The Austin Film Society is accepting applications for its grant program.
Donor Name: Austin Film Society
State: Texas
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 05/20/2026
Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000
Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned
Details:
The AFS Grant for Feature Films is open to documentary, narrative, animation, and experimental film projects 40 minutes or more in length and in any of the following stages of production: pre-production, production, or post-production. The mission of the Austin Film Society empowers the community to make, watch, and love film and creative media.
The following awards are special cash grants that are part of the overall AFS Grant for Feature Films:
- AFS Grant for Feature Films — Cash Grant
- Filmmakers may apply for up to $20,000 cash for pre-production, production, or post-production through the AFS Grant for Feature Films. Total cash support from the AFS Grant will not exceed $20,000. However, applicants can apply to receive in-kind awards in addition to the $20,000 cash grant limit.
- North Texas Pioneer Film Award—Cash Grant
- $30,000 in cash grants will be awarded to emerging and established filmmakers residing in the North Texas region. Grants ranging from $10,000–$20,000 will be awarded to feature-length films (40 minutes or longer). The grant aims to fund emerging filmmakers with first or second feature films and filmmakers bringing new and underrepresented perspectives to filmmaking. Funding is made possible by David Lowery, Ley Line Entertainment, and the Oak Cliff Film Festival.
- New Texas Voices Award—Cash Grant
- This grant is part of AFS’s commitment to funding Texas artists whose unique stories, identities, culture, or heritage have been minimally represented in the broader film industry. AFS offers a $15,000 New Texas Voices Award to filmmakers who are pushing the boundaries of 2 filmmaking by bringing a new and underseen perspective to their first feature project (documentary or narrative). This grant will be accompanied by specialized consultation for the awarded filmmakers. Filmmakers who wish to be considered must have a first feature-length film (narrative or documentary) in early-to-mid production. All other eligibility and application requirements for the AFS Grant must be met.
- MPS Camera And Lighting Award—In-Kind Award
- The MPS Camera and Lighting Award is granted to one filmmaker per application cycle in the form of a multi-day camera package rental from MPS Studios with a value of up to $10,000. The award must be used by the awarded project and cannot be transferred or sold. Granting of the MPS Camera and Lighting Award is contingent upon the Grantee securing insurance that meets MPS’ minimum specifications.
Eligible Projects
A project is only eligible if it meets the following requirements for the AFS Grant:
- The length of all feature films must be projected to be 40 minutes or more.
- Projects must be in their pre-production, production, or post-production stage at the time of application.
- All genres of film and video are eligible, except industrial or promotional pieces, music videos, and “works-for-hire.”
- All projects must be single, stand-alone works intended to be distributed alone. Television or web series are not eligible at this time.
Eligibility Criteria
If selected to receive an AFS Grant, you may be asked to confirm your eligibility at the time of the offer.
- The AFS Grant is intended to support the artistic community in Texas and keep it thriving. You must be a current Texas resident, who spends more than 75% of the year within the state in order to apply.
- You must be the director or co-director of the project to apply. If you have multiple directors, the “Primary Applicant” must meet all eligibility requirements.
- You can only submit one application per grant cycle, even if you’re a director of one film and a co-director of another.
- You cannot apply to the AFS Grant if the primary applicant is:
- attending school full-time outside of the state of Texas or a former Texas resident
- an out-of-state director working on a Texas-based film
- You cannot apply to the AFS Grant if either the director or co-director are:
- AFS full- or part-time staff
- on the AFS board of directors
- a current AFS Creative Careers participant
- A video sample is required for this application. If the applicant does not have at least ONE of the following to include as a video sample, they are not eligible to apply to the AFS Grant for Feature Films:
- Scene(s) from the film you’re requesting funding for
- Scene(s) from previous work(s) directed by applicant
For more information, visit AFS.
