Sharing Filmmaker Resources With Our Community on International Women's Day

Happy International Women’s Day to everyone who uplifts and supports women!

So. International Women’s Day 2026. Things are…tenuous.

The data on progress towards social equality is sobering. In 2024, progress in female representation in elected office was the slowest in 20 years, with 27 newly elected governments ending up with fewer women than before.

Globally, women hold just 22.9 percent of cabinet minister or executive positions, marking the first ever recorded decline in that number. And the pay gap is not merely stagnating: it is going backward. The average woman working full-time in 2024 was paid 81 cents for every dollar paid to a man, down from 83 cents in 2023 and 84 cents in 2022: the first time in over 60 years that the gap has widened two years in a row.

The situation is worst for women of color. Between February and July 2025, Black women lost 319,000 jobs in the U.S. labor market while white women gained 142,000 jobs and white men gained 365,000. This represents one of the sharpest one-year employment declines for Black women in 25 years, according to the Economic Policy Institute.

In the United States, voting rights are also under active threat. The SAVE Act (passed by the House in April 2025 and reintroduced as the SAVE America Act in early 2026) would require in-person documented proof of citizenship to register to vote. Because approximately 69 million married women in the United States have taken their husband's last name, their birth certificates no longer match their legal IDs, creating a significant barrier to registration. The bill is also particularly harmful to transwomen, who would face having to revert to a name and gender they don't identify with in order to exercise their right to vote, and whose current IDs are less likely to match their birth certificates and early childhood records.

In this political climate, the ability to tell our own stories is critically important.

The USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative’s “Inclusion in the Director’s Chair” report, released at the end of 2025, describes that year as a “Great Recession” for women directors. Only 8.1 percent of directors on the 100 top-grossing films of 2025 were women (just nine people) representing a ratio of 11.3 men for every one woman, and the lowest figure since 2018. At the intersection of race and gender, only 5.4 percent of directors in 2025 were women of color, and across the study’s entire 19-year span from 2007 to 2024, only 1.7 percent of all directing positions were held by women of color.

The silver lining? A robust and growing ecosystem of organizations, grant programs, workshops, and communities exists specifically to change these statistics. Whether you’re making your first short documentary, developing a narrative feature, or looking to level up a mid-career path, we hope this guide is a helpful resource for finding opportunities to support women’s work.

The resource list is organized by category, and covers opportunities across experience levels, genres, narrative and documentary, and career stages. Please let us know in the comments if there are opportunities we missed, or if you personally have utilized any of these and have tips for others who might apply!

The community grows stronger when we each share what we know. 💚💚💚

Chicken & Egg Pictures One of the most respected funders in the documentary space. Chicken & Egg Pictures supports women and non-binary nonfiction filmmakers whose storytelling catalyzes social change. Since 2005, the organization has awarded over $8 million in grants and thousands of hours of creative mentorship to more than 300 filmmakers. Their flagship Egg-celerator Lab awards nine feature documentary projects with a $40,000 grant plus a year of mentorship. Four additional finalist projects each receive $10,000.

Women in Film & Video (WIFV) Documentary Seed Fund Based in Washington, D.C., WIFV’s Seed Fund for Documentary Filmmakers provides a $2,500 grant plus mentorship access to WIFV members. Grantees receive funds in two installments and must be in the development phase. The 2025 application deadline was April 16 — check their site for upcoming cycles.

Mountainfilm Commitment Grant & Emerging Filmmaker Fellowship Though not exclusively for women, Mountainfilm actively promotes and encourages diversity behind the camera. Grants range from $1,000 to $5,000 for projects already in production or post-production. Applications for 2025 open in July.

Female Filmmakers in Tech & Art GAP Fund A newer initiative offering up to £8,000 for women or non-binary filmmakers working on feature-length documentaries at the intersection of technology and art. Winners are announced at Cannes. Applicants must be members of Female Film Club.

The Future of Film Is Female (FOFIF) A New York-based nonprofit that has made an outsized impact on women’s short filmmaking since its founding in 2018. FOFIF runs two grant cycles per year for short films directed by women or non-binary filmmakers in any genre. Financial grants of $4,000 are awarded, along with in-kind post-production grants from partners like Heard City (sound mixing, valued at $16K) and Nice Shoes (color correction, valued at $20K). Applications are highly competitive and close early — their 2025 Los Angeles cycle closed at 400 submissions.

Women’s Voices Now Film Festival Awards $10,000 in cash prizes annually through their online film festival for films advocating women’s rights. Also maintains a useful curated list of grants for women filmmakers.

Women in Film – Film Finishing Fund Since 1985, WIF’s Film Finishing Fund has awarded over $2 million in cash and in-kind services to 280 films around the globe. It supports women directors across all genres — narrative, documentary, animated, and experimental — at the finishing stage of production. Films supported have gone on to win Academy Awards, Emmys, Sundance prizes, and Peabody Awards.

NYWIFT Grants New York Women in Film & Television offers several annual grant cycles supporting women directors and producers. The Ravenal Foundation Grant supports women working in documentary or narrative film. The 2025 grant cycle awarded six projects, providing both cash and in-kind support. Applications are open to women filmmakers across the country, not just New York residents.

Women Make Movies – Funders Directory The most comprehensive and regularly updated directory of funding sources for women filmmakers online. Covers everything from the NEA and NEH to small regional and identity-specific funds — including many funds specifically for women of color and LGBTQ+ filmmakers. An essential first stop for grant research.

WomenArts Film/Video Grants Database Another well-maintained database, including major funders like Cinereach (grants ranging $5,000–$50,000), ITVS (public television finishing funds), the National Endowment for the Arts, and the National Endowment for the Humanities.

FilmDaily Women Filmmakers Grant List An aggregated list of film grants for women available worldwide, including open calls and rolling deadlines.

No Film School – Seasonal Grants & Labs Lists No Film School publishes quarterly lists of current grants, labs, and fellowships that are invaluable for staying on top of deadlines. Search “massive list” on their site for the most current seasonal roundups.

AFI DWW+ (formerly the Directing Workshop for Women) Founded in 1974 and one of the longest-running programs of its kind, the AFI Directing Workshop for Women is a tuition-free, hands-on training program in narrative short filmmaking. Open to women and gender non-binary artists with three years or more of professional experience in the arts, participants receive immersive training, professional development resources, and industry connections — all at no cost. Each participant directs a completed short film by the program’s end.

Women in Film (WIF) Fellowship Program Created to honor WIF’s 50th anniversary, this year-long fellowship supports women, nonbinary, and trans people across multiple disciplines — directors, writers, producers, cinematographers, editors, artisans, and more. Fellows receive mentoring, master classes, networking, and individualized career strategy sessions. Applications are typically open October–January for a spring cohort. Based in Los Angeles.

WIF | The Black List Episodic Lab A month-long, in-person intensive for emerging TV writers of underrepresented genders. Combines script development, peer workshopping, pitching practice, and master classes with established industry professionals. All Lab participants are automatically enrolled in the WIF Writer Fellowship.

The Writers Lab (NYWIFT) Co-founded by NYWIFT and supported by Meryl Streep, this four-day residential lab in Saugerties, New York, is dedicated exclusively to narrative feature screenplays by women over 40. Participants work one-on-one with acclaimed mentors and in group sessions including peer workshops, mock writers’ rooms, and panel discussions. An extraordinary resource for mid- and later-career women writers.

Sundance Institute – Women at Sundance Sundance’s dedicated Women at Sundance initiative supports gender equity across the institute’s labs and programs. Sundance offers labs for documentary and narrative filmmakers, screenwriters, composers, and producers — plus the free-to-join Sundance Collab platform for ongoing learning, feedback, and community globally.

Chicken & Egg Pictures – Egg-celerator Lab In addition to its grants (see above), the Egg-celerator Lab provides a year-long structured mentorship program, two creative retreats, and a travel stipend for first or second-time documentary feature directors and producers. Applications typically open in spring.

Film Independent Labs While not exclusively for women, Film Independent’s suite of labs — Screenwriting Lab, Directing Lab, Documentary Lab, Fast Track (film financing market) — actively prioritize diverse voices. Female filmmakers have been well represented in past cohorts. Past participants include Chloé Zhao (before Nomadland) and many other major independent voices.

Stowe Story Labs Fellowships & Scholarships A competitive retreat-style program for writers and filmmakers offering mentorship, peer development, and industry access. Stowe has a strong record of supporting women storytellers.

Hedgebrook Women’s Screenwriter Retreat A Washington state–based literary nonprofit for visionary women writers. Their screenwriter’s retreat brings together a small cohort of female screenwriters for mentorship from industry veterans and collaborative time at their beautiful Whidbey Island campus.

Women in Film (WIF) The flagship professional organization for women in film and television, based in Los Angeles with chapters and affiliates globally. WIF membership provides access to networking events, screenings, panel discussions, skill-building workshops, guild and studio events, and a 20% discount on career program application fees. Membership tiers range from student to industry leader.

New York Women in Film & Television (NYWIFT) NYWIFT advocates for gender equality and offers training, grants, scholarships, and community for women in film and TV at every career stage. It’s also the umbrella for 50 Women in Film chapters across North America, South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand.

Women Make Movies Founded in 1972, Women Make Movies is both the world’s leading distributor of independent films by and about women and an active production support organization. Their Production Assistance Program offers fiscal sponsorship, consultation, and resources for women directors from concept through completion.

Alliance of Women Directors (AWD) A membership-based organization dedicated to advancing women and gender non-binary directors. Members must have directed at least one public-facing film, TV episode, documentary, commercial, or new media program. AWD provides craft enrichment, mentorship, education, screenings, festival discounts, and submission fee waivers.

Film Fatales Film Fatales is a peer network for women and nonbinary feature filmmakers. Members must have written or directed at least one feature narrative or documentary. The community meets monthly (with chapters in multiple cities) to mentor each other, share resources, and collaborate.

Film Powered A free membership community of 1,400+ professional women in film and TV. Offers peer-to-peer classes, social events, networking, and job listings.

Reel Ladies A rapidly growing online professional networking community for women in film and entertainment, with an active global membership and innovative programs.

Women in Film & Video New England (WIFVNE) Serves New England-based women filmmakers through networking, community, mentorship, and education.

Bay Area Women in Film & Media (BAWIFM) A talented, social, and supportive network for women in media in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Rocky Mountain Women’s Film Institute (RMWFI) Based in Colorado, RMWFI hosts the longest-running women’s film festival in North America. Its year-round mission is to inspire community and elevate women’s voices through film.

ARRAY Founded by Ava DuVernay, ARRAY is an independent film distribution and resource collective dedicated to amplifying independent films by people of color and women filmmakers globally. Beyond distribution, ARRAY offers resources, community, and advocacy for underrepresented storytellers at every stage of their careers.

African American Women in Cinema Founded over 22 years ago by producer Terra Renee, this membership organization exists to support the vibrant work of women of African descent working in film. It offers networking, advocacy, and community for Black women filmmakers.

Asian American Women Media Makers A network dedicated to supporting and amplifying the voices of Asian American women working in film and media. Provides community, resources, and advocacy for one of the most underrepresented groups behind the camera.

Color Congress Founded in 2022 by documentary strategists Sahar Driver and Sonya Childress, Color Congress is an ecosystem-builder committed to organizations led by people of color that serve nonfiction filmmakers, leaders, and audiences of color across the United States and U.S. islands. Its 100+ member organizations collectively served more than 15,000 documentary filmmakers in 2023 alone — and all five Oscar-nominated documentary shorts that year came from directors who had passed through Color Congress member groups. The organization funds, connects, and champions these groups to build collective power, and has published a landmark report, The People of Color Documentary Ecosystem: Engines for a New American Narrative, that maps the field and makes the case for sustained philanthropic investment.

Brown Girls Doc Mafia (BGDM) Founded in 2015 when a group of Black women documentary professionals connected at an industry event and realized how isolated they each felt, BGDM has grown into a global 501(c)(3) nonprofit with over 5,000 members. Its mission is to nurture, amplify, and invest in the creative capacity and professional success of BIPOC women and nonbinary people working in the documentary industry. BGDM offers community, knowledge-sharing, and professional development — and also runs active grant programs, including the Sustainable Artist Fellowship, which provides early-to-mid-career filmmakers with funding ($7,500 in unrestricted grants and professional development funds), impact consulting, and peer mentorship. Their searchable member directory connects producers, directors, and executives who are available to hire, fund, and collaborate with.

Writers Guild Foundation – Resources for Black Creatives The WGF maintains a curated, regularly updated directory of organizations, collectives, and resources specifically supporting Black writers and filmmakers — including the Black Association of Documentary Filmmakers West (BAD West), Black Film Space, and the Committee of Black Writers at the WGAW.

Lady Filmmakers Mentoring Program Matches women filmmakers with working industry professionals who are willing to mentor and potentially offer shadowing opportunities. A practical, relationship-based resource.

AWD Mentorship The Alliance of Women Directors builds mentorship into its programming, pairing member directors with experienced advisors and offering craft enrichment workshops.

Artemis Rising Filmmaker Fellowship (Barnard/Athena Center) A fellowship at Barnard College’s Athena Center for Leadership that supports women filmmakers with interests in documentary filmmaking, cinematography, direction, and screenwriting. Fellows teach semester-long courses while pursuing their own projects.

Camp Reel Stories A nonprofit empowering young women ages 13–18 with the skills to create their own media, view current media critically, and aspire to leadership in their field. Operates summer camps and programs across the U.S.

Black Girl Film School Increases the number of Black women working and leading in film, TV, and media by designing inclusive learning experiences for girls ages 13–17 to learn filmmaking from behind the camera.

Sundance Ignite Identifies and supports new voices from the next generation of filmmakers ages 18–25. Shortlisted filmmakers are flown to Los Angeles for a four-day career advancement workshop and awards ceremony. Open to emerging documentary, narrative, and animation filmmakers.

Women Under the Influence Shares the stories of cinema directed by women through events and media. Features curated watchlists of female-directed films — a great resource for discovering new work and staying inspired.

Seed & Spark A crowdfunding platform with a strong commitment to diverse storytellers, including women filmmakers. Offers education, resources, and tools for moving from funding to distribution while retaining ownership and creative control. Be sure to check out the incredible Distribution Playbook they co-authored with Kinema.

The Sundance Inclusion Resource Map A searchable database of opportunities and programs available to U.S.-based artists from underrepresented communities. Use it to find funds, labs, and programs you may not have encountered elsewhere.

WomenArts Beyond their grant databases, WomenArts publishes regular news and resources for women artists across disciplines, including film.

Hollywomen Maintains a “Diversity Directory” indexing 100+ organizations, festivals, and initiatives focused on diversity in entertainment, alongside a curated calendar of women’s film events and workshops.

No Film School Publishes seasonal lists of grants, labs, and fellowships — an invaluable free resource for staying on top of deadlines year-round.

Submitting to women-focused festivals is a great way to build your profile and community. A few to know:

• St. John’s International Women’s Film Festival: screenings, workshops, master classes, and year-round mentorship programs

• Rocky Mountain Women’s Film Festival: the longest-running women’s film festival in North America; covers documentary, narrative, shorts, and animation

• LUNAFEST: a national touring festival by and for women, benefiting women’s causes

• Reel Sisters of the Diaspora: showcases films directed, produced, and written by women of color

• Ax Wound Film Festival: the official festival of Women in Horror Month; features horror written and directed by women

• Broad Humor Film Festival: showcases short films, web series, and features written and directed by women

We hope this compilation is helpful. We are sharing it because of our deep belief that collaboration and the dissemination of knowledge are our greatest tools for building a better world. Please share resources or context we missed in the comments!

Happy International Women’s Day.

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