Applications open for IndieGrants Program (United States)

Since its inception in 2014, the IndieGrant program has helped 27 short film projects evolve from the page, into production, and onto the screen by providing Memphis filmmakers over $250K in monetary funds and in-kind filmmaking services.

Categories

• Documentary short
• Narrative short
• Narrative or documentary proof-of-concept short film (for a feature film that is in-development)
• Experimental or animation short

Funding Information

• Two $15,000 production grants ($7,500 Cash + $7,500 in-kind rentals and services).

Who is eligible?

• Directors living in Shelby County (Tennessee), DeSoto County (Mississippi), Crittenden County (Arkansas), Tipton County (Tennessee), Fayette County (Tennessee), Marshall County (Mississippi), and Mississippi County (Arkansas) who did not receive any Indie Memphis funding opportunity within the past two years or grant cycles.

Guidelines

• As stated above, all short film categories are now eligible. The jury will choose two projects to receive an IndieGrant regardless of category.
  • Only directors based in Memphis or surrounding counties may apply.
  • All production must take place in Shelby, DeSoto, Crittenden, Tipton, Fayette, Marshall, and/or Mississippi counties.
  • Submissions that do not require additional fundraising beyond the amount given by the IndieGrant are strongly recommended.
  • Principal photography of the chosen films must be completed by the end of December 2025.
  • Filmmaker may premiere the film anywhere outside of Memphis, but the regional premiere within the seven counties must be coordinated with an Indie Memphis event (festival or otherwise) within 1-year of first public screening.
  • Project must credit Indie Memphis and IndieGrants in the main credit sequence.
  • If you are submitting as a team, there can only be one individual’s name listed as the primary applicant.
  • Only one submission is allowed per filmmaker.

For more information, visit Indie Memphis.