AXS Film Fund — Fellowship

The AXS Film Fund is a grant run by AXS Lab, a US nonprofit, that backs documentary filmmakers and nonfiction new-media creators — with a focus on creators from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds who identify as living with a disability. Each year 3–5 creators receive funding that can be put toward a feature-length documentary or a nonfiction new-media project at any point in its life, from pre-production through distribution.

Money follows the project rather than a residency, so recipients keep working wherever they are based. Applications are reviewed first by staff for eligibility and then by an external panel of expert reviewers.

Benefits & funding

Grant of up to $10,000 (USD) per project.
3–5 creators funded each cycle.
Funds may support any production stage: pre-production, production, post-production, or distribution.
A separate stipend of up to $500 (first-come, first-served, pre-approval required) is available to hire an application assistant for those who need accessibility support with the application itself.

Eligibility

Open to documentary filmmakers and nonfiction new-media creators; the applicant must be the project’s director or producer.
Creators who identify as living with a disability — visible or not — are encouraged; identifying as disabled is self-determined and not formally required, and all applicants are welcome.
Applicants must be 18 or older.
Applicants cannot be enrolled in a degree-granting program.
Applicants apply as individuals but may work through a fiscal sponsor.
Eligible projects: feature-length documentaries (45+ minutes) or nonfiction new-media works with a film/video component; non-English projects need English subtitles.
Fiction and narrative work — including narrative films based on a true story — are not eligible. One application per applicant; one grant per project.
The fund states no nationality or residency restriction.

Can you apply?

Here's who can apply

Decoded from the official rules. A free account checks them against your passport, degree and age in seconds.

Age requirement
≥ 18 yrs

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Application process

1
Review the fund’s guidelines on the What We Fund, How to Apply and FAQ pages.
2
If you need accessibility support or an application assistant, email the fund before 24 July 2026 to arrange it.
3
Create an account and complete the application on the online portal (axsfilmfundapply.smapply.us); no letter of inquiry is required.
4
Submit before the deadline; staff check eligibility, then an external panel reviews shortlisted projects.

Program timeline

Application portal opens.
1 June 2026
Deadline to request application assistance or accessibility support.
24 July 2026
Application deadline (11:59 pm ET).
31 July 2026
Applicants notified of decisions.
Early spring 2027