Welcome to the application for the Sundance Institute Documentary Fund.
We appreciate your time and effort in the application process, and we salute you on your independent filmmaking journey.
The deadline for the Documentary Fund is Monday, July 14, at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time. Filmmakers who submit applications by then will be notified regarding the status of their application in early 2026.
The Sundance Institute Documentary Fund supports filmmakers worldwide in the development, production, and post-production of cinematic documentaries on a wide range of contemporary topics and themes. For over two decades, the fund has been a stable source of nonrecoupable funding, supporting work that expresses the world in creative, complex, beautiful, and provocative ways. We remain committed to nonfiction projects that elevate and advance cultural dialogue, expand the form through creativity and innovation, and have the potential to generate social impact around some of the most compelling issues of our time.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
The Sundance Institute Documentary Film Program (DFP) prioritizes support for independent nonfiction films with budgets under $1.2 million in U.S. dollars.
Creative and editorial control must be held by members of the films’ key creative teams.
In our funding, we seek to uplift projects from filmmakers with distinct visions and meaningful connections to the work they create. We remain committed to elevating voices beyond our borders, celebrating the rich diversity of filmmaking traditions around the world. We are especially keen to receive applications exploring stories that reflect the pluralist society we serve and the richness of experiences found there.
Applicants may submit at any production phase from development through post-production. All proposals must convey some vision for a finished film. Projects should have secured characters or participants, be able to articulate a story or structure, and be able to explain the project’s driving central question. We welcome applications with aesthetic and storytelling traditions from all over the world and are not bound to specific themes or issues. Hybrid and experimental documentaries are eligible to apply. Please see our Frequently Asked Questions section for more information on our selection criteria and priorities. We are unable to consider proposals for story research. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. You do not need any prior funding or a fiscal sponsor in order to apply.
Once your film reaches picture lock, we are unable to provide post-production funding support. We therefore encourage applicants to apply at least eight months before planned picture lock.
Important Note on Resubmissions (New for 2025)
Due to the continued growth in the number of applications to the Sundance Institute Documentary Fund, projects that have previously applied are no longer eligible to reapply — even if your project has since progressed to a new stage of production.
The only exception is if you have received a written invitation from the Sundance Documentary Film Program staff explicitly inviting you to reapply. Please see our FAQ on resubmissions for more details, especially if you applied in a previous cycle.
Projects submitted during this round will not be eligible for future funding from the Documentary Fund, whether or not they receive a grant. We strongly encourage you to consider whether this is the right moment in your project’s life cycle to apply.
WHAT WILL I NEED IN ORDER TO APPLY?
Written proposal
Line-item budget (sample budget) (Source: IDA/Robert Bahar)
Visual samples
Completed previous directing sample, any length or genre (optional)
Current sample required for production and post-production applications. See Proposal Checklist for length suggestions.
WHAT HAPPENS AFTER I APPLY?
Applications go through a multistage review, with selected submissions sent for Sundance Institute Documentary Fund committee consideration. The committee meets to make recommendations regarding which projects are funded. Proposals to the Sundance Institute Documentary Fund are evaluated on several criteria, including strong artistic vision, compelling storytelling, conceptual excellence, contemporary cultural relevance, originality and creative risk-taking, feasibility, journalistic rigor (where applicable), and potential to reach and connect with an intended audience. The Documentary Fund spotlights new voices and artists bringing a fresh perspective to vital conversations of our day, often through new creative frontiers. Film teams’ access to resources, both financial and creative, are taken into consideration to ensure funds are prioritized for those who need them most. The creative teams’ connections to and engagement with the communities they are working with are also taken into consideration.
Historically, award decisions take six to eight months. The actual timeline will be determined by the number of applications we receive. Please do not contact us to inquire about your status, as we cannot provide status updates. You will be notified directly via email once a decision has been made. We periodically announce new grantees throughout the year, and those press releases are not notifications.
You may send any significant updates to dfp@sundance.org. However, due to the volume of projects that we receive, the Documentary Film Program does not guarantee that updates will be incorporated into the project’s review.
HOW DO I START MY APPLICATION?
Go to apply.sundance.org and register for an account, or log in with an existing account.
Log in and select “2025 Documentary Fund Grant”
Click “Apply.”
Get started!
ACCESSIBILITY SUPPORT
At Sundance Institute, we are committed to creating an environment where all community members feel valued and thrive. Inclusion, racial equity, and accessibility drive our institutional excellence, and we aim to reflect these across our organization and in all our programs and platforms.
The director or key creative on a project who self-identifies as an artist with a disability may request assistance at any time while completing and submitting their Documentary Fund application. Support may include a small stipend for the artist to hire an accessibility service provider, such as an American Sign Language interpreter, transcriber (e.g., CART or similar real-time captioning), or text or copy editor to support the application process. This is not meant to be used to hire a grant writer but rather to support an artist with a disability to submit their own grant application. To request assistance and for additional information, please email dfp@sundance.org.
WHAT IF I HAVE QUESTIONS OR PROBLEMS?
If you have additional questions about the Documentary Fund application procedures, please see the Sundance Institute Documentary Fund Frequently Asked Questions.
For projects with safety and security concerns regarding potentially sensitive content, please contact dfp@sundance.org for further guidance.
2025 Documentary Fund Grant
Welcome to the application for the Sundance Institute Documentary Fund.
We appreciate your time and effort in the application process, and we salute you on your independent filmmaking journey.
The deadline for the Documentary Fund is Monday, July 14, at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time. Filmmakers who submit applications by then will be notified regarding the status of their application in early 2026.
The Sundance Institute Documentary Fund supports filmmakers worldwide in the development, production, and post-production of cinematic documentaries on a wide range of contemporary topics and themes. For over two decades, the fund has been a stable source of nonrecoupable funding, supporting work that expresses the world in creative, complex, beautiful, and provocative ways. We remain committed to nonfiction projects that elevate and advance cultural dialogue, expand the form through creativity and innovation, and have the potential to generate social impact around some of the most compelling issues of our time.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
The Sundance Institute Documentary Film Program (DFP) prioritizes support for independent nonfiction films with budgets under $1.2 million in U.S. dollars.
Creative and editorial control must be held by members of the films’ key creative teams.
In our funding, we seek to uplift projects from filmmakers with distinct visions and meaningful connections to the work they create. We remain committed to elevating voices beyond our borders, celebrating the rich diversity of filmmaking traditions around the world. We are especially keen to receive applications exploring stories that reflect the pluralist society we serve and the richness of experiences found there.
Applicants may submit at any production phase from development through post-production. All proposals must convey some vision for a finished film. Projects should have secured characters or participants, be able to articulate a story or structure, and be able to explain the project’s driving central question. We welcome applications with aesthetic and storytelling traditions from all over the world and are not bound to specific themes or issues. Hybrid and experimental documentaries are eligible to apply. Please see our Frequently Asked Questions section for more information on our selection criteria and priorities. We are unable to consider proposals for story research. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. You do not need any prior funding or a fiscal sponsor in order to apply.
Once your film reaches picture lock, we are unable to provide post-production funding support. We therefore encourage applicants to apply at least eight months before planned picture lock.
Important Note on Resubmissions (New for 2025)
Due to the continued growth in the number of applications to the Sundance Institute Documentary Fund, projects that have previously applied are no longer eligible to reapply — even if your project has since progressed to a new stage of production.
The only exception is if you have received a written invitation from the Sundance Documentary Film Program staff explicitly inviting you to reapply. Please see our FAQ on resubmissions for more details, especially if you applied in a previous cycle.
Projects submitted during this round will not be eligible for future funding from the Documentary Fund, whether or not they receive a grant. We strongly encourage you to consider whether this is the right moment in your project’s life cycle to apply.
WHAT WILL I NEED IN ORDER TO APPLY?
Written proposal
Line-item budget (sample budget) (Source: IDA/Robert Bahar)
Visual samples
Completed previous directing sample, any length or genre (optional)
Current sample required for production and post-production applications. See Proposal Checklist for length suggestions.
WHAT HAPPENS AFTER I APPLY?
Applications go through a multistage review, with selected submissions sent for Sundance Institute Documentary Fund committee consideration. The committee meets to make recommendations regarding which projects are funded. Proposals to the Sundance Institute Documentary Fund are evaluated on several criteria, including strong artistic vision, compelling storytelling, conceptual excellence, contemporary cultural relevance, originality and creative risk-taking, feasibility, journalistic rigor (where applicable), and potential to reach and connect with an intended audience. The Documentary Fund spotlights new voices and artists bringing a fresh perspective to vital conversations of our day, often through new creative frontiers. Film teams’ access to resources, both financial and creative, are taken into consideration to ensure funds are prioritized for those who need them most. The creative teams’ connections to and engagement with the communities they are working with are also taken into consideration.
Historically, award decisions take six to eight months. The actual timeline will be determined by the number of applications we receive. Please do not contact us to inquire about your status, as we cannot provide status updates. You will be notified directly via email once a decision has been made. We periodically announce new grantees throughout the year, and those press releases are not notifications.
You may send any significant updates to dfp@sundance.org. However, due to the volume of projects that we receive, the Documentary Film Program does not guarantee that updates will be incorporated into the project’s review.
HOW DO I START MY APPLICATION?
Go to apply.sundance.org and register for an account, or log in with an existing account.
Log in and select “2025 Documentary Fund Grant”
Click “Apply.”
Get started!
ACCESSIBILITY SUPPORT
At Sundance Institute, we are committed to creating an environment where all community members feel valued and thrive. Inclusion, racial equity, and accessibility drive our institutional excellence, and we aim to reflect these across our organization and in all our programs and platforms.
The director or key creative on a project who self-identifies as an artist with a disability may request assistance at any time while completing and submitting their Documentary Fund application. Support may include a small stipend for the artist to hire an accessibility service provider, such as an American Sign Language interpreter, transcriber (e.g., CART or similar real-time captioning), or text or copy editor to support the application process. This is not meant to be used to hire a grant writer but rather to support an artist with a disability to submit their own grant application. To request assistance and for additional information, please email dfp@sundance.org.
WHAT IF I HAVE QUESTIONS OR PROBLEMS?
If you have additional questions about the Documentary Fund application procedures, please see the Sundance Institute Documentary Fund Frequently Asked Questions.
For projects with safety and security concerns regarding potentially sensitive content, please contact dfp@sundance.org for further guidance.