NYWIFT Fund for Women Filmmakers
Grants from New York Women in Film & Television supporting women directors at various stages of production, with a focus on New York-based projects.
Overview
The NYWIFT Fund for Women Filmmakers is an umbrella grant program administered by New York Women in Film & Television (NYWIFT), the professional organization that has supported women in the film, television, and digital media industries since 1978. The fund encompasses several distinct grant awards, each targeting a specific stage of production or a specific segment of the women filmmaker community.
NYWIFT's grant programs collectively represent one of the most geographically targeted pools of funding available to women filmmakers in the New York area. While national programs like Women Make Movies and Chicken & Egg Pictures serve women filmmakers across the country, NYWIFT's focus on New York creates a more accessible competitive environment for filmmakers based in the city and region.
What It Funds
The NYWIFT Fund for Women Filmmakers includes multiple grant categories:
Production Grants: Awards supporting women directors at the production stage of documentary or fiction film projects, covering crew, equipment, and production costs.
Post-Production Grants: Awards supporting the completion of films in post-production, covering editing, sound, color, and delivery costs. The Sondra Kelly Award is one named post-production award within this umbrella.
Development Grants: Support for women directors at early development stage, covering research, scripting, and pre-production costs.
Special Awards: Periodically, NYWIFT administers named awards funded by donors in memory of or in honor of specific individuals in the film industry. These may target specific categories such as documentary, short film, or debut features.
Grant amounts vary by award category, typically ranging from $2,500 to $10,000. Some awards are reserved for NYWIFT members; others are open to a broader pool. Filmmakers should review the current grant listings on the NYWIFT website for active programs and their specific eligibility requirements.
Eligibility
Project directors must identify as women. Most NYWIFT programs require either NYWIFT membership or a significant professional connection to the New York film community. Membership is open to professionals working in film, television, and digital media, with tiered annual fees.
Projects must be in an active stage of production or development. Completed films seeking retrospective awards are not eligible for production or development grants.
The NYWIFT Community
Membership in NYWIFT provides access to professional development events, screenings, the annual grants program, and a network of women working across all sectors of the New York film and television industry. For women filmmakers based in New York, NYWIFT membership is one of the most practical professional investments available, given the breadth of programs the organization runs and the concentration of industry relationships it provides access to.
Who Should Apply
Women directors based in New York City or with a strong professional connection to the New York film community who are developing or producing documentary or fiction films at any stage, and who are NYWIFT members or willing to become members to access the fund.
See Also
For post-production specific funding, see the Sondra Kelly Award listing. For understanding how New York-based grants fit into a broader financing strategy, see Documentary Financing: Building Your Stack.
