Documentary funding deadlines: November and December 2026

Six documentary funding calls have dates between now and early 2027. Two of them take applications from US-based producers. The others are for the UK, New Zealand, Australia, and European co-producers. Every date below comes from the funder's own page. Time zones are the funder's, as the page states them.

At a glance

Which of these can a US filmmaker use?

Two. The Sundance Documentary Film Producers Track is open to US-based producers, and Visions du Réel takes projects from all over the world. BFI Doc Society is for UK filmmakers, the NZ Film Commission is for New Zealand producers, Screen Australia funds Australian companies, and IBF Europe entries come from European co-producers.

Visions du Réel: VdR Pitching

VdR Pitching is for projects planned as a feature-length film of more than 60 minutes that are in late development and have not entered production. The page says projects from all over the world can apply. Directors must have completed at least one short film.

The fee is CHF 30 for submissions on or before 2 November 2026 and CHF 40 from 3 November to 15 December. Fee waivers are available for productions from listed countries. Selection runs on a rolling basis from October 2026, with final selection at the end of February 2027. The showcase is on 12 to 14 April 2027, with on-site pitch training on 11 April. Apply through the online form at vp.eventival.com/vdr/2027. All materials must be in English.

NZ Film Commission: Feature Film Production Investment

The next deadline is 1pm Monday 9 November. The page heading reads "The 2026 deadlines", and the line itself carries no year. The lead producer must be a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident, the film must have significant New Zealand content, and the project must be production-ready with a confirmed schedule and a viable finance plan.

The page offers equity investment of up to $2.5 million and grants of up to $500,000. It shows dollars and does not name the currency. It refers to "feature films" and does not say whether documentary features are eligible, so ask the commission before you prepare an application. Applications go through the commission's portal at funding.nzfilm.co.nz.

BFI Doc Society: Development Fund, Round 2

Round 2 opens at 1pm on Monday 9 November 2026 and closes at 1pm on Monday 21 December 2026. The page does not state a time zone. Producers can apply for non-recoupable grants of £25,000 to £40,000, and the total Doc Society contribution to a project cannot exceed £150,000.

The fund supports independent non-fiction films by UK filmmakers, from early to late development. The page says you must apply to the BFI Diversity Standards before you submit your application, so allow time for that step. Read the funding guidelines in full first.

Sundance Institute: Documentary Film Producers Track

The documentary track opens at 9am Pacific on Tuesday 17 November 2026 and closes at 9am Pacific on Wednesday 10 February 2027. Applicants must be lead producers who have produced at least one documentary short and are in active production or post-production. The page says non-US candidates must work and live in Europe or Latin America.

This is a program for producers. The page lists no grant amount, and it does not state a fee for the documentary track. Applications go through apply.sundance.org.

IDFA Bertha Fund: IBF Europe

The page says entries open on 15 November, without a year, and that the next deadline is 15 January 2027. The 2026 call has closed, and the page says the regulations for the 2027 round are still being finalized, so expect details to change.

The applicant must be a minority producer in the project and a European audiovisual entity owned by nationals of MEDIA Sub-programme countries. The European co-producer enters the project. The project needs a director from a country on the IBF Europe Country List and at least one MEDIA Sub-programme co-producer with a share of at least 20%. The maximum contribution is €40,000 per project, for production and post-production costs.

Screen Australia: Documentary Production

The next deadline is 5pm AEDT on Thursday 4 February 2027, and the one after is 5pm AEST on Thursday 8 April 2027. The page says there are four rounds each financial year and lists these two.

The program is open to Australian production companies and, in some circumstances, individuals. Projects need Significant Australian Content or official co-production status. Outside official co-productions, the writer and director must be Australian citizens or permanent residents. Funding depends on the stream, for example up to 80% of the budget capped at $300,000 for Direct-to-Audience projects with budgets of $500,000 or less. The guidelines have the full rules.

Using this list

• Put each date in your calendar with the time zone written next to it.
• Read the "who can apply" line before anything else. It rules out most calls in seconds.
• Where a page does not say something, write to the funder and ask.

Pages we read

• Visions du Réel, VdR Pitching
• NZ Film Commission, Feature Film Production Investment
• BFI Doc Society, Development Fund
• Sundance Institute, Producers Track
• IDFA Bertha Fund, IBF Europe
• Screen Australia, Documentary Production