The Berkeley FILM Foundation (BFF) is dedicated to fostering a vibrant filmmaking community along the East Shore of the San Francisco Bay Area. We offer grants, educational resources, and exhibition opportunities to support filmmakers at all experience levels—from students to seasoned professionals. Our funding supports documentaries and narrative shorts in production, post-production, and distribution, with a focus on narrative shorts and documentaries. We give priority to films that boldly address social and environmental injustices, particularly those that center Black liberation, uplift communities of color, and challenge oppressive systems, all in service of driving meaningful and lasting policy change.
-
DOCUMENTARY FEATURES
Are you a local, independent filmmaker working on a documentary? You might be eligible for a grant through our Documentary Grant Program. >>
-
NARRATIVE SHORTS
BFF now funds Narrative Shorts! We host an annual open application cycle in the Fall. Check our Grants page for more information. >>
-
STUDENT FILMMAKERS
BFF proudly supports East Bay-based students who are enrolled in a film program anywhere. Check out our Grants page to learn more. >>
-
SAUL ZAENTZ LEGACY
Having been co-founded by the infamous Saul Zaentz, BFF is proud to partner with the Saul Zaentz Charitable Foundation in keeping his legacy alive. >>
2025 Grant Programs
DOCUMENTARY
APRIL 7 - MAY 5
NARRATIVE SHORTS
JULY 21 - AUGUST 18
The Berkeley FILM Foundation’s core work is providing project grants to locally made films and offers two open call grant programs each year for Documentary and Narrative Shorts.
BFF also hosts regular screenings at The New Parkway in Oakland, California, of films that we have previously funded and are finally ready for the big screen!
Please sign up for our newsletters below or follow our social media channels for information about our grants, workshops, and upcoming screenings.
Special thanks to all of our funders:
The Saul Zaentz Charitable Foundation, The Nancy P. and Richard K. Robbins Family Foundation, The Fleishhacker Foundation, The George Lucas Family Foundation, The Jonathan Logan Family Foundation, California Humanities, LaFetra Foundation, The San Francisco Foundation, The Robertson Family Fund, The Berkeley Civic Arts Commission, Stephen M. Silberstein Foundation, The City of Emeryville, The East Bay Community Foundation, The Alameda County Board of Supervisors, Arent Fox LLP, Bayer, Warner Bros., Pacific Gas & Electric, Van Acker Construction, Shartsis Friese LLP, Wilson Markle Stuckey Hardesty & Bott, LLP, Walter J. Haas, Kava Massih, and Christopher Moscone.
