September 2025 Mini Slate: Industry Greenlights and Gateways

FELLOWSHIPS & COMPETITIONS

APPLY BY: SEPTEMBER 26

 

Catalyst is Sundance Institute’s film financing arm. Through our year-round program, we aim to build a culture of partnership between independent investors and filmmakers; to unlock funding for ambitious new independent films; and to engage our community in supporting the independent film ecosystem.

Since its founding in 2013, over $60 million has been raised to support more than 140 fiction and nonfiction features through Catalyst. Supported projects include Sugarcane, The Witch, Won’t You Be My Neighbor?, Nanny, The Social Dilemma, and The Starling Girl.

FELLOWSHIPS & COMPETITIONS

APPLY BY: SEPTEMBER 26

 

The Frameline Completion Fund provides grants to both emerging and established filmmakers. This program seeks to provide a much-needed source of financial contributions to artists who are struggling to secure funding to complete their works. Grants up to $5,000 are available for the completion of films that represent and reflect LGBTQ+ life in all its complexity and richness. Since 1991, Frameline has awarded $692,500 to 197 projects through the Completion Fund.

FELLOWSHIPS & COMPETITIONS

APPLY BY: SEPTEMBER 30

 

Reel Sisters of the Diaspora Film Festival & Lecture Series, the first Academy qualifying festival devoted to women filmmakers, will offer you an opportunity to produce a short film or pilot for your web series!

You will receive $5,000 to produce a short film or the first episode of your web series, which you can use as a calling card to attract a producer and other film opportunities. You will be guided on your journey in learning the art of creating a high-quality micro budget short film. Story is Queen. 

Be prepared to begin production and shooting of your film or web series project shortly after you are selected as a Reel Sisters Fellow!

The pilot episode of your web series or short film will air on Reel Sisters Tea & Cinema virtual series and have a world premiere in our annual international Oscar qualifying film festival.

FELLOWSHIPS & COMPETITIONS

APPLY BY: OCTOBER 7

 

This €10,000 Action Grant is open to Directors worldwide who experiences marginalization due to their gender. We have expanded our program to include women and LGBTQIA+ directors who have a feature film or documentary in late-stage development. (Note: In the case of documentaries, we accept projects that have begun production.)

Applicants must demonstrate how the grant funding will allow you to advance in a critical area of development – be it casting, location scouting, hiring crew, or shooting a scene – there are no limits, as long as the action taken moves the needle on your project. This is about finding films with strong artistic merit and a bold original vision, ready to go into production before the end of 2026.

Tuesday, September 23 | 5:30pm 

 

Film incentives can be a powerful tool — if you know how to use them. With states like California, New Jersey, New York, and Texas refining or launching new programs, there’s never been a better time to sharpen your strategy.

Join Ryan Broussard, Wrapbook’s VP of Sales and Production Incentives, for a live virtual session covering the most important updates for 2025. He’ll walk through key changes, break down how different productions can benefit, and share smart ways to maximize your budget without compromising your vision.

 

Multiple Slots in September 

 

Embark on a cinematic journey at the International Conference On Film Studies 2025, where scholars and cinephiles converge to explore the art of storytelling through cinema. This conference offers a dynamic platform for filmmakers, scholars, critics, and enthusiasts to delve into the complexities of cinematic narratives, visual aesthetics, and cultural representations. From classic cinema to new media forms and emerging digital technologies, International Conference On Film Studies 2025 covers a diverse range of topics crucial for understanding the evolution of film culture in the 21st century.

Friday, October 3 | 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm

 

New advancements in technology have created more accessible pathways to getting movies made. In animation, independent creators now have the opportunity to bring their vision to life more efficiently with the use of Artificial Intelligence as a tool.

In this dynamic three-hour Master Class, Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Michaela Ternasky-Holland (Echoes of Legend, Thank You, Mom) will guide you through the exciting intersection of animation and AI. Drawing from her acclaimed work, Michaela will share how she collaborates with visual artists and technicians to craft emotionally resonant animated projects, tips on working with Generative AI and finding the right workflow that fits your project.