How to Get a Documentary Film Grant

Applying for film grants is something that many aspiring filmmakers find challenging. Each grant typically has its own individual requirements and rules. There’s a lot of paperwork and different steps involved. It can make navigating the process of securing film financing all but simple for the average filmmaker. While there’s always plenty of access to a variety of different documentary film funding resources depending on an independent filmmaker’s needs, figuring out how to get a documentary film grant can pose a few challenges along the way.

At Beverly Boy Productions, we specialize in producing a variety of film styles and types. We’re experts on things like film production, film financing, and documentaries.

Need a guide to help you learn how to get a documentary film grant? We’ve simplified the process of acquiring a documentary film grant and broken it down into easy to follow steps.

Get Realistic About Your Budget

Before you can apply for any documentary film grant you’re going to need to get realistic about your budget.

This means you’re going to need to take real action toward planning out your production. Talking with vendors and potential crew members, and determining things like permit costs and other expenses you’ll be seeking a grant for.

Define Your Project

Focus on how you’ll explain your project in the grant application. What it means to be involved in the production of the project. Also who your audience is. You’ll need to have all of these details secured before you apply for a documentary film grant.

You could wait until you actually figure out how to get a documentary film grant into your pipeline. But it’s best to have these details in place prior to the grant writing or application process.

Your artistic strength and the vision you have for the film will certainly play a key role in whether or not you are granted financing to a project. The documentary grant providers will also be seeking originality. So planning your project and being as unique as possible is also important. 

Describe Grant Benefits & Impact

In your grant writing process, as you focus on how to get a documentary film grant for your project, you’ll also want to describe the grant benefits and impact of the grant on your project.

As you apply for grant funding, the grant providers are going to be most likely to provide funds to those who are going to be most valuable impacted by the funds. 

Apply to Multiple Opportunities

Finally, once you’ve got your grant writing processes lined out, figuring out how to get a documentary film grant in order is going to almost certainly require that you stay hyper focused on applying to the many different potential financial grants that are available.

Fortunately, there are many different documentary film grants and other financing options that could be provided to you and your team for your project, and the best way to access funds is to keep applying!