AFS Grant

Overview

The Austin Film Society (AFS) Grant is one of the most sustained regional filmmaking funding programs in the United States. Since its inception in 1996, the AFS Grant has awarded over $3 million in cash grants and more than $340,000 in in-kind goods and services to 570+ Texas filmmakers. AFS raises more than $200,000 annually to distribute as cash grants to emerging and mid-career Texas filmmakers.

The grant operates on two application cycles per year: one for feature films and one for short films. The 2026 AFS Grant for Feature Films opened applications on April 15, 2026, with a deadline of May 20 at 6 p.m. CT. The 2026 AFS Grant for Short Films opens on July 23, 2026. AFS hosts free informational webinars on Zoom before each deadline to walk applicants through the process.

What It Funds

AFS Grant for Feature Films

The feature film track awards up to $20,000 in cash per project for documentary or narrative films 40 minutes or longer in any phase of production: pre-production, production, or post-production. In the 2025 cycle, AFS awarded $130,000 in cash to 13 projects selected from 104 eligible applications. Seven of the 14 director recipients were first-time feature filmmakers, and seven were receiving AFS Grant funding for the first time.

The feature film grant includes two special awards with additional criteria:

• New Texas Voices Award: $15,000 for first-time feature filmmakers bringing new and underrepresented perspectives to the screen.
• North Texas Pioneer Film Award: $10,000 to $20,000 for emerging and established filmmakers residing in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and surrounding counties.

Sponsored in-kind awards are also available, including camera and lighting packages from MPS Studios (valued at up to $15,000) and digital cinema package (DCP) services.

Harrison McClure Endowed Film Fund

A separate $2,500 award for undergraduate students making a short film that fulfills a course or degree requirement at a four-year college or university. This award runs on the same application timeline as the feature film grant.

AFS Grant for Short Films

The short film track accepts applications for films under 40 minutes in length. The 2026 short film application cycle opens July 23, 2026. Specific award amounts for the short film track are published on the AFS website when the cycle opens.

AFS Travel Grant

In addition to production grants, AFS provides cash stipends to Texas filmmakers traveling to film festivals where their work is screening. This is a separate application from the production grants.

Eligibility

• Applicants must reside in Texas more than 75% of the year
• The film does not have to be set in Texas; AFS funds projects made by Texas-based directors
• Open to filmmakers at any career level, from first-time directors to those with multiple features
• Both documentary and narrative projects are eligible
• Feature films must be 40 minutes or longer; short films must be under 40 minutes
• Filmmakers of all identities and backgrounds are encouraged to apply
• For the Harrison McClure Fund: must be an undergraduate at a four-year college or university

AFS does not require applicants to have prior festival credits, representation, or industry attachments. The grant is designed to support career leaps for emerging to mid-career artists.

Application Requirements

Applicants submit through AFS's online portal. The feature film application requires a project description, a budget showing the total cash request (up to $20,000), a timeline, a video sample, and supporting materials. AFS provides a sample budget template on its website. The application asks applicants to categorize their budget items as either secured or anticipated, and to show how AFS funding fits within the project's overall financing picture.

AFS hosts free webinars before each deadline. The 2026 feature film webinar was held on April 22, 2026, and is available on the AFS YouTube channel for reference.

AFS's Broader Support Ecosystem

The AFS Grant operates within a larger support infrastructure for Texas filmmakers:

• Fiscal Sponsorship: AFS offers fiscal sponsorship for Texas filmmakers seeking tax-deductible contributions from donors, foundations, and grants that require 501(c)(3) status.
• AFS Cinema: A nonprofit cinema in Austin that programs independent and international film year-round, providing a theatrical venue for Texas-made work.
• Educational Programs: AFS runs workshops, labs, and mentorship programs for filmmakers at various career stages.
• AFS Travel Grants: Cash stipends for Texas filmmakers attending festivals where their films screen.

Filmmakers applying for AFS grants often benefit from engaging with the full ecosystem, particularly fiscal sponsorship, which can unlock additional funding from foundations that require nonprofit status.

Who Should Apply

Texas-based documentary and narrative filmmakers at any career stage who need production or post-production funding. The feature film grant is open to both first-time directors and experienced filmmakers. The $15,000 New Texas Voices Award specifically targets first-time feature filmmakers from underrepresented perspectives. The $10,000 to $20,000 North Texas Pioneer Award targets filmmakers in the Dallas-Fort Worth region. Undergraduate students at four-year institutions should apply for the $2,500 Harrison McClure Fund.

See Also

For building a production budget and schedule, use the Production Schedule Calculator. For estimating crew needs on your project, see the Crew Size Estimator. For understanding how regional grants fit into a broader financing strategy, see Film Grants and Funding. For fiscal sponsorship alternatives, see Film Grants and the Development Pathway.