SFFILM Westridge Grant
A development and packaging grant from SFFILM and the Westridge Foundation awarding up to $100,000 per cycle to US-based independent narrative feature filmmakers developing screenplays.
Overview
The SFFILM Westridge Grant was a partnership between SFFILM and the Westridge Foundation providing development and packaging support to US-based independent narrative feature filmmakers. Each cycle awarded a total of $100,000 distributed across selected projects, supporting filmmakers in the screenwriting and development phases of their feature films.
The grant ran for six cycles, with the final cycle in Fall 2020. Over that period it provided meaningful development capital to a cohort of independent narrative filmmakers who often lack the institutional backing that makes sustained script development financially feasible.
What It Funded
The Westridge Grant supported US-based independent narrative feature films at the screenwriting or development and packaging phase. Eligible filmmakers were developing original feature-length screenplays or refining scripts in later drafts and building the producer, talent, and creative team packaging required to attract production financing.
Development funding of this kind is structurally important in the independent film ecosystem: the gap between a compelling idea and a production-ready package is often unbridgeable without dedicated development resources, and commercial development deals are rarely available for the kinds of independent films the Westridge Grant supported.
Current Status
SFFILM lists the Westridge Grant as a previous program, indicating it is no longer accepting new applications in its original form. The final cycle was announced in Fall 2020. Narrative filmmakers seeking SFFILM development support should check the SFFILM website for current programs including the Sloan Science in Cinema Filmmaker Fellowship and any successor narrative development programs.
Who Applied
US-based independent narrative feature film directors and writer-directors at the development or late script stage with projects that aligned with SFFILM's commitment to independent cinema and underrepresented voices. The fund's six-cycle run supported a meaningful cohort of independent narrative projects that might not otherwise have accessed professional development resources.
See Also
For SFFILM's current active grant programs, see the SFFILM Documentary Film Fund, SFFILM Rainin Grant, and Sloan Science in Cinema Filmmaker Fellowship entries. For building a production plan once development is complete, use the Production Schedule Calculator.
