Film residencies
The following table contains scholarships, residencies and project financing that can be applied for by filmmakers and artists.
If the link does not work try using only the domain name (f.i. docsociety.org).
Last update: September 2025
| What | Where | What | Restrictions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Macdowell
MacDowell's mission is to nurture the arts by offering talented individuals an inspiring residential environment in which to produce enduring works of the creative imagination. For: Emerging and established artists may apply in the following disciplines: architecture, film/video arts, interdisciplinary arts, literature, music composition, theatre, and visual arts. Restriction: Applicants cannot be enrolled in a degree-seeking program during the residency season for which they are applying. Doctoral candidates (ABD) who have completed all coursework may apply. |
USA | Residency | none |
| Migros Kulturprozent – StoryLab
Das Migros-Kulturprozent Story Lab ist ein Laboratorium für alle audiovisuellen narrativen Formate: von Kinofilm bis Serie, von Virtual Reality bis Games. Der Förderfokus liegt auf dem Weg zur Verwirklichung einer Idee. Restriction: Bewerben können sich Einzelpersonen mit Wohnsitz und Organisationen mit Sitz in der Schweiz. Ausnahme: Schweizer*innen mit Sitz im Ausland sind zugelassen, wenn das Projekt hauptsächlich in der Schweiz umgesetzt wird. When: Februar Eingabeschluss Stufe I |
CH | Project support | CH |
| A.I.R. Stiftung Berliner Leben, Urban Nation The Fresh A.I.R. scholarships will be awarded for 10 months. Residency for artists in Berlin, free accomodation (up to 1,000 EUR), costs of living (700 EUR), material costs (maximum of 360 EUR), mobility costs (100 EUR) (all per month) Restriction: Has to be resident in or citizen of EU member states + Schweiz, Liechtenstein, Island und Norwegen When: application period February |
DE | Residency | EU |
| Atelier Mondial Christoph Merian Stiftung 9 residencies at seven different destinations (Berlin, Jerewan, Kairo, Kinshasa, Paris, Taipeh, Tokyo) and one travel stipend for professional creatives in the field of visual arts Restriction: Has to be resident in BS, BL, SO, Südbaden to Freiburg and Elsass. When: application for 2026 closed (Juni) |
INT | Residency | CH |
| MAK Center Österreichisches Bundeskanzleramt Six month residency in Los Angeles for early career cultural producers from around the world for projects exploring and complicating the relation between art and architecture; incl. round-trip flight ticket and scholarship When: application 2026/27 in September |
US | Residency | |
| Studio Residency Pro Helvetia 3 month studio residency for artists in India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Vietnam incl. cost of travel, insurances and per diem expenses. |
INT | Residency | |
| Villa Aurora Organisation Villa Aurora & Thomas Mann House e.V. Three month residency in Los Angeles for artists in the field of visual arts, composing, film, and literature, incl. round-trip flight ticket, scholarship and a lump sum for material costs. - a monthly stipend of EUR 2,500 including project funds - a round-trip travel allowance of EUR 1,275 and a monthly mobility allowance of EUR 600 Restriction: Has to have already presented a film at a festival, in cinemas or TV; has to live in Germany; Residency will not be awarded to students (possible: doctoral candidates). |
US | Residency | DE |
| Atelier 105 Light Cone Artist residency (2-3 weeks) in Paris dedicated to the video-based post-production of (photographic) films that fall within the realm of experimental cinema. Restriction: Submissions should concern films currently in progress. Only the projects that fall within the field of experimental cinema will be examined. When: several times a year. Next call will be announced in November 2025 |
FR | Residency | |
| Bibliothek Andreas Züst 6 weeks residency for Swiss and foreign cultural practitioners in the Panoramaherberge Aplenhof in the swiss canton Appenzell, incl. travel costs and accomodation. Offer for duos and collectives. Restriction: Preferably projects that deal with the library as a whole or one of its branches When: October 2025 application for summer 2026 |
CH | Residency | |
| Roma Calling Istituto Svizzero Several ten-month residencies running from September to July, the residencies are for artists (visual arts, design, architecture, literature, dance, theatre and music) and researchers (social, human and natural sciences) See also: Milano Calling and Palermo Calling Restriction: The application is open to Swiss citizens, Swiss residents, or people with proven ties to Swiss cultural or scientific institutions. Candidates are required to present a personal research project that would necessitate or benefit from a stay in Rome and fit into a project of interdisciplinary collaboration between art and science. When: September to July Application for 2025/26 are closed (January) but there are new open calls every year |
IT | Residency | CH |
| La Bande Vidéo Coproduction: exhibition fees and technical support as well as lodging during the installation of an exhibition video or media arts in Quebec. Restriction: The center produces and exhibits mostly, video installations, single-channel experimental and animated videos and virtual reality projects as well as 360° films When: January |
CA | Residency | |
| Work Grant Pro Helvetia Production grant of up to CHF 25’000 for works in the field of visual arts (incl. performance, new media, artist’s books and photography) for artists whose work enjoys cross-regional recognition with a proven track record in their field Restriction: applicants must be permanently resident in Switzerland When: continuously |
CH | Project support | CH |
| Fachausschuss Film und Medienkunst BS/BL Präsidialdepartement Basel-Stadt, Abteilung Kultur The Fachausschuss Film und Medienkunst supports independent film productions and media arts projects Restriction: applicants must be resident in Basel-Land or Basel-Stadt for at least one year; no support for Master- or Bachelor-projects When: Deadlines April 1st, August 4th, December 1st |
Project support | CH | |
| Film UBS Kulturstiftung Supports the production of professional documentary films that have major cultural relevance as well as public and sustainable impact with a contribution of CHF 200’000 to 1'000'000 Restriction: Applicants must have Swiss cititzenship or be resident in Switzerland or have a deep connection to Switzerland. No student's projects. When: Application continuous. Spring and Autumn. Processing time of about 3 months: submit in good time. |
Project support | CH | |
| Migros Kulturprozent Development of ideas, postproduction, documentary films, film festivals and film projects that offer new perspectives and give impulses for the development of film Restriction: Swiss nationality or four years residence in Switzerland When: continuously |
Project support | CH | |
| Stiftung Corymbo supports translations of movies (subtitles), that stand out due to exceptional social, ecological or cultural engagement |
Project support | ||
| Documentary Film Fund SFFILM engaging feature-length documentaries in post-production which exhibit compelling stories, intriguing characters and an innovative visual approach Restriction: Project must be in, or within three months of, post-production; for filmmakers older than 18 years When: deadline Jun 23, 2025 (now closed) |
Project support | ||
| Catapult Film Fund development funding for documentary films, up to USD 25'000 Restriction: Applicants (Project Director) must be 18 years or older and cannot be enrolled in an academic institution. Applicants must be based in the United States or Puerto Rico. Filmmakers have secured access to their story, and are ready to shoot and edit a piece for production fundraising purposes When: continuously. |
Project support | US, Puerto Rico | |
| Christoph Merian Stiftung Interdisciplinary, participative and socially relevant projects with a relation to Basel. Restriction: projects must be producen in Basel When: continuously |
CH | Project support | |
| Ernst Göhner Stiftung Project support for professional cultural activities of all disciplines and styles in all of Switzerland, especially for young talents |
CH | Project support | |
| Mobiliar Jubiläumsstiftung die Mobiliar financial support for insitutions or persons that are active in Switzerland When: Spring and Summer |
Project support | ||
| Sloan Science in Cinema Filmmaker Fellowship SFFILM, Alfred P. Sloan Foundation a USD 35'000 cash grant and a two-month residency at FilmHouse, SFFILM’s suite of production offices for local and visiting independent filmmakers in San Francisco, for feature films that explore scientific or technological themes or characters Restriction: Over 18. Film must be feature-length fiction film or episodic series. Documentaries or short films are not accepted. There must be realistic scientific or technological content at the center of the screenplay When: May 2025 (now closed) |
US | Residency, project support | |
| Berwick Visual Arts Residencies This residency provides the artist the opportunity to produce a new piece of work during the 6 month period to be premiered at the Berwick Film & Media Arts Festival in Berwick-upon-Tweed in September of each year Restriction: artists must be currently resident in the UK and Europe, or have permission to work in the UK When: not open for residencies at the moment |
UK | Residency | EU |
| La Résidence du Festival de Cannes A 4 and half months residency in the middle of Paris, a personal tutoring programme for the development of a script and a programme of collective encounters with filmm professionals; for young filmmakers that work on their first or second fiction feature film
|
FR | Residency | |
| Aide aux écritures de cinéma Moulin d’Andé residency for film authors off all formats, genres and lengths of 25 to 40 days with full room and board at Le Moulin d'Andé, under professional patronage Restriction: Project must be in French and presented by a francophone autor (or co-authors). Authors must be francophone. |
FR | Residency | |
| Just Films Grant for artist-driven independent, documentary film, video, and emerging media projects that explore timely social justice issues, with a focus on reducing inequality. Support includes grants for different stages of film development, production, and post-production. Restriction: The open call does not support student films, short films When: continuously |
Project support | ||
| Sundance Documentary Fund grant for projects that display: artful film language, effective storytelling, originality and feasibility, contemporary cultural relevance, and potential to reach and connect with its intended audience When: continuously. Next deadline July 20-25 2026 |
Project support | ||
| Gucci Tribeca Documentary Fund Finishing funds for feature-length documentaries which highlight and humanize issues of social importance from around the world, based anywhere, that are in production or post-production with intended premiere exhibition |
Project support | ||
| New Perspectives Seed Fund Doc Society project support for directors from anywhere around the world, of any level of experience for the development of documentary features on issues of social justice, driven by filmmakers who exhibit a unique perspective granted by their connection to the community or issue at hand Restriction: Doesn’t fund Art Films, Biographies, Films in mid-production, Profiles, News, Current Affairs, Fiction When: Funding opportunities to be communicated from early 2026 |
Project support, Documentary | ||
| Hirschmann Stipendium Hirschmann Stiftung Scholarship of CHF 5’000 - 10’000 for students that do a censecutive Master's degree at a Swiss Fachhochschule Restriction: above average grades When: April 15, Oktober 15 |
CH | Scholarship | CH |
| Bundes-Exzellenz-Stipendium Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft Stipendium for foreign artists who completed their Bachelor's degree Restriction: Students of the arts in their first Master's program in Switzerland |
CH | Scholarship | |
| Göhner Stipendium für Kunstschaffende Ernst Göhner Stiftung Scholarship for financially struggling art students. Montly 1200 CHF When: Deadline 1st March |
CH | Scholarship | |
| Förderplattform FPF Bundesamt für Kultur The Förderplattform FPF is a centralised web applicationn for the electronic entry of applications by cultural organisations and cultural practicioners of Switzerland to the Bundesamt für Kultur (BAK) Restriction: Applicants must be resident in Switzerland |
Project support | CH | |
| Zürcher Filmstiftung Support for development, production and dissemination of film projects of all genres; excluded is support for post-production Restriction: Applicants must be resident in the canton of Zürich |
Project support | CH | |
| Innerschweizer Filmpreis Albert Koechlin Stiftung gives awards to realised short film projects by young established filmmakers in the Innerschweiz Restriction: Applicants must be resident in Luzern, Schwyz, Nidwalden, Uri or Obwalden |
Award | CH | |
| Fogo Island Arts Residency on Fogo Island for two months; Artists-in-residence in the fields of film, visual art, arts writing, music/sound, curating, design and theory are provided with a studio, accommodation in a traditional Newfoundland home, a vehicle for on-island use, and a weekly stipend to offset the costs of materials and day-to-day living expenses. When: various Open Calls are posted regularly. |
CA | Residency | |
| Goethe Institut Residencies Goethe Institut 57 international residency programs for a wide variety of disciplines Restriction: most of the residencies are for people with residence in Germany |
INT | Residency | DE |
| Berner Filmförderung Kanton Bern Financial support for the production of movies, documentaries, animation or experimental films Restriction: For residents of Bern. Only projects that aim to spend 150% of the proposed amount in the Kanton Bern. At least 50% of the filming must take place in Kanton Bern. No TV-movies. |
CH | Project support | |
| Cinéforom Fondation romande pour le cinéma Financial support for realisation of movies (supplementary), distribution (min. 60 min) and writing/conception of innovative moving image projects |
CH | Project support | |
| Bemis Artist in Residence Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts provide artists from around the world dedicated time, space, and resources to conduct research and to create new work across conceptual, material, performative, and social practices |
US | Residency | |
| Al Ma'mal Residency Al Ma'mal Foundation visiting artist is given the opportunity to propose and focus on a particular project whilst in residence, which may be influenced or inspired by the reality of daily life in the city (Jerusalem), the country and the region |
IL | Residency | |
| Fellowship Program for Art and Theory Künstlerhaus Büchesenhausen internationally relevant artistic production, research, and discussion in the region of Tyrol. The program is based on the idea of generating and maintaining a context for production and discussion, in which artists and theorists can connect and reflect on international art and societal discourses in relation to local topics and issues What: Minimum residence of five months, a money award, production budget, a budget to facilitate the exchange with other experts and to (at least partially) cover the fellows’ own travel costs, free access to the working space, free lodging, as well as artistic and technical advice When: Application October 2025 to June 2026 |
AT | Residency | |
| ProHelvetia
START: artistic project development Support with max 5000 chf for visual art projects. Research, project development and early experimental implementation processes can be supported. Restriction: the practitioner must have a connection to Switzerland When: Open year-round |
Research support | ||
| Suissimage
Automatischer Herstellungsbeitrag The Kulturfonds Suissimage supports the production of Swiss feature films (funded by BAK and/or SRG SSR) that have not yet completed filming. For feature-length films (fiction, animation or documentary). Restrictions: Feature film, producer and director need to be Swiss or live in Switzerland (min. 3 years), project must have received support from BAK and/or SRG SSR |
Project support | CH | |
| Trigon-film
Trigon-film funding Trigon-film funding promotes awareness of cinema from Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Eastern Europe through the distribution, promotion, and archiving of films. |
Distribution | ||
| Kosmos Kultur Stiftung
Kosmos Kultur Stiftung The foundation provides material and non-material support to cultural institutions and artists, particularly in Central Switzerland, in the fields of visual and applied arts, music, theater, literature, film, video, dance, photography, architecture, and design. |
Project support | CH | |
| Walo Kamm Foundation
Walo Kamm Foundation The foundation, operating on a non-profit basis, supports projects in Switzerland and abroad in the fields of education, culture, health, human rights, development cooperation, climate and nature protection, and the protection of children and women, while also initiating or collaborating on its own projects, always emphasizing sustainability and social impact. When: next deadline 27th October 2025 |
Project support | ||
| Centre national du cinéma et de l'image animée
Fonds pour la jeune création francophone Support young creators and promote cultural diversity in French-speaking African countries, the Indian Ocean, and Haiti, by funding audiovisual projects (cinema, series, web). Authors, directors, and main producers must come from one of the eligible French-speaking African countries, the Indian Ocean, or Haiti, and projects for feature films, short films, TV series, or web content (fiction, animation, documentary) must be submitted before filming starts by production companies legally established for at least twelve months in these regions. |
Project support | ||
| Film Independent
An updated list of labs and grants for 2025 and 2026. There is a fee to pay. |
Various | ||
| The Miller / Packan Film Fund
Documentary Fund The Fund supports filmmaking in advanced development (up to $15,000), production and post-production stages (up to $25,000). Restrictions: feature-length +70min, no students’ films. |
Project support | ||
| SFFILM
SFFILM Documentary Film Fund The SFFILM Documentary Film Fund awards $10,000–$15,000 grants annually to 3–4 feature-length documentaries in post-production that showcase strong storytelling, compelling characters, and innovative visuals. Restrictions: Documentary projects must be feature-length documentaries (60+ minutes), close to starting post-production, creatively aligned with SFFILM’s mission. |
Grant | ||
| Ford Foundation
JustFilms Open Call JustFilms supports artist-led, feature-length documentaries that align with the Ford Foundation’s social justice mission, prioritizing intersectional representation, storytelling innovation, and independent production. Restrictions: no students’ films, documentary feature film +50min When: October 30th, 2025 |
Project support | ||
| ZHdK
Sustainability Dossier 2025 (Interesting ev. for collaborations with ZHdK) Supports creative and interdisciplinary projects related to sustainability with funding up to CHF 6,000. Projects should align with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and connect to education, research, or artistic practice at ZHdK. Open to students, teaching staff, and researchers affiliated with ZHdK. Restrictions: Applicants must be affiliated with ZHdK When: Deadline January |
Project support, research, education | ||
| Alexis Victor Thalberg Foundation
Alexis Victor Thalberg Foundation Supports existing cultural institutions in the city and canton of Zurich, with a special focus on Swiss cultural and documentary cinema. Support is excluded for projects limited to only development or post-production phases. For theatre productions, no performances may have taken place. Restrictions: Only incomplete projects are considered When: Twice-yearly deadlines: the end of March and the end of August. |
Project support | CH | |
| Annecy Festival
Annecy Festival’s Call for Projects The Annecy Festival’s Call for Projects selects the best animated film ideas each year and connects creators with industry professionals and funding partners at Mifa to help bring their projects to life. When: January |
Prize | ||
| Annecy Festival
Annecy Festival Residency The Annecy Festival Residency supports the development of feature-length animation projects. The residency lasts 3 months in Annecy and includes mentoring, workshops, networking, and project presentation at the Festival and Mifa. |
CH | Residency | |
| Cartoon Media
Cartoon Media Funding Market Focus on financing, co-productions, and distribution of animation projects in Europe. Restriction: The talent must come from or have studied in one of the countries of Creative Europe — MEDIA (CH is not on the list), no short films. When: Deadline 12 November 2025 |
Project support, networking | EU | |
| Filmværksted Viborg
Filmværksted Viborg residency Filmværksted Viborg offers artist residencies for animation projects, providing workspace, equipment, and professional mentorship. Residencies range from 2 to 6 months and can include financial support up to DKK 25,000. The program is open to both emerging and established talents. When: They have four annual application rounds – in February, May, August, and November |
DK | Residency | |
| Canton Vaud
Canton Vaud Residency The Canton of Vaud offers two artist residencies (3 to 6 months) with studio spaces: one in Berlin and one in Paris, open to professional artists from all disciplines. Restrictions: applicant must be from or residing in the Canton of Vaud. |
DE, FR | Residency | CH |
| La Becque
La Becque’s Principal Residency Program La Becque is an artist residency on the shores of Lake Geneva that supports artists from all backgrounds. It offers a space for both research and production, with a focus on projects exploring the connections between nature, the environment, and technology. Restrictions: no students and older than 23 y.o. When: call will be open in March 2026 |
CH | Residency | |
| Fundaziun Nairs
Fundaziun Nairs Residency Fundaziun Nairs is an artist residency in Scuol, Switzerland, offering 2–10 month stays to around 30–40 artists per year from all disciplines, with a focus on contemporary art and interdisciplinary exchange. Residents are provided with living and working spaces, basic food supplies, and a supportive, communal environment. Costs per month: CHF 950. When: deadline to be announced in Spring 2026 |
CH | Residency | |
| Villa Medici
Villa Medici Residencies Villa Medici offers a range of residency programs in Rome for French or international French-speaking artists, craftsmen, authors and researchers. When: application for 2026/27 are now closed |
IT | Residency |
