THE DOCUMENTARY GRANT PROGRAM

The 2025 Documentary Grant Program application window is now closed. It will reopen in April 2026.

Berkeley FILM Foundation provides grants in the production, post-production and distribution stages for documentary projects. Our grants are determined on a competitive basis and range from $5,000 – $25,000. We do not fund documentaries in pre-production or development. 

We are particularly interested in films that have a social consciousness and shine a light on untold stories of oppression or historical mistreatment, stories celebrating underrepresented communities, films about environmental degradation or climate change, educational films about little-known science, health, local history or profile films of an individual who is challenging norms or fighting the status quo. We value films of varying styles and types, from verité to direct cinema.

We judge films based on originality and creativity. Does the film tell a new story or contain a unique angle on an old premise? Is the filmmaker telling the story with imagination and using new techniques?