AFAC: Documentary Film Grant Program

AFAC: Documentary Film Grant Program

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Arab Fund for Arts and Culture
Amount: US $10,000 - US $50,000
Last Updated: January 11, 2026

Summary

The AFAC Documentary Film Grant Program supports Arab filmmakers by providing financial assistance for feature-length and short documentaries in various production stages. Grants can reach up to $50,000 for production and $10,000 for development. Emphasizing inclusivity, the program welcomes applications from directors in the Arab region or diaspora, regardless of age or experience. It aims to foster creativity and cultural expression, while encouraging applicants to seek diverse funding sources due to high demand for support.

Overview

NOTE: Please submit your application 24 hours before the deadline so we can help you in case of any technical difficulties. About Us The Arab Fund for Arts and Culture - AFAC was founded in 2007 through the initiative of Arab cultural activists as an independent foundation to support individual artists, writers, researchers, intellectuals, as well as organizations from the Arab region working in the field of arts and culture. Since its launch, AFAC’s programs have steadily expanded to cover cinema, photography, visual and performing arts, creative and critical writings, music, documentary film, in addition to funding research, trainings and cultural events. Based in Beirut, AFAC works with artists and organizations all over the Arab region and the rest of the world. Documentary Film Program The Documentary Film program supports creative documentary films in the Arab region. The program welcomes submissions by Arab directors of feature-length documentary film projects that are in development, production or post-production phases, as well as short and medium-length documentaries in production and post-production. The Documentary Film program provides annual grants up to USD 10,000 for development grants, up to USD 50,000 for production grants for feature-length films and USD 20,000 for short and medium-length documentaries, and up to USD 25,000 for post-production grants for feature-length films and USD 10,000 for short and medium-length documentaries. What does the grant cover? AFAC grants are intended for project production, including research and development phases. They may cover project-related expenses, including but not limited to materials, space or equipment rentals, and fees for artistic and technical labor and collaboration. A director and producer fee of not more than 30% of the total grant amount is also an allowable expense. If you are hesitant about how this works, you can always contact us with questions before submitting your final budget. Given the high demand for production support, AFAC cannot guarantee that all selected grantees will receive their requested amounts in full. We encourage applicants to diversify their sources of funding whenever possible. AFAC does not offer mobility grants, but travel expenses that are part of a project’s implementation and/or research may be covered by the grant. For projects that have already started, we cover only expenses occurring after the agreement's signature date.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. The Documentary Film grant program is open to applications from Arab directors and producers living in the Arab region or the diaspora. A non-Arab producer can apply for a grant provided that the film director is Arab. It is highly recommended that film projects applying to the production and post-production grants have producers attached to them. Project applications are accepted irrespective of age, years of experience, country of residence, ethnicity, gender, or religion.A film producer is eligible to apply with a maximum of two projects per category per cycle, provided the two projects are not attached to the same director.

Ineligibility

AFAC will not consider applications submitted by:Members of the AFAC board of trustees, their business partners, or family members.AFAC staff members, their business partners, or family members.Members of the current year’s reader and juror committees.Applicants with a current open grant.A director who already has an open grant from AFAC (regardless of whether the contract is in their name or the producer’s name).Recipients of grants in two consecutive years will not be eligible to apply for the next two consecutive years. For example, if you received a grant in 2021 and another one in 2022, you will only be eligible to re-apply in 2025. Film producers who have an open grant can apply with another project. If they have two open grants, they are not eligible to apply before the completion of one of the projects.If a grantee has received two grants for the same film project, they cannot apply for post-production.AFAC will not provide support retroactively to projects that have already been completed.