Film Independent x Humana Foundation Shorts
Location: United States; production and post-production in Los Angeles, California
Open to
Director-producer teams physically present in the United States. Directors must have directed at least two short films or one feature film. Producers must have produced at least two short films or one feature film.
Teams must submit a short film script or treatment in fiction, nonfiction, or hybrid format that focuses on seniors and themes of aging, along with two directing samples. Applicants must have the unrestricted legal right to work in the United States throughout the program.
Application Fee
$65 for non-members
$45 for Film Independent members
Free for Filmmaker Pro members
There is no additional program cost or tuition beyond the application fee. Selected participants must join Film Independent at the standard annual General Membership rate of $105.
What’s Provided
Production funding with an all-in budget of $100,000 per short film. No additional fundraising is required.
Collaboration with Film Independent throughout the development, production, and distribution process.
Publicity campaigns, marketing and distribution strategy, and consultation.
Virtual and in-person screenings through 2028.
Participation in virtual development sessions and in-person working sessions.
Invitation to the Film Independent Spirit Awards on March 6, 2027.
Five director-producer teams will be selected.
What the artist/applicant must cover
Applicants must pay the applicable application fee unless they qualify for a fee waiver through Filmmaker Pro membership.
Selected participants must join Film Independent at the standard annual General Membership rate of $105.
Duration
The program runs from January through December 2027, with further engagement around distribution and release of the short films in 2028–2029.
January–March 2027: Virtual development sessions and in-person working sessions.
June–July 2027: Production.
August–September 2027: Post-production in Los Angeles.
Deadline
Non-members: October 26, 2026.
Film Independent members: November 2, 2026.
Applications open September 25, 2026. Applicants will be notified no later than December 2026.
Any other essential notes
Film Independent will be the sole and exclusive owner of all copyright and other rights to the completed short films and their elements.
Applications must include director and producer biographies, resumes, individual cover letters and essays, project logline and synopsis, a script of up to 15 pages or a treatment of up to 5 pages, a projected budget, a lookbook, directing and producing samples, and links and passwords to previous work.
Work samples must be from projects completed on or after January 1, 2016.
