By: Sarah Chaisson-Warner
Producers increasingly watch short films as a strategy for discovering new talent and identifying proof of concepts for feature films. Film funds can be a great way to get your short film greenlit – they can get you started and provide momentum for your project, or fill the gap in financing. Film funds often provide cash grants as part of their prize packages, but they can offer even more, including script development and networking opportunities.
Here, we look at the Top 5 Short Film Funds to enter in 2026, with an eye towards the ones that offer cash grants, industry connections, and support or quality mentoring from entertainment professionals.
SLICK FILMS FUND
Now in their third year, Slick Films, in association with the Bolton Film Festival, offers a £10,000 grand prize for one bold short film. They’re passionate about finding the next generation of talent, and they award additional prizes like the £3,000 grant for first-time filmmakers.
Winners also receive mentorship from Oscar winners Chris Overton and Rachel Shenton, festival strategy from Festival Formula, distribution through Network Ireland Television, and more.
Applications are now open. Entries are accepted through Film Freeway through April 8th.
FIRST FLIGHTS/KODAK SHORT FILM FUND
The First Flights Short Film Fund allows emerging talent to test their ideas before embarking on a feature film. Grants of up to $10,000 are available towards the production costs of all scripted genres and documentary short film content. First Flights has also partnered with Kodak and Periscope to provide two winners with 5 x 400 ft rolls of KODAK 16 mm film stock, and one winner will be awarded a comprehensive $10,000 post-production package from Periscope. The current season is open until April 30th.
FILM PIPELINE
The 9th Annual Film Pipeline Short Film Contest seeks forward-thinking storytellers and innovative creators, awarding $5,000 for best short narrative film. Finalists (up to 3) and Winner all receive financing consideration for additional shorts, development assistance on other scripts and material, potential screenings in Los Angeles (depending on project and filmmaker).
All genres are accepted, including non-narrative or experimental shorts. Proof of concepts are also welcome. Applications are accepted through October 30, 2026 on their website.
NEWFEST
NewFest’s New Voices Filmmaker Grant, supported by Netflix, supports emerging directors telling LGBTQ+ stories by providing funding to make new work. In addition to the $25,000 grant and industry mentorship, fellows will also participate in events and have their work showcased at NewFest’s New York LGBTQ+ Film Festival, one of the largest queer film festivals in the world. Fellows will also have the opportunity to travel as guests of NewFest to other North American film festivals.
Submissions are accepted from emerging directors who make documentary/nonfiction, narrative, and/or animated film/episodic projects that highlight LGBTQ+ stories. They are accepting applications for their 2026 cycle until February 12, 2026.
SHORE SCRIPTS SHORT FILM FUND
You didn’t think we’d write a definitive list of Short Film Funds without including our own, did you? The Spring Season of the Shore Scripts Short Film Fund is now open!
The 2026 Spring Season of the Shore Scripts Short Film Fund will award a $15,000 cash production grant to one short script and $4,000 cash in finishing funds to one short film in post-production. Further, our partnerships with ARRI Rental, Oscar-nominated producer Maria Gracia Turgeon, and Tribeca short film programmer Kimberley Browning elevate the films that come through our Fund through free camera equipment, mentorship, and film festival strategy. Our early deadline is February 27th, but submissions will be accepted through May 4th.
Click here to learn more about the Shore Scripts Short Film Fund!
Honorable Mentions
The below opportunities are either closed for entry or are not exactly short film grants, but we felt were definitely worth mentioning for the emerging filmmaker looking to make a short. Be sure to keep a lookout for the next cycle’s deadlines.
ANTIGRAVITY ACADEMY’S SHORT FILM STUDIO
Only in its 2nd year, Antigravity Academy’s Short Film Studio, partnered with Dolby, is an opportunity not to be missed. This year, the program will support two filmmakers by producing their short films for up to $35k. All films will be completed using Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos. Rather than the distribution of a grant, Antigravity Academy will produce and oversee each film through development, greenlight, production, and post-production. Two of last year’s winning short films premiered at Sundance 2026. The deadline for submissions is February 9th!
CREATIVE CAPITAL
Creative Capital is a huge funding body that opens each year, for artists in the United States. Their grants aren’t specific to film, but they award approximately 50 projects per cycle up to $50k each to create “innovative work that pushes formal, conceptual, or social boundaries.” They recently announced their 2026 recipients, which included 109 artists in visual arts, technology, performing arts, film/moving image, and literature, who were awarded a collective $2.9M. The open call for the 2027 Creative Capital grant cycle will be accepting applications in Spring 2026.
USC ANNENBERG’S PROOF OF CONCEPT ACCELERATOR
Only 7% of directors across the 1,900 most popular movies between 2007 and 2025 were women. Cate Blanchett, Coco Francini, and Dr. Stacy L. Smith partnered with Netflix to solve this problem and the Proof of Concept Accelerator was born.
Proof of Concept is designed to accelerate the path to large-scale filmmaking for directors who give voice to the perspectives of women, trans and non-binary people. The program provides support for filmmakers to make a short film that is a “proof of concept” for a feature film or television project. Short films will be funded at $50,000 and directors will participate in a mentorship and exposure program that connects them with industry leaders. But, hurry! The 2026 applications close on February 6th!
What film grants do you look forward to opening each year? Did we miss any? Don’t forget to check out this season of our Short Film Fund before this month’s early deadline.
After 15 years of working in state and national politics, Sarah Chaisson-Warner is moving into the entertainment industry. As the former Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Athena Magazine for Girls, Sarah is now focusing her passion for creative arts through screenwriting. Many of her feature-length scripts focus on the often unseen experiences of gay women throughout American History, and she is also currently writing a sci-fi TV series and a family Christmas script.
