Democracy at Stake in Europe – Documentary Fund

Location
Europe / International

Open to
Filmmakers aged 18 and over, from across the world, working at all experience levels and backgrounds. The initiative is looking for short documentaries on the theme of democracy in Europe today.

Projects can be at any stage of production or post-production and must be completed by or before spring 2027. Films can be made in any language, but the pitch must be written in English.

Application Fee
No application fee stated.

What’s Provided
One winning project will receive up to £10,000 / €11,500 in funding, along with editorial support, marketing, and distribution on Guardian Documentaries and arte.tv digital networks.

The winning film will also be translated into seven European languages.

What the Artist/Applicant Must Cover
Applicants must submit a pitch detailing the project’s access, story, characters, and filmmaking approach, and include sample material with the proposed contributor(s).

The submission form requests a project title, director and producer details, approximately 25-word logline, approximately 300-word synopsis, approximately 200-word visual approach, and visual material. Optional information includes key access, director biography, budget, existing financing, and proposed schedule.

Duration
Short documentaries with a maximum running time of 20 minutes. Projects must be completed by or before spring 2027.

Deadline
September 14, 2026

Other Essential Notes
Feature-length films and series are not eligible.

The winning project will be announced at DOK Leipzig in October 2026.

Pitching opened on June 11, 2026.