AFAC Documentary Program

Overview

The AFAC Documentary Film Program provides grants to Arab documentary filmmakers across all stages of production: development, production, and post-production. It is one of nine open-call programs administered by the Arab Fund for Arts and Culture (AFAC), the pan-Arab nonprofit established in 2007 and based in Beirut, Lebanon. AFAC has grown into the most comprehensive independent funder of arts and culture in the Arab region, with 11 active programs as of 2025.

The Documentary program has its own dedicated track within AFAC's programming, separate from the Cinema program (which funds fiction). Grant amounts are substantial and vary by project type and stage:

The 2026 application deadline is April 2, 2026 at 5:00 PM Beirut time (+3 GMT). The Documentary program is part of AFAC's first open call, which also includes Creative and Critical Writings, Performing Arts, and Visual Arts grants. Each applicant can submit only one application per open call.

What It Funds

The Documentary Program funds Arab documentary films at three stages:

• Development grants ($10,000 max for features): Research, access-building, and preparation of materials needed to approach co-production partners and broadcasters
• Production grants ($50,000 max for features, $20,000 max for shorts): Principal photography and key production costs
• Post-production grants ($25,000 max for features, $10,000 max for shorts): Editing, sound, color, and delivery

Applicants must choose one stage of support. AFAC does not fund multiple stages simultaneously. If a grantee has received two grants for the same film project, they cannot apply for post-production.

Grant funds can cover project-related expenses including materials, equipment rentals, and artistic and technical labor. An artist fee of up to 20% of the total grant amount is allowable. Applicants to the Creative and Critical Writings and Research on the Arts programs can calculate fees on a 30% basis, but for Documentary Film the cap is 20%.

2025 Cycle Results

In 2025, AFAC awarded $350,000 in Documentary Film grants as part of its first cycle. The total first cycle distributed over $1 million across 87 projects in Documentary Film, Critical and Creative Writing, Performing Arts, and Visual Arts combined. AFAC received a record-breaking 1,428 applications in the first cycle of 2025, a 17.8% increase from the previous year.

AFAC-supported documentary films have premiered at major international documentary festivals and have been broadcast on international platforms. The Documentary Program is one of the few institutional sources of documentary funding explicitly designed for Arab filmmakers and administered by an Arab-led institution.

Payment Structure

AFAC disburses grants in installments tied to project milestones:

Development grants: 70% on signature of the grant agreement, 30% on submission and approval of final narrative and financial reports.

Production grants: 25% on signature, 60% after expenditure of at least 80% of the first transfer and approval of interim reports (shooting must have started), 15% on approval of final reports.

Post-production grants: 50% on signature, 50% on approval of final reports.

Projects must be completed within a maximum of two years from the signature of the grant agreement. Extensions must be requested and approved in writing.

Eligibility

The Documentary Film grant program is open to:

• Arab directors and producers living in the Arab region or the diaspora
• A non-Arab producer can apply if the film director is Arab
• Both individual directors and cultural organizations are eligible
• Applications accepted irrespective of age, years of experience, country of residence, ethnicity, gender, or religion
• Applications can be submitted in Arabic, English, or French
• AFAC also welcomes proposals from professionals who are from an Arab country or residents in an Arab country, even if they are citizenless or not regarded as "Arab" (including citizenless Palestinians, Kurds, or others denied citizenship for political reasons)

A film producer may apply with a maximum of two projects per category per cycle, provided the two projects are not attached to the same director.

Ineligible candidates include:

• Members of the AFAC board of trustees, their business partners, or family members
• AFAC staff members, their business partners, or family members
• Members of the current year's reader and juror committees
• Applicants with a current open grant from AFAC
• A director who already has an open grant from AFAC (regardless of whether the contract is in their name or the producer's name)
• Recipients of grants in two consecutive years (must wait two years before reapplying)

Application Process

Applications are only accepted through AFAC's online forms. Submissions via regular mail or email are not considered. AFAC recommends submitting 24 hours before the deadline to allow time for technical issues. The grants management team reviews all applications for completeness and eligibility. Incomplete applications are disqualified.

For the 2026 cycle, the deadline is April 2, 2026 at 5:00 PM Beirut time (+3 GMT). Check the AFAC Documentary Film Program page for the most current information.

Who Should Apply

Arab documentary filmmakers at any stage of production working on nonfiction projects with artistic ambition and cultural significance to Arab audiences. The program is particularly relevant for filmmakers whose projects address subjects specific to Arab social, political, or cultural life, and who want institutional support from within the Arab cultural ecosystem rather than exclusively from European or North American funders.

Filmmakers applying for production or post-production grants should have a producer attached to the project. AFAC highly recommends this for production and post-production applications.

See Also

For the AFAC Cinema Program supporting Arab fiction filmmakers, see the AFAC Cinema Program directory entry. For the AFAC Performing Arts Program supporting Arab theater and dance, see the AFAC Performing Arts Program directory entry. For building a documentary financing plan that combines AFAC support with other international sources, see Documentary Financing: Building Your Stack. Use the Indie Film Budget Calculator to model how an AFAC production grant fits into your overall documentary budget.