BFF: Documentary Grant

The Berkeley Film Foundation's BFF: Documentary Grant supports independent filmmakers in the East Bay, focusing on projects that highlight social consciousness and complex societal issues. Grants are available for production, post-production, and distribution phases, ranging from $2,500 to $15,000, with an emphasis on originality and storytelling. The foundation values diverse narratives, particularly those that celebrate underrepresented communities and address environmental concerns, providing a platform for impactful storytelling in the film industry.

The Berkeley Film Foundation supports East Bay-based emerging and established independent filmmakers whose work combines intellectual clarity with creative use of the medium. We support documentary works that have a social consciousness and addresses complex issues of our time. BFF follows many aspects of IDA’s Core App 3.0 (v 2024), however, it is not identical to the Core, so please be sure to read the questions on this application carefully and complete the answers to the best of your ability.
What Do We Fund
Berkeley FILM Foundation provides grants in the production, post-production and distribution stages of the film project. We do not fund projects in the pre-production or development phase. Applicants may submit one project for consideration per funding cycle.
The Berkeley FILM Foundation is interested in films that have a social consciousness and shine a light on untold stories of oppression or historical mistreatment, stories celebrating underrepresented communities, films about environmental degradation or climate change, educational films about little-known science, health, local history or profile films of an individual who is challenging norms or fighting the status quo.
Does the film tell a new story or contain a unique angle on an old premise? Is the filmmaker telling the story with imagination and using new techniques?
The subject of the film is also taken into consideration. Does this story need to be told? Is this a film that will gain a wide audience both within and outside of serious film viewers? Does the filmmaking team display a level of professionalism that will enable the film to be completed?
We also consider the issue of authorship: Why is this person telling this story? Is this the right person to be telling this story? These are some examples of things that the team could address in the application.
Funding
BFF has three tiers of grants available to filmmakers: special awards, regular grants and student grants. The number of general grants and student grants distributed can change each year depending on our available funds. In the past few cycles, we have been able to fund 20-25 films per year.
General grants awarded will usually range between $5,000 - $15,000 depending on the amount of available funds.
Awards -
The Saul Zaentz Award: $25,000The Al Bendich Award: $20,000The Saul Zaentz Award for Creative Vision: $25,000The Jonathan Logan Elevate Award: $25,000