Welcome to the Sundance Institute Documentary Fund application. We recognize the immense effort required to bring independent stories to life, and we’re grateful for the opportunity to learn more about your work and your path as an artist.
The Documentary Fund application will close on Monday, June 15, at 3:30 p.m. Pacific time. Filmmakers will be notified regarding the status of their application in early 2027.
The Sundance Institute Documentary Fund supports filmmakers of cinematic documentaries worldwide, from development through release, 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.
GUIDELINES AND ELIGIBILITY More »
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.
We support feature documentary films (52 minutes and longer) and prioritize budgets under $1.2 million USD excluding distribution and impact expenses. Prior funding or a fiscal sponsor is not required. To ensure the artist’s vision remains central, creative and editorial control must be held by the project’s key creative team.
Due to the significant volume of applications we receive, we are unable to accept resubmissions for previously reviewed projects. Exceptions are made only in instances where a filmmaker has received a formal written invitation from the Sundance Institute Documentary Film Program staff to reapply. We encourage you to consult our FAQ for further details on this policy.
Proposals are evaluated on several criteria, including strong artistic vision, compelling storytelling, conceptual excellence, accountability and rigor, originality and creative risk-taking, quality and mastery of craft, feasibility, contemporary cultural relevance, and potential to reach and connect with an intended audience. These are not boxes to be checked, but rather a few aspects we consider when evaluating a proposal.
Please see our webpage for more guidelines, eligibility, and frequently asked questions.
For projects with safety and security concerns regarding potentially sensitive content, please contact dfp@sundance.org for further guidance.
ACCESSIBILITY SUPPORT
At Sundance Institute, we are committed to creating an environment where all community members feel valued and thrive. Inclusion, racial equity, gender 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 or additional information, please email dfp@sundance.org.
2027 Documentary Fund Grant
Welcome to the Sundance Institute Documentary Fund application. We recognize the immense effort required to bring independent stories to life, and we’re grateful for the opportunity to learn more about your work and your path as an artist.
The Documentary Fund application will close on Monday, June 15, at 3:30 p.m. Pacific time. Filmmakers will be notified regarding the status of their application in early 2027.
The Sundance Institute Documentary Fund supports filmmakers of cinematic documentaries worldwide, from development through release, 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.
GUIDELINES AND ELIGIBILITY More »
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.
We support feature documentary films (52 minutes and longer) and prioritize budgets under $1.2 million USD excluding distribution and impact expenses. Prior funding or a fiscal sponsor is not required. To ensure the artist’s vision remains central, creative and editorial control must be held by the project’s key creative team.
Due to the significant volume of applications we receive, we are unable to accept resubmissions for previously reviewed projects. Exceptions are made only in instances where a filmmaker has received a formal written invitation from the Sundance Institute Documentary Film Program staff to reapply. We encourage you to consult our FAQ for further details on this policy.
Proposals are evaluated on several criteria, including strong artistic vision, compelling storytelling, conceptual excellence, accountability and rigor, originality and creative risk-taking, quality and mastery of craft, feasibility, contemporary cultural relevance, and potential to reach and connect with an intended audience. These are not boxes to be checked, but rather a few aspects we consider when evaluating a proposal.
Please see our webpage for more guidelines, eligibility, and frequently asked questions.
For projects with safety and security concerns regarding potentially sensitive content, please contact dfp@sundance.org for further guidance.
ACCESSIBILITY SUPPORT
At Sundance Institute, we are committed to creating an environment where all community members feel valued and thrive. Inclusion, racial equity, gender 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 or additional information, please email dfp@sundance.org.