Catalyst Forum is the annual multi-day retreat of Catalyst, Sundance Institute’s film financing arm. It introduces a curated slate of 8–10 fiction and documentary features seeking production financing to about 45 Catalyst Investors: grantors, individuals and companies.
Selected director–producer teams first go through a custom prep program, then present at the Forum and keep receiving support afterwards.
Benefits & funding
- Sundance Institute provides roundtrip air travel, ground transport, lodging and meals for the Forum.
- A January–March prep program on financing plans, investor relationships and pitching; it is time-intensive, with weekly one-hour calls plus several hours of work a week.
- Funder contributions have ranged from US$10,000 grants to equity investments of up to US$1,000,000 (FAQ); Catalyst investors sit pari passu with other production investors.
Eligibility
- Feature-length fiction or documentary projects (intended running time 60 minutes or more) seeking independent production financing.
- A director and a lead producer attached; the director needs at least one directing sample (feature, short, commercial or music video). First-time directors are often invited.
- Budget up to US$3M; fiction up to US$5M considered case by case.
- A financing gap of at least US$300,000 at application.
- No nationality rule; international projects and co-productions qualify if they show a path to US equity recoupment.
Can you apply?
Check who can apply
No nationality, residency, education, experience, gender or age limit is listed. The other conditions are under Eligibility.
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Application process
- 1Email catalyst@sundance.org to request the Pre-Application (open to all filmmakers) and submit it within the pre-application window.
- 2Selected pre-applicants are invited, on a rolling basis, to submit the Official Application.
- 3Selected projects complete the prep program; the director and lead producer must present together at the Forum.
Program timeline
June 8 – August 19, 2026
Pre-Application period (regular deadline July 24, late deadline August 19)
Official Application deadline (invitation only)
September 23, 2026
Projects selected
December 2026
Prep program
January – March 2027
Catalyst Forum
March 31 – April 3, 2027