Funding and Support

The Lumen Prize is an international award that celebrates art created with technology. The competition recognizes a wide range of digital art forms, including AI-generated art, interactive installations, VR experiences, and more. By providing cash prizes, exhibitions, and networking opportunities, the prize fosters innovation and helps connect digital artists with a global audience.

Partnering with The Climate Pledge, National Geographic Society supports stories that range from scientific breakthroughs to the resilience of communities in the face of a changing planet. All story ideas must be grounded in solutions. Because if we want to change the future, we must first change the stories we tell about it.

The BFI National Lottery Filmmaking Fund invests National Lottery funding in a diverse range of work with creative merit and ambition, which the commercial sector is not able to back, in full or in part, and which would therefore benefit from National Lottery support. Through its various funding programmes, the BFI Filmmaking Fund focuses on developing new, emerging and established talent in front of and behind the camera and encouraging risk in form and narrative approach.

The Canon Video Grant is open to individual professional photojournalists or documentary video makers with at least one video reportage project under their belt. They can be based anywhere in the world but need to have a proficient grasp of French or English, spoken and written. Their proposed short documentary must cover a social, economic, political or cultural subject in a journalistic manner.

The ICRC’s Humanitarian Golden Visa is awarded annually to a professional photojournalist who has covered a humanitarian issue related to an armed conflict.

The residency program consists of a four-week research-creation stay at the Foundation, followed by a presentation of work in progress to the general public, supporting the development and dissemination of thoughtful and innovative projects whose subject matter, materials, or approach recognize the importance of the aesthetic, social, and global implications of current environmental issues.

This request for proposals invites a community of storytellers to illuminate the complex network of interconnected issues rooted in the Mekong River Basin. The goal is to support creative projects across all mediums that elevate Ancestral Knowledge and cutting-edge science into our collective awareness.

The Music on Film Documentary Grant Program is designed for projects that directly focus on music. The grant provides up to $20,000 annually in finishing funds for scoring, composition, and music licensing efforts for feature-length documentaries directly related to music in post-production.

The Film Fund supports in-progress narrative short films. Their fund covers almost any expense you incur while making your film.

Good environmental journalism changes things. It puts a name to what was once invisible, and makes people care about places and problems they might never otherwise encounter. This is the idea behind the Knight-Risser Prize. This year the prize will help fund the reporting before it happens.

Stories matter, so do the people who tell them. The Arc’teryx x Ori Women’s Creative Grant honors female storytellers around the world, awarding one individual (or creative team) a place in Ori’s upcoming print edition and $5,000 in grant funding. In addition, one runner-up will receive an Arc’teryx Academy photography prize pack.

The Pulitzer Center invites journalists who are working on projects related to tropical rainforests to submit a proposal to the Rainforest Journalism Fund. This particular grant focuses on work around the themes of the rainforest in our overall climate equations, and the solutions and effects of deforestation.

Mongabay are asking for pitches on topics related to Bangladesh’s response to climate change. They’re offering payment for already completed work, and grants to fund future trips for the creation of new stories. Due to limited resources compared to the scale of the challenges, Bangladesh is now facing hurdles in taking adequate adaptation measures to tackle the harmful impacts of climate change.

The Pulitzer Center’s global reporting grants support in-depth, high-impact reporting on critical issues that are often overlooked in the media, from global health to climate change. Their stories address the root causes of crises around the world, including within the United States. They support projects across all media platforms and encourage ambitious, prize-worthy proposals that combine print, photography, audio, and/or video for one or more news outlets.

The Congo Basin Journalism Fund aims to support and build capacity of local, regional, and international journalists reporting on issues related to rainforests, funding costs associated with reporting projects on rainforests, with an emphasis on unreported or underreported issues in the regions and how they connect on a global scale.

The South Asian Journalists Association Fellowship program is designed to promote in-depth, long-form news reports covering issues which are often ignored or given only fleeting coverage by the media. Examples of these are news of natural disasters, accidents and scandals which are often prominently featured as "Breaking News" over a few new cycles, spanning a few days but whose long-term impact are seldom covered in depth, if at all.

The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation is a New York based, philanthropic, not-for-profit institution that makes grants in three areas: research in science, technology, and economics; quality and diversity of scientific institutions; and public engagement with science.

Impact Partners Films are looking for early-stage projects that have a director attached and have secured some access. Submitted projects should tell strong, cinematic stories, explore the urgent issues and questions of our time, and have a clear point of view and artistic vision. Through Impact Partner's general and development funds, they invest in 10-15 projects a year, and review projects year-round on a rolling basis.

Culture Colab seeks grantees working at the intersection of pop culture and social change who identify culture change as a clear outcome of their work. Submitted projects must demonstrate commitment to long-term narrative and culture change strategies in the arts, entertainment, digital, mass media, and/or social justice sectors.

This grant aims to support projects that will further understanding of Japanese arts and culture. Successful projects are granted up to $5,000. This grant also supports online projects related to Arts & Cultural Exchange such as virtual exhibitions, virtual performances, film streaming, online conference as well as webinar.

Providing outreach, access, and support to aspiring filmmakers throughout the U.S. and Canada.

The Revolution Fund accepts nominations for proposals for small one-time grants that last no longer than a year. Mama Cash aims to be responsive to movements by meeting them where they are. The Revolution Fund is Mama Cash’s participatory grantmaking fund that enables them to respond to funding requests that fall outside other grantmaking criteria.

Fiscal sponsorship is an arrangement between an existing 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and an individual or entity lacking the legal status needed to receive grants from foundations, individual donors and government agencies.

The Hundred Film Fund aims to fund and produce one hundred films which are making use of AI to tell their stories. If you are a professional director, producer, screenwriter or creative professional looking to tell new stories with an AI-augmented project in need of funding, you're invited you to apply.

The IWMF supports U.S.-based reporting projects by Indigenous journalists on issues related to Missing & Murdered Indigenous People (MMMIP) with a concentration on women, girls, Two-Spirit and transgender people. Applications will be accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis. Indigenous journalists affiliated with media outlets, as well as freelancers, are invited to apply. In addition to monetary support, the IWMF is committed to providing editorial and pitching support to grantees.

The Bayeux Calvados-Normandy award for war correspondents rewards reports about a conflict situation or its impact on civilians, or news stories involving the defense of freedom and democracy, for video, photo, and audio projects.

Supporting writers and directors looking to get a project financed and produced, or seeking development on a proof of concept for a feature. Accepting all genres, from traditional stories, to "experimental," to animation.

The Star Photobook Dummy Award is an annual award for photobook dummies, offering authors the opportunity to publish a photobook, giving them full support in the final optimization and publication process. The Award is intended for a single winning person or group among the nominees, and consists of a contribution of €10,000 for the printing and publication of a photobook dummy.

The Black List and Blackstone Publishing have announced The Blackstone Publishing Novel Initiative, a new partnership to identify an unpublished manuscript to enter into a $25,000 publishing deal. This program is open to manuscripts in all genres, but Blackstone is particularly interested in genres that elevate familiar themes from fresh, compelling perspectives, with a particular emphasis on thrillers, high-concept mysteries and romances, and horror stories.

The Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Grant will select 10 small businesses monthly from June to December 2026 to receive $10,000 grants.

The Shophand $5k Small Business Boost Grant is awarded three times a year to give small business owners the support they need to overcome their biggest tech or operational challenge.

The QuickBooks Small Business Hero Grant awards $20,000 to US-based small businesses that demonstrate strong community impact, resilience, and integrity. It’s nomination-based, runs in multiple rounds throughout the year, and winners also receive promotion and business support resources to help grow their company.

Virtual reality, interactivity, video, and social media posts… In the face of a constant flow of information, the Digital News Award recognizes a project, piece of content, or creative work that offers a fresh perspective on the news.

Giving you the freedom to make the film you actually want to make. If you’ve got a story you’re passionate about, and a bold way of telling it, Day Job want to help bring it to life. Open to filmmakers worldwide, they want to see live-action, animation and documentary submissions.

The Diane Dammeyer Fellowship in Photographic Arts and Social Issues provides a unique opportunity for a socially engaged photographer to produce a compelling and dynamic body of work that highlights human rights and social issues.

The Snider Prize is a purchase award given to emerging artists having recently completed their final semester of graduate study (Fall '25 or Spring '26). The winner receives $3,000, and two honorable mentions each receive $500 towards the purchase of work to be added to the MoCP’s permanent collection.

The 2026 Deloitte Photo Grant, themed "Proximities," invites photographers to explore new forms of physical, social, and technological distance. The competition is free to enter, with submissions covering various categories of photographic work, aimed at fostering dialogue on relevant issues.

The Sundance Institute Documentary Fund is a global granting opportunity that supports independent filmmakers of cinematic documentaries, from development through release, on a wide range of contemporary topics and themes.

The "Prix de la Photographie, Paris" (PX3) strives to promote the appreciation of photography, to discover emerging talent, and introduce photographers from around the world to the artistic community of Paris.

From fleeting gestures to monumental scenes, this is your opportunity to share how you see the world, and have it seen by millions. Selected photographers will receive international recognition, cash prizes, and a place in a group exhibition in London.

Innovate Grant supports artists and photographers through quarterly $1,800.00 grants. They aim to provide access to mighty bursts of financial support so that you can focus on making your important and innovative work.

Designed to connect producer-director teams with industry leaders and put projects on the “fast track,” the market consists of meetings with top executives, financiers, agents, managers, distributors, granting organizations and production companies.

The Media Projects program supports the development, production, and distribution of radio programs, podcasts, documentary films, and documentary film series  that engage general audiences with humanities ideas in creative and appealing ways. Projects must be grounded in humanities scholarship and demonstrate an approach that is thoughtful, balanced, and analytical.

The Media Projects program supports the development, production, and distribution of radio programs, podcasts, documentary films, and documentary film series  that engage general audiences with humanities ideas in creative and appealing ways. Projects must be grounded in humanities scholarship and demonstrate an approach that is thoughtful, balanced, and analytical.

The Creative Shorts Fellowship supports Emerging Native filmmakers to produce a short film: documentary, drama, experimental, or animation piece; and supports a mentorship with a career professional film producer or director. Emerging Native filmmakers find their own mentor for their project. Film professionals, Native or non-Native, may also submit a proposal—following criteria and eligibility—to mentor an Emerging Native filmmaker in the production of that emerging filmmaker’s short film.

Selected artists will receive a $7,500 stipend, a furnished artist apartment in New York, 24-hour access to state-of-the-art facilities, and generous staff support. Applications are open to all artists working in photography or image-based media.

The Black List and Tubi have partnered to discover a feature horror script for Tubi to purchase and develop, with the intent of greenlighting the script for production and distribution.

Supporting a filmmaker with a distinct creative point of view, confident visual sensibility, and an instinct for storytelling that feels personal and unmistakably their own. Open to all genres, and nationalities. Open to all nationalities and genres.

Critical Mass is an annual online program that connects photographers from around the world with leading voices in the field. Open to photographers at all levels, participants submit a portfolio of 10 images for consideration. After an initial pre-screening, 200 finalists are selected, and their work is reviewed and voted on by up to 200 respected photography professionals from around the world.

The purpose of the Emerging Photographer Grant is to provide a $10,000 grant to visual storytellers at the beginning of their careers, to develop impactful visual narratives. The program places particular emphasis on photographers from undeserved and diverse communities, expanding access to resources and opportunities to bring their stories to life.

The Unpublished Novel Award celebrates stellar unpublished manuscripts in four distinct categories: Children’s & Young Adult, Literary, Commercial Fiction (Romance, Thriller/Suspense and Crime/Mystery) and Speculative Fiction (Horror and Sci-Fi/Fantasy). A panel of judges with experience in book publishing will select one manuscript in each category to receive a $10,000 grant to support it on the journey to publication.

The Monochrome Awards is primarily aimed at people of whom photography is a passion and a way of life. It is a platform where professionals and amateurs can enter their shots amongst a sea of ambitious and creative community of photographers from around the world for a chance to win $3000 and an opportunity to show their work to an international audience.

Administered by The RPS in partnership with The Guardian. The Joan Wakelin Bursary offers £2000 for the production of a photographic essay on an overseas social documentary issue. The Bursary was established in 2005 in memory of distinguished documentary photographer and Honorary Fellow of The Society, Joan Wakelin.

The SFFILM Documentary Film Fund (DFF) supports engaging documentaries in post-production which exhibit compelling stories, intriguing characters, and an original, innovative visual approach. DFF grants, up to $20,000, are awarded once each year to documentary feature projects and are open to filmmakers internationally.

The Royal Photographic Society is offering support of a photographic project that will promote environmental awareness. The bursary will provide £4000 to assist with travel expenses, photographic equipment and other project-related costs. The grant looks for a creative interpretation of the subject as well as documentary and editorial photography.

The Jerwood/Photoworks Awards are a major commissioning opportunity supporting early-career artists working with photography to make new work and significantly develop their practice. They particularly seek to encourage artists exploring new approaches to photography.

The Sir Harry Evans Global Fellowship provides an unrivalled opportunity for an exceptional early career journalist: a nine-month fellowship with Durham University and Reuters to undertake an investigative project. The Fellow will pursue the project from inside a Reuters newsroom in London, New York, Sydney or Toronto.

The Epson International Pano Awards is the world's largest competition dedicated to panoramic photography. Established in 2009 by Australian landscape photographer David Evans, the awards aim to showcase the work of panoramic photographers worldwide and celebrate the art of wide-format photography. The competition is open to both professional and amateur photographers, providing a platform for recognition and exposure in the panoramic photography community.

Large-scale funding for ambitious projects exploring big questions around science, philosophy, human flourishing, and the nature of reality. Typically supports multi-year, research-driven or interdisciplinary work with clear intellectual and societal impact.

MPB Photography Award seeks to inspire creatives from around the world to pursue a life and career in the arts, and to help careers grow through funding and increased exposure of their work to galleries, collectors and media globally.

Chromatic Awards is an international competition of color photography open to both professionals and amateurs. Participation in the Chromatic Awards offers not only prestige, but also the opportunity to win extra money for the development of passion.

The Perspective Fund supports projects by individuals and organisations that stand on their own as first-rate pieces of media and equip their audiences with the knowledge, willpower, and community infrastructure to bring about a more socially and economically inclusive world—one where more people have more access to opportunity. They provide storytellers and journalists with the funding, tools, and strategy-driven support to tell stories about equity and justice that generate action.

Guided by the belief that cinema creates space for dialogue, reflection and connection, DFF brings together filmmakers, audiences and industry voices to honour original storytelling. Winners across all competitions are honoured through the Doha Film Festival Awards Fund in recognition of excellence in cinematic storytelling and craft.

Guided by the belief that cinema creates space for dialogue, reflection and connection, DFF brings together filmmakers, audiences and industry voices to honour original storytelling. Winners across all competitions are honoured through the Doha Film Festival Awards Fund in recognition of excellence in cinematic storytelling and craft.

Guided by the belief that cinema creates space for dialogue, reflection and connection, DFF brings together filmmakers, audiences and industry voices to honour original storytelling. Winners across all competitions are honoured through the Doha Film Festival Awards Fund in recognition of excellence in cinematic storytelling and craft.

Guided by the belief that cinema creates space for dialogue, reflection and connection, DFF brings together filmmakers, audiences and industry voices to honour original storytelling. Winners across all competitions are honoured through the Doha Film Festival Awards Fund in recognition of excellence in cinematic storytelling and craft.

Guided by the belief that cinema creates space for dialogue, reflection and connection, DFF brings together filmmakers, audiences and industry voices to honour original storytelling. Winners across all competitions are honoured through the Doha Film Festival Awards Fund in recognition of excellence in cinematic storytelling and craft.

The Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festival is a programming-driven, competitive event bringing the best films and books on mountains and the spirit of adventure from around the world to the mountain town of Banff, Alberta. The Festival provides an opportunity for filmmakers and writers to meet and exchange ideas.

The Bloomberg Green Docs competition is open to all eligible filmmakers who would like to compete to win a $25,000 grand prize for a short climate documentary.

Every year, the Foundation awards a grant of 10,000 Canadian dollars and a few 5,000 Canadian dollars grants to some filmmakers to assist in the production of a documentary project. The grant is aimed at young filmmakers born and living in The Global South (Africa, Asia or Latin America) who want to direct a film in the language of their choice that respects the aims of the Foundation.

The Ian Parry Photojournalism Grant supports young and emerging photographers as they embark on the their careers in the world of photojournalism. They offer financial support, mentorship and ongoing assistance for the promotion of their work.

Vogue welcomes photography, video, and multimedia projects across all genres, including fashion, documentary, portraiture, fine art, and experimental practices. They're looking for work that expresses a clear point of view, whether through the ideas it explores, the emotions it evokes, or the strength of its visual language. This can take many forms, from powerful storytelling to images that stand out for their aesthetic impact.

The Lucie Photo Book Prize, presented by the nonprofit Lucie Foundation, is a global, juried competition celebrating excellence in photography in book format. It welcomes a wide range of submissions—from fully published editions to prototypes, handmade books, and zines. This program supports photographers, editors, curators, and publishers who use photobooks to tell compelling visual stories and drive appreciation of the medium.

PhotoVogue’s Regional Open Call invites photographers and video makers from Middle East and North Africa and their diaspora to bring forward their perspectives, celebrating image-making as a space of expression, resilience, and cultural dialogue, and offering global visibility to their work.

The Eidolon Grant is an international initiative aimed at exploring, promoting, and preserving vernacular photography. It invites artists, academics, researchers, and enthusiasts to submit projects that delve into the heritage and contemporary practices of everyday imaging.

The Lucie Foundation Scholarship Program is dedicated to supporting both emerging and professional photographers worldwide. It aims to foster dynamic ideas that challenge and progress the art of still photography. The program encompasses various genres, including Fine Art, Photojournalism, and Documentary photography, supporting works that are original and compelling.

The Luxembourg Art Prize is an annual international art award organized by La Pinacothèque, a private museum located in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. The Luxembourg Art Prize is awarded annually to showcase the talents of amateur and professional artists of any age or nationality.

The Independent and Freelance Photojournalist Award recognises excellence in independent visual reporting across three categories: Spot News, Environment, and Solutions. Each category winner receives a USD 5,000 cash prize, with three equal winners recognised annually.

Numéro Switzerland is pleased to announce its fourth visual arts contest, a celebration of transformation and creativity in constant motion. This year's theme is “Flux et Forma,” inviting photographers, videographers, visual artists, and creators from around the world to explore the beauty of change, movement, and evolution, showcasing their unique visions and perspectives.

The Annual Photography Awards is an international competition celebrating the best photography from around the world. Open to professionals, amateurs, and students aged 18 and above, the contest aims to preserve photography as a contemporary fine art medium and assist artists in advancing their careers. Participants receive global exposure and are eligible for various cash prizes.

The CFA Institute, in partnership with IMGN, is awarding one filmmaker $4,500 to support an independent narrative project in 2026. Applications are open to U.S.-based filmmakers.