Funding and support for filmmakers
Access funding, grants, and distribution tools—plus resources for navigating downtime between productions.
FILM FINANCE
American Film Market
American Film Market Resources – Finance
Resources for producers, including trends in Hollywood dealmaking & sharing of profits, film financing in a VOD World, what the data says, and more.
BondIt Media Capital
BondIt Media Capital is a world-renowned film, television and media financier founded in 2013. Based in Santa Monica, BondIt is a flexible financing partner for projects, producers and media companies alike.
BondIt Offers: Film Union Deposits, Minimum Guarantees, GAP Loans, Bridge Loans, Sales Receivables, Tax Credit Loans, & Working Capital
Entertainment Partners
40 Production Finance Terms Every Filmmaker Should Know
Masterclass
How to Finance a Film: 9 Ways to Get Funding for Your Film
Monarch Private Capital
Monarch Private Capital helps producers monetize their film and television tax credits, which creates thousands of jobs annually in filming jurisdictions that offer transferable tax credits. The productions also support many local businesses, including hospitality, restaurants and caterers, retail, and other service companies in filming locations.
Ohio Arts Council: The Business of Art
In cities and towns, across diverse Ohio regions, the arts communicate experiences and enhance quality of life–enriching education, building Ohio’s economy, and telling stories of our communities. By strengthening investment and engagement in the arts, the Ohio Arts Council supports creative express.
Three Point Capital
Three Point Capital (TPC)
TPC provides multi-faceted financial solutions for all creators – tailored to specific projects and needs. Make your creative ideas a reality by leveraging our exceptional lending, servicing, brokerage, and accounting capabilities.
Wrapbook Blog
Essential Guide: Film Financing
Author: Loring Weisenberger
To most independent filmmakers, the topic of film financing can seem intimidating at best. Let’s start with the basics.
Wrapbook Podcast "On Production"
A podcast for those in the industry – from film, to TV, to production finance. Experts talk productivity, creativity, and navigating the complex worlds of film, TV, and commercial production. Hosted by Cameron Woodward
Upcoming Events
View CalendarVimeo Short Film Grant
Friday, October 16, 2026
12:00 am - 11:59 pm
Virtual Event
Lights, camera, funded. We’re supporting five filmmakers with money, mentorship, and equipment for their next short film project. See entry terms below.
Roy W. Dean Film Grant
Saturday, October 31, 2026
12:00 am - 11:59 pm
Virtual Event
For over 30 years, the Roy W. Dean Grant has funded independent films that are unique and make a contribution to society that, without its help, might otherwise never get made.
Artists with Disabilities Access Program (ADAP)
Sunday, November 01, 2026
12:00 am - 11:59 pm
Virtual Event
Ohio Arts Council offers grants to individual artists with disabilities.
The Emerging Playwrights Fund
Wednesday, November 18, 2026
12:00 am - 11:59 pm
Virtual Event
The Emerging Playwrights Fund is calling theatrical visionaries who are ready to push boundaries and captivate audiences through the intimate, limitless world of audio drama.
2026 Carole Dorothy Joyce Grant for Student Filmmakers
Monday, November 30, 2026
12:00 am - 11:59 pm
Virtual Event
A student filmmaker may already have the story, the vision, and the passion. What they most likely don’t have is the support and funding they need to move their film forward.
2027 NRDC Climate Storytelling Fellowship Deadline
Deadline: December 4
Friday, December 04, 2026
12:00 am - 11:59 pm
The Fellowship will grant $20,000 each to three writers to support revision of a feature screenplay or pilot that engages with climate change in a compelling way.
GRANTS & AWARDS
Start your funding search here! Database of local/state arts grants; eligibility often includes 501(c)(3) nonprofits, and many grants are offered to individuals.
The Jokes On Her Comedy Prize - Deadline October 1st
Offering a $5,000 grant for women playwrights who prioritize laughter (dark comedies included). This prize is for plays intentionally written to be categorized as a comedy.
Open to women (identifying & femmes inclusive) playwrights residing in the United States or Puerto Rico who are 21 years of age.
Plays must be the author’s own work.
Roy W. Dean Film Grant - Deadline October 31st
For over 30 years, the Roy W. Dean Grant has funded independent films that are unique and make a contribution to society that, without its help, might otherwise never get made. Open to documentaries, narrative features, short films, or web series. Projects with budgets of $500,000 or less are eligible.
Award
Three filmmakers will also receive Stories That Matter Awards, each with a $500 cash prize, honoring films that illuminate important social issues, communities, and human experiences.
Every filmmaker who applies receives guidance in a 15-minute consultation to gain valuable insight on funding strategies, building donor and investor support, strengthening their project presentation, and moving their film towards completion.
The Emerging Playwrights Fund - Deadline November 18th
Calling theatrical visionaries who are ready to push boundaries and captivate audiences through the intimate, limitless world of audio drama.
Whether your work explores internal worlds through sound, creates vivid landscapes through language, or experiments with narrative structure… if it pushes boundaries and demands to be heard, Audible wants to hear about it.
For this cycle, they are interested in original audio drama in:
Winners receive $25,000 to write and develop an original audio play.
Note: Open to US and UK residents.
2026 Carole Dorothy Joyce Grant for Student Filmmakers - Deadline November 30th
The grant seeks films from student filmmakers enrolled in a university, college, community college, extension course, or high school who need help starting or finishing their film.
Films must be unique and make a contribution to society.
Short and feature-length narratives and documentaries are eligible, and projects must be budgeted at $50,000 or less. Student filmmakers from any country are welcome to apply.
What Will the Winner Receive?
Artists with Disabilities Access Program
Provides funding that gives individual artists with disabilities the resources they need to further their artistic development. Creative expression by artists of all abilities is essential to building dynamic and diverse communities throughout Ohio. ADAP awards help artists with disabilities advance their artistic practices, making Ohio a more accessible and inclusive place to build an artistic career.
Assembly for the Arts: Financial & Funding Resources
Assembly for the Arts is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with a focus on advocacy, cultural policy, racial equity initiatives, research, marketing that elevates the region, and services for nonprofits, artists, and creative businesses.
Cuyahoga Arts & Culture Grants
Cuyahoga Arts & Culture believes that investing in arts and culture inspires our community, builds stronger neighborhoods and ultimately enhances the quality of life for all Cuyahoga County residents. This is achieved through our primary grants: General Operating Support, Project Support, and Cultural Heritage.
Decentralized Pictures Foundation
Decentralized Pictures (DCP) is a 501c(3) nonprofit organization seeking to discover new and innovative filmmaking talent. They run a democratic film fund that allows their online community of creatives, film fans, and industry professionals to decide who is most deserving of their support. Submit your film idea, and if the world loves it, they’ll help you make it.
Explore opportunities for Fellowships and Grants through Film Independent!
Film Independent awards over $845,000 in cash and production services to filmmakers each year. Film Independent Grants & Awards allow filmmakers to advance their current projects and help recognize professional accomplishments in independent film. With questions and for more information about Film Independent Grants & Awards, please email us at artistdevelopment@filmindependent.org.
The Ohio Arts Council’s grant programs are grouped into four categories supporting organizations, arts learning, and individual artists:
Funding Resource Videos – OAC YouTube Channel
The Rapid Action Grant is designed to help boost artists’ ability to fund their creative projects and fill in the gaps when immediate needs arise. Cuyahoga County-based artists can request funds up to $2000* for immediate expenses. Applications are reviewed in the order that they are received and on a rolling basis throughout the year until all program funds have been distributed.
Spaces - Opportunities For Artists
SPACES commissions artists from around the world—at all stages of their careers—to make new work that is responsive to timely issues. They use these projects as a jumping off point to create educational initiatives that help develop a more informed citizenry. They also distribute grants to artists outside of their residency and exhibition programs.
DISTRIBUTION
Film Festival Submission Process
Enter the world’s best festivals. Over 12,000 of the world’s best film festivals and screenplay contests, including 197 Academy Award / BAFTA Award accredited festivals, use FilmFreeway to reach over two million filmmakers worldwide.
In writing his book Think Outside the Box Office (TOTBO), Jon Reiss drew on his own experiences distributing his film Bomb It, in addition to interviews with countless other filmmakers, distributors, publicists, web programmers, festival programmers and marketing experts to create the first step-by-step nuts and bolts guide to marketing and distributing a film in the 21st century. Jon’s goal was to provide a written resource to help other filmmakers and media content creators achieve their goals in distributing and marketing their films.
This mission continues but now includes a live educational experience to accompany the information found in the book.