April 2026 Mini Slate: Industry Greenlights and Gateways

FELLOWSHIPS & COMPETITIONS

APPLY BY: Application Opens March 10 | Closes May 5

Thank you for your interest in Film Independent’s Documentary Producing Lab.

The 2026 Documentary Producing Lab, held in September, is designed for producers working primarily in the nonfiction space.

For one week, Fellows participate in workshops designed to help them navigate the ever-changing documentary landscape, with a focus on financing, finishing and distributing their films.  Please note that the Lab will take place in person at our office in Los Angeles.

The Documentary Producing Lab accepts projects in active development, production or post-production. Applicants must submit a work sample of their current project.  If they do not have a work sample of their current project, please include a work sample of a previous project.

FELLOWSHIPS & COMPETITIONS

APPLY BY: April 23

The creator(s) of the project must self-identify as Black and be based in the United States.

• This grant is open to artists who create primarily immersive experiences, as well as those who are new to the immersive industry who are interested in pushing the boundaries of their existing practice.
• We invite early career and established creators to pursue this grant.
• The applicant must be the director, lead producer of the project, or be in a similar leadership capacity.
• The applicant must be at least 18 years old.

Selection Criteria

• The grant awardee will be chosen by a selection panel made up of the grant’s board of directors and other arts professionals.
  • During our selection process, we use the Aesthetics Perspectives framework developed by Animating Democracy (a program of Americans for the Arts). It includes 11 attributes: Commitment, Communal Meaning, Disruption, Cultural Integrity, Emotional Experience, Sensory Experience, Risk-taking, Openness, Resourcefulness, Coherence, and Stickiness.

• We are also looking for applications that demonstrate clarity and feasibility.
  • We need to clearly understand what the artist wants to create, how it is immersive, and how an audience will experience it.
  • We also need to have confidence in the artist’s ability to execute their proposed idea. We will be looking closely at the budget, timeline, and projected challenges to see if the artist has thought through the needs of the project and the steps of the process.
• You can find the full rubric the voters will use to evaluate applications HERE

FELLOWSHIPS & COMPETITIONS

APPLY BY: April 29

Founded in 2016, this program supports nonfiction filmmakers or filmmaking teams working on their first or second feature-length documentary.

In this year-long program, 9 filmmakers will receive:

• $40,000 USD in grant funding for the production of their feature-length film

• Mentorship with Chicken & Egg Films team members

• Two creative retreats focused on career building and creative development

• Travel stipend for director and producer upon acceptance to a forum or market during program year

• Tailored industry meetings and funder connections

• Peer support from their cohort