May 2026 Mini Slate: Industry Greenlights and Gateways
OPEN CITIES
FELLOWSHIPS & COMPETITION
DEADLINE: MAY 8
DISCOUNT CODE: AFI Alumni receive a 50% discount with code OCA2026AFI
The accelerator program supports up to ten projects, creating a focused, creative environment where artistic ambition and disciplined experimentation go hand in hand. We work with emerging and established filmmakers pursuing ambitious work driven by a clear, distinctive voice. Selected participants – a single filmmaker or a two-person team – take part in a three-month virtual program and conclude with a ten-day onsite residency in Portugal and a pitch day with invited industry professionals. There is no requirement that projects be set, shot, or produced in Portugal – we support filmmakers and stories from anywhere in the world.
The program is not designed for the production of full generative AI feature films. It is for filmmakers who want to use emerging technolog ... SHOW MORE
SUNDANCE INSTITUTE: DEVELOPMENT TRACK
FELLOWSHIPS & COMPETITION
DEADLINE: MAY 12
The Development Track has one open application that allows your fiction feature work-in-progress screenplay to be considered for the following programs, fellowships, and grants:
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Screenwriters Lab (held annually in January)
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Screenwriters Intensive (held annually online in March)
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Sundance Institute Alfred P. Sloan Fellowship (includes participation in either the Screenwriters Lab or Intensive) and Commissioning Grant
Our application includes questions to determine your eligibility for each program and fellowship, and you will automatically be considered for all programs and fellowships for which you are eligible. (There is no open application for the Directors Lab, which is typically populated by projects that hav ... SHOW MORE
SFFILM RAININ GRANT
FELLOWSHIPS & COMPETITIONS
FINAL DEADLINE: MAY 22
The SFFILM Rainin Grant program is the largest granting body for independent narrative feature films in the US. Grants support films that address social justice issues—the distribution of wealth, opportunities, and privileges—in a positive and meaningful way through plot, character, theme, or setting and benefit the Bay Area filmmaking community in a professional and economic capacity.
Awards are made to 15-20 projects once a year in the fall, for screenwriting, development, or post-production. In addition to a cash grant of up to $25,000, recipients receive access to the FilmHouse (located in SOMA in San Francisco) and benefit from SFFILM’s comprehensive and dynamic artist development programs.
SLAMDANCE FILM FESTIVAL
FELLOWSHIPS & COMPETITIONS
SUBMISSIONS OPEN MAY 18
The Slamdance Film Festival is set to take place from February 18-24, 2027, across multiple venues in Los Angeles, CA.
There are two ways to submit; FilmFreeway and Slamdance’s own Direct Submission Form.
The Slamdance Film Festival accepts films in every genre, on any topic, from every country around the world. We spotlight low-budget Narrative and Documentary Features by first-time directors, Breakout Features from non-first time directors, Unstoppable (shorts & features) highlighting filmmakers/films with/about disability, short films across genres, and episodes. Additionally we accept a vast variety of projects through our Digital, Interactive and Gaming category (DIG). We do not disqualify any films based on premiere status or date of completion.