2025 Narrative Short Film Grant Program – Berkeley FILM Foundation

Location
East Bay Area, California – applicants must live or work in Berkeley, Emeryville, Albany, El Cerrito, Richmond, Oakland, or Alameda

Open to
Filmmakers age 18+ who live or work in one of the eligible East Bay cities listed above. Applicants must be the Director, Co-director, Producer, or Co-producer of the project. Only one submission per applicant per funding cycle.

Application Fee
None

What’s Provided

  • General Grants ranging from $5,000 to $10,000

  • Two $25,000 Saul Zaentz Awards (selected by the jury during final deliberation)

  • Support available for all stages of narrative short film production: pre-production, production, post-production, and distribution

What the Artist/Applicant Must Cover
No retroactive, deferred, or promotional/organizational project costs are funded. Grant does not cover general operating expenses.

Duration
Projects must be under 40 minutes (short fiction narrative only).

Deadline
August 18, 2025, at 11:59 PM

Notes

  • Only short narrative films (under 40 minutes) are eligible.

  • Not eligible: long-form narratives, reality TV, ads, corporate media, documentaries, music videos, etc.

  • Past recipients must apply in a different project stage and in a non-consecutive year.

  • Grant decisions announced by December 1, 2025.

  • Grantees must conduct one community screening of the film in partnership with BFF post-completion.

  • Applications must be submitted via Submittable and include a script, budget, resumes, visual materials, prior work, and optional footage.

  • Projects must have a strong theme of social or environmental justice and show artistic originality and technical skill.