The Alter-Ciné Foundation is a Montreal-based charity created in 2001 in memory of Canadian documentary filmmaker Yvan Patry. Each year it awards production grants to filmmakers from the Global South — those born and living in Africa, Asia, or Latin America — to direct a feature-length documentary on the theme of rights and freedoms. The Foundation backs work that questions common assumptions and gives a voice to the voiceless, in the spirit of Patry’s belief that documentaries should “go against the tide.” Applicants direct their film in the language of their choice, and the grant helps carry a project through production. To date the Foundation has reviewed more than 2,200 projects and supported some 90 filmmakers.
Benefits & funding
- Two grants each year: one of CAD $10,000 and one of CAD $5,000 toward the production of a documentary project
- For the 2026 cycle the Foundation added two further awards (a second $10,000 and a second $5,000)
- The $10,000 grant is paid in two installments — $6,000 on selection and $4,000 on delivery of the completed film
- Winners’ films join the Foundation’s catalogue of supported documentaries
Eligibility
- Open to filmmakers born and living in the Global South — Africa, Asia, or Latin America
- The project must be a feature-length documentary that respects the Foundation’s aims: rights and freedoms, including social and economic rights, women’s rights, and the right to culture and artistic creation
- Applicants must show prior capability by submitting a previously completed documentary
- Films may be directed in any language
- Aimed at emerging and younger filmmakers, though no fixed age limit is published
Can you apply?
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Eligible nationalities
South Africa · Kenya · Nigeria · Egypt · Morocco · Ghana · Uganda · Cameroon · Algeria · Angola · Benin · Botswana
+ 112 more
Burkina Faso · Burundi · Cabo Verde · Central African Republic · Chad · Comoros · Côte d'Ivoire · DR Congo · Republic of the Congo · Djibouti · Equatorial Guinea · Eritrea · Eswatini · Ethiopia · Gabon · Gambia · Guinea · Guinea-Bissau · Lesotho · Liberia · Libya · Madagascar · Malawi · Mali · Mauritania · Mauritius · Mozambique · Namibia · Niger · Rwanda · São Tomé and Príncipe · Senegal · Seychelles · Sierra Leone · Somalia · South Sudan · Sudan · Tanzania · Togo · Tunisia · Zambia · Zimbabwe · China · Hong Kong · Macau · Taiwan · Japan · South Korea · North Korea · Singapore · Malaysia · Thailand · Vietnam · Indonesia · Philippines · India · Nepal · Brunei · Pakistan · Bangladesh · UAE · Saudi Arabia · Israel · Türkiye · Mongolia · Cambodia · Laos · Myanmar · Timor-Leste · Sri Lanka · Bhutan · Afghanistan · Armenia · Azerbaijan · Bahrain · Georgia · Iran · Iraq · Jordan · Kazakhstan · Kuwait · Kyrgyzstan · Lebanon · Maldives · Oman · Palestine · Qatar · Syria · Tajikistan · Turkmenistan · Uzbekistan · Yemen · Mexico · Guatemala · Honduras · El Salvador · Nicaragua · Costa Rica · Panama · Cuba · Dominican Republic · Haiti · Brazil · Argentina · Chile · Colombia · Peru · Ecuador · Paraguay · Bolivia · Uruguay · Venezuela
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Residence required
South Africa · Kenya · Nigeria · Egypt · Morocco · Ghana · Uganda · Cameroon · Algeria · Angola · Benin · Botswana
+ 112 more
Burkina Faso · Burundi · Cabo Verde · Central African Republic · Chad · Comoros · Côte d'Ivoire · DR Congo · Republic of the Congo · Djibouti · Equatorial Guinea · Eritrea · Eswatini · Ethiopia · Gabon · Gambia · Guinea · Guinea-Bissau · Lesotho · Liberia · Libya · Madagascar · Malawi · Mali · Mauritania · Mauritius · Mozambique · Namibia · Niger · Rwanda · São Tomé and Príncipe · Senegal · Seychelles · Sierra Leone · Somalia · South Sudan · Sudan · Tanzania · Togo · Tunisia · Zambia · Zimbabwe · China · Hong Kong · Macau · Taiwan · Japan · South Korea · North Korea · Singapore · Malaysia · Thailand · Vietnam · Indonesia · Philippines · India · Nepal · Brunei · Pakistan · Bangladesh · UAE · Saudi Arabia · Israel · Türkiye · Mongolia · Cambodia · Laos · Myanmar · Timor-Leste · Sri Lanka · Bhutan · Afghanistan · Armenia · Azerbaijan · Bahrain · Georgia · Iran · Iraq · Jordan · Kazakhstan · Kuwait · Kyrgyzstan · Lebanon · Maldives · Oman · Palestine · Qatar · Syria · Tajikistan · Turkmenistan · Uzbekistan · Yemen · Mexico · Guatemala · Honduras · El Salvador · Nicaragua · Costa Rica · Panama · Cuba · Dominican Republic · Haiti · Brazil · Argentina · Chile · Colombia · Peru · Ecuador · Paraguay · Bolivia · Uruguay · Venezuela
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We only check the criteria we have data for. Always confirm full eligibility on the official page before applying.
Application process
- 1Complete the application form (available in English, French, or Spanish).
- 2Prepare a synopsis of at most 5 pages covering content, characters, theme, and treatment.
- 3Include a Vimeo link to a completed previous documentary (the link must stay valid through December 1).
- 4Add a detailed production budget with a financing plan.
- 5Optionally include up to two letters of support from partner organisations or NGOs.
- 6Combine everything into a single PDF (max 5 MB, minimum 11-point font, 1.5+ line spacing) and email it to the Foundation by August 15.
Program timeline
Annual application deadline
August 15
Vimeo links to prior work must remain accessible until this date
December 1
Selected filmmakers are notified
Before December 31