hindsight is always 20/20 and you can be sure someone else has or will experience what you did – what would your advice to them be? Send photos, videos, poems, or however best suits your voice to info@film-lab.org.
Black Market Releasing (BMR) has announced their call for submissions. BMR serves as a source connecting diverse voices and BIPOC stories to the big screen. BMR is a theatrical distributor of bold, new and authentic stories from diverse perspectives. Serving the dynamic, untapped theatrical market for diverse voices, its parent organization, CaribbeanTales has been connecting BIPOC stories to screens, and mobilizing audiences for over 20 years. Submissions are currently being accepted on a rolling basis. Learn more and submit.
Created by Women, from Little Dot Studios, are accepting submissions for their curated YouTube channel. Created by Women is a YouTube channel with content directed, written, or produced by women. Their goal is to generate attention and revenue for independent female and female-identified creators by offering a generous revenue share on monetized videos and using our media teams’ expertise to maximize their YouTube audience. They are currently accepting submissions for comedy, action, drama, unscripted and documentary content. Submissions are accepted on a rolling basis. Learn more and submit.
AbilityE, a free platform for performers with disabilities to connect with entertainment studios, has launched. Casting studios are seeking disabled talent more than ever, and so to make these connections happen more quickly, abilityE was created. Disney, Netflix, NBC, and more major studios have expressed enthusiastic interest in this platform. The website also details its origin and how the platform helped Netflix cast their hit show The Healing Powers of Dude. Learn more and create a profile.
The Peter Roth Internship Program at Paley Center is accepting applications beginning TOMORROW April 30. The Peter Roth Internship Program, named in honor of the legendary television executive, offers a paid internship each year for 20 talented undergraduate students from diverse backgrounds and underserved communities who are interested in a career in television. Applicants must be rising junior or senior students currently enrolled in a four-year undergraduate degree program at an accredited college or university. There is currently no deadline to apply. Learn more and apply.
Sloan Distribution Grant from Film Independent is accepting submissions. The Sloan Distribution Grant is a $50,000 grant awarded by Film Independent to a film that is entering its distribution phase. Eligible films must depict themes, stories and characters grounded in real science, technology or economics. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Learn more and apply.
Osmosis Films is seeking submissions from filmmakers and producers for projects in development or early stages of production. The creative studio would assist in creative development, provide production services and some funding, and take projects to market to secure further financing and distribution. For more information contact: originals@osmosisfilms.com and include NYWIFT in the email subject.
The Multicultural Sci-fi Organization (MCSFO) are searching for the next biggest writers in Sci-fi! MCSFO is the premier marketing agency for multicultural sci-fi, fantasy, and comics. MCSFO celebrates sci-fi films and series that bring inclusion and diversity to the genre by honoring their work. The organization are looking for serious geeks who love talking about Sci-Fi, Sci-Fi film, and comics for fun! Must be well-versed in the sci-fi genre with excellent writing and storytelling skills! For more details, contact multiculturalscifi.org@gmail.com.
The Red Bull Arts Microgrant Program is accepting applications. The adapted Microgrant program will award two $1000 grants each month to artists in 20 cities across the United States. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and there is currently no deadline. Learn more and apply.
Flag TV, a new digital channel in partnership with Nashville Women in Film &TV, is seeking content submissions. FLAG-TV offers independent female filmmakers an opportunity to showcase their content on television via on-demand streaming services.The channel is available on Roku, Amazon Fire and Twitch-TV. To inquire about submissions, email info@flag-tv.com.
Cinereach develops, produces, finances, and supports feature-length fiction, nonfiction and hybrid films crafted for the big screen. They look for projects (at any stage) that create deep and lasting impressions through story, character, or cinematic approach. They seek to work with both unknown and established filmmakers who may face creative, financial or systemic obstacles to realizing ambitious visions. Their films range widely in content and style. Please visit their Films page to review their recent work. Submissions are rolling. Learn more.
The WORLD Channel series America Reframed is currently accepting submissions of completed feature-length non-fiction projects. Each year, Emmy-nominated public television series America ReFramed features diverse personal storytelling often tied to hot-button social issues. With 60 to 90-minute documentary films, followed by provocative conversations, this weekly program offers an unfiltered look at stories rarely given a voice on national television. America ReFramed documents the times in which we live. It airs Tuesdays at 8 PM on the WORLD Channel. Read the guidelines and submit online.
