Call for Applications: AFS Grant for Short Films (United States)

AFS is committed to fostering diverse and underrepresented voices in independent film with the intention of focusing on communities of color through an intersectional lens.

Funded by philanthropic revenue from Austin Film Society’s annual Texas Film Awards and by private and institutional donations throughout the year, the AFS Grant serves to redress the loss of public funds for filmmakers by disbursing funds for production and offering travel stipends to Texas filmmakers.

AFS Grant recipients have shown their films at renowned festivals like Sundance, Berlin, Cannes, Toronto, Venice, Tribeca, Rotterdam, and SXSW, they have won Independent Spirit Awards and have even received nominations at the Academy Awards.

Funding Information

• Filmmakers may apply for up to $10,000 cash for pre-production, production, or post-production through the AFS Grant for Short Films. Total cash support from the AFS Grant will not exceed $10,000. However, applicants can apply to receive in-kind awards in addition to the $10,000 cash grant.
• Note: They are no longer funding distribution as a separate stage. Distribution costs can be requested as part of a post-production ask.

Project Eligibility 

• A project is only eligible if it meets the following requirements for the AFS Grant:
  • All genres of film and video are eligible, except industrial or promotional pieces, music videos, and “works-for-hire.”
  • All projects must be single, stand-alone works intended to be distributed alone. Television or web series are not eligible at this time.
  • Projects must be in pre-production, production, or post-production stages.

Eligibility Criteria

• They have added an eligibility quiz to the application form that will help ensure you meet the grant qualifications before applying. They recommend that you take this quiz before you start putting together your materials once you’ve created an account on FormAssembly.
• In order to be eligible to apply for an AFS Grant, you must meet the following requirements at the time of application. If selected to receive an AFS Grant, you may be asked to confirm your eligibility at the time of the offer.
• The AFS Grant is intended to support the artist community in Texas and keep it thriving. You must be a current Texas resident.
• You must be the director or co-director of the project to apply.
• You cannot apply if you are:
  • attending school full-time outside of the state of Texas.
  • a previous Texas resident.
  • an out-of-state director working on a Texas-based film.
  • AFS full or part-time staff or on the AFS board of directors.
  • a current AFS Creative Careers participant.

For more information, visit Austin Film Society.