Sundance Ignite X Adobe Fellowship Grant

The Sundance Ignite X Adobe Fellowship seeks emerging filmmakers aged 18 to 25 to share their unique voices through a one- to 15-minute short film. This yearlong program includes mentorship from Sundance alumni, a $3,000 grant, and access to Adobe Creative Cloud. Participants will engage in workshops and webinars, culminating in the development of their artistic vision. International applicants are encouraged, and all submissions must be original, completed within the last 12 months.

The Sundance Institute and Adobe are teaming up to find the next 10 Sundance Ignite x Adobe Fellows—emerging filmmakers (ages 18 to 25) who are creating stories that bring their passion, voice, and perspective to life.
The Sundance Institute Ignite program identifies and supports new voices and talent from the next generation of filmmakers by providing artistic and professional development to advance filmmakers to the next stage in their filmmaking. The yearlong Sundance Institute Ignite x Adobe Fellowship is open to emerging documentary and fiction filmmakers from across the globe between ages 18 and 25. The fellowship begins with a weeklong in-person lab at MassMoca in North Adams, Massachusetts, orienting filmmakers to the fellowship and year ahead. Throughout the year, filmmakers will:
Work with a Sundance Institute alumni mentorReceive a $3,000 artist grantParticipate as a cohort in monthly webinars, workshops and workshares throughout the yearReceive a complimentary Adobe Creative Cloud 12-month membership, where Creative Cloud is available.
To choose this year’s fellows, we’re asking filmmakers to submit a one- to 15-minute short that shows us their artistic vision and unique voice. Submissions aren’t limited to any genre or topic — the only requirement is that they represent the filmmaker’s perspective as an artist. You will also include materials in support of a new project that you intend to work on throughout the fellowship.
For resources to help craft your submission, check out the Sundance Collab Filmmaker Toolkit.
Sundance Ignite is supported by Adobe and Arison Arts Foundation.
Please see FAQs for additional guidelines.

Eligibility

The Sundance Institute Ignite x Adobe Fellowship Application is open to filmmakers between the ages of 18 and 25 who join the Sundance Collab community. One entry per person.Films must adhere to Sundance Collab’s code of conduct.All work submitted, for both the short film and supplemental materials, must be entirely your own.Only those submissions that meet the criteria outlined in the Fellowship Application description can be selected as a winner.Only one director per submission can be considered for the Ignite x Adobe Fellowship.Films can only be submitted once.Only the director of the film can submit and be considered for the fellowship.All short films must be completed within the last 12 months, as of February 12, 2026.All short films must be submitted online in digital video format.Any film not in English must include English subtitles.The maximum file size you can upload is 4.9 GB.

Ineligibility

Work re-submitted from previous editions of the Sundance Ignite x Adobe Fellowship, including those on the Adobe Project 1324 platform will not be considered.Employees of Sundance Institute are not eligible to submit.A project cannot be submitted multiple times with a different director attached.Unable to accept VR and AR work.Do not support reading Apple ProRes files or raw camera formats like ARRI and RED at this time.You cannot include film clips or music created by others without their written permission. If your film features people, you must obtain their consent.