Artist Opportunities
Artist
Opportunities
The Sundance Institute’s labs, granting, and mentorship programs operate year-round to support independent artists and bring exciting new work into the world. Several of our programs are now accepting submissions.
If you’re looking for more opportunities to fine-tune your craft, visit Sundance Collab — our year-round digital space for global artists to learn, create, build a community, and champion independence in filmmaking.
Open Applications
2027 Graton Fellowship
The Sundance Institute | Graton Fellowship for Artists from California-Based Tribes serves to cultivate a stage for artists from federally and nonfederally recognized California Native tribes to tell their stories through film. Two selected fellows will be awarded a $25,000 cash grant (each) and a yearlong continuum of support with activities, including a trip to the Sundance Film Festival, access to strategic and creative services offered by Sundance Institute artist programs, and mentorship opportunities.
Deadline: November 16, 2026
2027 Episodic Alfred P. Sloan Grant
The Episodic Program, with support from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, awards a $17,000 monetary grant and creative craft support to a writer or 2-person writing team with an original series, half hour or 1 hour, that illuminates a positive emphasis on a historical figure, event, or current area of science, including but not limited to medicine, energy, mechanics, technology, mathematics, or invention.
While general applications for the Episodic Lab have closed, projects that are eligible for the Episodic Alfred P. Sloan Grant grant may apply by December 3, 2026.
Use deadline waiver code: EpSloanGrantX121426
Upcoming Applications
2027 Merata Mita Fellowship
The Sundance Institute Merata Mita Fellowship for Indigenous Artists pays tribute to the immense artistic contributions and memory of Merata Mita (Ngāti Pikiao/Ngāi Te Rangi). This fellowship serves to continue Merata Mita’s legacy and to cultivate a stage for other Indigenous women around the world to tell their stories. Fellows will be awarded cash grants and a yearlong continuum of support with activities, including a trip to the Sundance Film Festival, access to strategic and creative services offered by Sundance Institute artist programs, and mentorship opportunities.
Application opens October 13.
2027 Sundance Institute Ignite x Adobe Fellowship
The Sundance Institute and Adobe are teaming up to find our next class of Sundance Institute Ignite x Adobe Fellows – emerging filmmakers ages 18 to 25. Submit your short film to be considered for a year-long fellowship where you’ll receive support developing as an artist, building your creative community, mentorship, unique resources, the opportunity to attend the Sundance Film Festival, and more.
Application opens November 12.
2027 Graton Artist Opportunity
The Sundance Institute | Graton Artist Opportunity serves to cultivate a stage for artists from federally and non-federally recognized California Indian tribes to tell their stories through film. Artists will receive access to curated courses from the Sundance Collab platform, which provides a virtual destination for emerging artists to learn craft and career strategies and to build community through courses, workshops, advisor sessions, extensive resources, and virtual community gatherings.
Application opens November 17.
2027 Producers Track
Our Documentary Film Program and Feature Film Program are seeking their next class of fellows for the 2027 Producers Track. With separate applications, these programs support emerging independent fiction and nonfiction producers with works-in-progress features to be considered for the Producers Lab and Fellowship.
Application opens November 17.
2027 Native Lab Fellowship
The Native Lab provides direct support to emerging filmmakers from U.S.-based Native American, Native Hawaiian, Alaskan Native, and Indigenous communities and Canada-based Indigenous Canadian (First Nations, Métis, and Inuit) communities. The fellowship for Indigenous Canadian film artists is made possible with support from the Indigenous Screen Office.
Application opens December 1.
2028 Development Track
The Development Track application allows filmmakers to be considered for programs and fellowships including the Winter Screenwriters Lab, Screenwriters Intensive, and Alfred P. Sloan Fellowship and Commissioning Grant. One open application allows artists to be considered for all opportunities for which they are eligible. The application is open to screenwriters, directors, writer/directors, or writer/director teams who are developing what will be their first or second fiction feature. In most cases, a complete draft of a screenplay is required.
This year, applications will be accepted March 30–April 20, 2027.