Film & Media Funding: AY24–25
Many School of the Arts and VMA faculty have expressed interest in finding funding for narrative and documentary film, as well as media projects. ORCS has prepared a list of film and media funders to get you started.
Some of these funders make awards to individual artists, while others may require a fiscal sponsor. Emerson can serve as a fiscal sponsor many of those cases. For more details, please contact ORCS.
Funder Name
Film Type/Topic
Narrative fiction feature film related to science, technology or economics in distribution phase
Next Deadline
Applications open on a rolling basis
Grants for Creative Individuals are unrestricted grants of $5,000 to Massachusetts artists, culture bearers, and creative practitioners to equitably advance creative expression throughout our diverse communities.
October 24, 2024
Documentary films related to California: Research & Development, Production
November 4, 2024
Feature-length documentaries addressing social issues: advanced development, production & post-production
November 15, 2024
Documentary; short film; feature film
October 31, 2024
November 30, 2024
These grants of up to $5,000 support direct treatment expenses that have been incurred, or are needed, for medical, dental or mental health treatment.
November 26, 2024
Through the Artist-in-Residence program, artists and writers are able to create work that engages with the Newberry’s collection
December 15, 2024
The NYSCA/NYFA Artist Fellowship is not a project grant, but is intended to fund an artist’s vision or voice, at all levels of their artistic development.
December 17, 2024
Documentary film, new works by New England filmmakers: all stages of production
Early Development/Pre-Production: Aug 16, 2024
Production / Post Production Timeline:
Jan 17, 2025
Public media film & television projects representing culture & experience of Native Americans
June 30, 2024
Dec 31, 2024
Small grants to individuals for independent film/media projects focused on environment or climate crisis
Request access to online portal: November 22, 2024
Grant Proposal Deadline: December 13, 2024
Short films, feature films, new media projects: development, production, post-production
Spring: January 1
Summer: June 1
Fall: August 1
Documentary films, radio programs, podcasts that engage with humanities: development, production & distribution
January 8, 2025
Non-fiction projects, priority to raising underrepresented voices
Early 2025
Long form, shorts or episodic documentaries, podcasts, radio documentaries engaging in climate conversation
February 2025 (expected)
Narrative feature films that address social justice issues: screenwriting, development, or post-production
March 2025 (expected)
Designed to provide support for individuals or groups with reasonable expenditures associated with research, scholarly activity, or creative projects in the field of animation
May 2025 (expected)
Documentaries & limited series on the Latino experience: production & post-production, limited research & development funds
June 2025 (expected)
Documentary producers with deep roots in southern states: AL, AR, FL, GA, KY, LA, MS, NC, SC, TN, VA, WV. Projects in production only.
August 2025 (expected)
Applicants of color working on standard-length non-fiction projects that have not begun production
August 2025 (expected)
Supports the creation of digital, film, music, and live or online theatre content that reflects the voices and perspectives of all who identify as women
October–November 2025 (expected)
Documentaries for public television about Asian Americans: production or post-production
October 20, 2025 (expected)