Documentary Funding Opportunities for Filmmakers in Fall 2025

Finding funding is one of the most difficult parts of the documentary filmmaking process. Whether you are just starting out or closing in on a final cut, the right grant can make all the difference. This post is the second in a recurring feature of the blog, offering a seasonal roundup of the most timely and relevant opportunities for independent filmmakers. Below, you’ll find a curated list of active grants, fellowships, and labs that are currently accepting applications for fall 2025.

August 2025

• AXS Film Fund
  Deadline: July 31, 2025
  This fund supports creators of color and creators with disabilities working on nonfiction projects. Grants range up to $10,000.

  Perfect for: Short or feature-length docs focused on social change
  Eligibility: U.S.-based disabled and/or BIPOC filmmakers
  

• AAAS Kavli Science Journalism Award
  Deadline: August 1, 2025
  Grants up to $5,000 for science journalists or documentarians exploring scientific themes for public understanding.

  Perfect for: Short science documentaries or audio docs
  Eligibility: International, including U.S.

September 2025

• Fund for Investigative Journalism
  Deadline: September 8, 2025
  Grants from $2,500 to $10,000 for investigative documentaries that break new ground on social justice or underreported stories.

  Perfect for: Projects with a strong investigative component
  Eligibility: Open to U.S.-based journalists

• CINESPACE
  Deadline: September 7, 2025
  A unique short documentary competition hosted by NASA and Houston Cinema Arts Society, with up to $10,000 in prizes.

  Perfect for: Films using NASA footage or space science themes
  Eligibility: Open internationally

October 2025

• Frameline Completion Fund
  Deadline: October 25, 2025
  Offers grants up to $6,000 for LGBTQ+ documentary filmmakers nearing the finish line.

  Perfect for: Projects with 90% of footage shot and clear LGBTQ+ themes
  Eligibility: International, including U.S.
  

• Delaware Division of the Arts Fellowship
  Deadline: October 1, 2025
  Offers up to $12,000 for Delaware residents working in film, media, and performance arts.

  Perfect for: Mid-career or established filmmakers living in Delaware

November 2025

• Documentary Campus Masterschool (Europe-based, U.S. producers eligible)
  Deadline: December 1, 2025
  A renowned training and networking lab for international documentary creators.

  Perfect for: Experienced filmmakers looking to develop international co-productions
  Includes: Year-long labs, market access, and mentorship
  Apply here

December 2025

• Connecticut Humanities Fund – Implementation and Planning Grants
  Deadline: December 1, 2025
  These two grants offer up to $20,000 each to support humanities-focused documentaries.

• Perfect for: Nonprofit applicants in Connecticut
  Implementation Grants Info
  Planning Grants Info

• IBF Classic – Production and Post-Production or Project Development
  Deadline: December 10, 2025
  Open to international co-productions, these grants support story development and production/post of powerful international docs.

  Perfect for: Projects with international partnerships
  Eligibility Note: U.S. citizens eligible through international co-production
  

Final Thoughts

Each of these programs has its own values, aesthetics, and goals. Don’t just apply blindly—research previous grantees, read through their criteria carefully, and tailor your application accordingly. Persistence is everything. Every grant is another chance to tell the stories that matter.