The LearningTimes - Emerging Educational Filmmaker Grant

The LearningTimes Foundation is excited to announce the Fall 2025 Emerging Educational Filmmaker Grant, which aims to support new filmmakers creating educational films. With funding up to $10,000, this initiative seeks to empower storytellers to address significant societal issues and foster meaningful discussions through their work. The grant encourages diverse narratives, especially from underrepresented communities, and aims to connect projects with specific learning communities for impactful engagement.

Description
The LearningTimes Foundation (TLTF) is thrilled to announce the Fall 2025 round of applications for our Emerging Educational Filmmaker Grant.
This novel initiative aims to bolster budding filmmakers determined to make educational films by granting them financial support.
Through this grant program, we are enabling and empowering emerging filmmakers with the resources they require to develop excellent educational films that resonate with viewers across the globe.
“This grant was created to not only shape future generations of filmmakers, ” explained John Walber, TLTF President, “but to also create stories that open up meaningful conversations about important issues in society today.”
The chosen recipients will receive up to $10,000 with an average grant size of $5,000.
The LearningTimes Emerging Educational Filmmaker Grant is our way of helping to fund those furthering the conversations we have as a society about education, teaching, difference, sameness, value(s), community and the power of learning.

Eligibility

The grant provides US-based emerging filmmakers pre-production stages of filming with up to $10,000 to create projects with an education theme.To be eligible to apply, you must be 18 years of age or older, currently based in the United States, and not currently enrolled in an academic program.What do we mean by “education theme?”The LearningTimes Emerging Educational Filmmaker Grant supports projects across genre and type - short films, animation, features, documentaries, and more - which seek to connect people to educational ideas and movements that have lasting positive impact.Some examples of projects with an “education theme”: An animated short explaining an educational topic A documentary about a public school board hearing A comedy short or feature about teachers (think: Abbott Elementary)A short film about an underrepresented historical figure A children’s program focused on STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, mathematics)How do you define an "emerging" filmmaker?To help applications narrow these parameters, we distinguish an emerging filmmaker as someone who:Regardless of age or education, identifies as being in the early stages of of their careerHas been making films for 10 years or lessIs actively and demonstrably working toward a career in the filmmaking field - has directed at least two filmsHas not yet had a film accepted to Sundance Film Festival, SXSW, TIFF, Cannes, or Venice Film FestivalDoes not yet have commercial representation Has not yet received any of the following awards: Academy Award, Independent Spirit Awards, Directors Guild of America, Golden Globes, BAFTA, Palme D’OrWho can apply from our team?The LearningTimes Foundation accepts applications from core members of the project, defined as: the directorproducer, screenwriter (as applicable)Can I apply more than once with the same project?Yes, though we encourage you to update the application and show strong evidence of commitment to the project. We highly recommend applying with a new project, unless the original has undergone significant changes.