Chicken & Egg Pictures

Overview

Chicken & Egg Pictures (now operating as Chicken & Egg Films) is a nonprofit organisation that has championed women and gender-expansive nonfiction filmmakers since its founding in 2005. Originally focused on women filmmakers, the organisation has broadened its eligibility over the years to serve all gender-expansive filmmakers, including non-binary, trans, third-gender, two-spirit, and agender individuals. Its programs span grants, labs, and community building, making it one of the most comprehensive support organisations for nonfiction filmmakers from underrepresented gender identities.

Chicken & Egg runs two flagship filmmaker-facing programs: the Research and Development Grant and the (Egg)celerator Lab.

Research and Development Grant

The Research and Development Grant, developed in partnership with Netflix, provides substantial development support to established gender-expansive documentary filmmakers working on ambitious new projects. A 2023 cycle distributed $450,000 in funding across selected projects. To be eligible, applicants must have directed at least one feature-length documentary of at least 48 minutes that has been completed and has a track record.

This is a grant for filmmakers with an established career in feature documentary, not for debut directors. The R&D grant is specifically designed for filmmakers who have proven their ability to complete and release a feature documentary but who need resources to develop their next major project before it can attract production funding.

(Egg)celerator Lab

The (Egg)celerator Lab focuses on identifying and supporting nonfiction directors working on their first or second feature-length documentary. The lab brings together approximately ten projects and provides a combination of grants, mentorship, and professional development over an extended program period. It is specifically designed for gender-expansive filmmakers who are earlier in their careers than the R&D Grant audience.

Eligibility

All Chicken & Egg programs are open to gender-expansive documentary filmmakers -- defined to include women, non-binary, trans, third-gender, two-spirit, and agender individuals. Programs differ in career stage requirements. The R&D Grant requires at least one completed feature documentary. The (Egg)celerator Lab targets first- and second-feature directors.

Both US and international filmmakers may be eligible depending on the program cycle -- check current guidelines for geographic eligibility.

Who Should Apply

Gender-expansive nonfiction filmmakers at different career stages. Established filmmakers with at least one completed feature documentary should look at the R&D Grant. Filmmakers on their first or second feature documentary should target the (Egg)celerator Lab. Both programs are highly competitive and best suited to filmmakers with a strong project and clear creative vision.

See Also

For documentary filmmakers building a development financing strategy, see Documentary Financing: Building Your Stack. For planning a documentary production schedule and budget, use the Production Schedule Calculator.