Who is eligible to apply?

The 2026 Sundance Institute Ignite x Adobe application is only open to alumni of the Sundance Institute Ignite x Adobe Fellowship program. Alumni should refer to their emails for the invite code to complete their submission.

Alumni must be the director/co-director of the project and must have creative and legal control over the project, including, at a minimum, shared final cut.

Please contact ignite@sundance.org for any questions or assistance.

When will I hear back about my submission?

We will be reviewing applications once the submission window closes, and we will notify finalists in August 2026 to conduct virtual interviews with the director and key creative team members. All applicants will be notified before the selected projects are announced publicly. Thank you for your patience. 

Does Sundance Institute retain any rights to the work submitted to the fund?

No. All work submitted remains the intellectual property of its creators.

Is there an application fee to apply?

No. It is free to apply.

Can I submit multiple projects to the Sundance Institute Ignite x Adobe Short Film Fund application?

Yes.

May I reapply for a grant if my proposal is declined?

Yes. However, we strongly discourage filmmakers from submitting nearly identical proposals.

Does my proposal have to be in English?

Yes. We can only consider proposals written in English, accompanied by a budget translated into U.S. dollars and visual materials in English or with English subtitles.

Is my project eligible?

The Sundance Institute Ignite x Adobe Short Film Fund supports fiction, nonfiction, and hybrid short films under 30 minutes. 

We do not fund AR/VR, NGO films, advocacy films, educational films, or branded content.

My project is finished. Can I apply for funding to pay for film transfers or reimburse debt, etc.?

No. Tape-to-film transfers, film prints, and debt reimbursement to complete work are not eligible for funding. We do not provide solely completion funding.

Will you accept VR or mixed-media work?

At this time, we are unable to accept VR and AR work.

What materials will you accept as additional materials?

Any materials, such as lookbooks, pitch decks, treatments, etc., as long as they are able to be uploaded in a PDF.

What format should I submit my visual material in?

We only accept samples via online streaming links. You must provide an online streaming link and password, if applicable, to your current rough cut or sample and to your completed previous work. We recommend using Vimeo or YouTube for this service. Your film should be available for at least five months after you submit your application. Please do not update or change your uploaded file or its password once you submit your application. When you apply for a grant through our website, provide your link and password. Please double-check that you have entered the password correctly (remembering that passwords are case-sensitive). If we do not have the correct password, we will not be able to evaluate your project. Include the link and password in your written proposal as well. We do not accept WeTransfer, Dropbox, Google Drive, or other such file transfer services for the visual material delivery. 

Can I provide project updates once my application is submitted?

You may send any significant updates to ignite@sundance.org. However, due to the volume of projects that we receive, the Ignite program does not guarantee that updates will be incorporated into the project’s review. 

If I receive a grant or award from another source, am I still eligible to apply for Sundance Institute funding?

Yes. However, we do require that the Sundance Institute Ignite x Adobe Short Film Fund grant represent a majority of your completed budget.

If I receive a grant from the Sundance Institute Ignite x Adobe Short Film Fund, will my film screen at the Sundance Film Festival?

No. Grantees are encouraged to submit their completed work for Festival consideration directly to the program staff of the Sundance Film Festival, which selects films independently. Similarly, projects not selected for support by the Sundance Institute Ignite x Adobe Short Film Fund remain eligible to apply for the Sundance Film Festival directly.

Does receiving a grant from the Sundance Institute | Sandbox Fund preclude me from working with any broadcaster or distributor?

No. The Sundance Institute Ignite x Adobe Short Film Fund awards are grants to the artist and do not encumber broadcast, theatrical, or DVD distribution rights for your project. 

If I receive a grant, what are the terms of the contract?

Grants are not recoupable, and none of your exploitable rights are encumbered. To distribute funds, we require director and producer agreements, as well as a clear chain of title to be in place. Our contract requires our logo and corresponding crediting language to be featured in the end credits of the film and on your promotional materials, plus verbal acknowledgement of our support when relevant. We also require narrative, financial, and distribution reports to administer final funds. We may request your active participation in the Sundance Institute creative community through invitation-only activities to support you and your film, as well as to support other filmmakers and the independent film field globally. 

I have more questions that aren’t answered here — whom can I contact?

Please direct your questions to ignite@sundance.org.