Overview
The Tan Ean Kiam Foundation-SGIFF Southeast Asian Documentary Grant (SEA-DOC) is a production and post-production grant for documentary filmmakers from Southeast Asia. Administered by the Singapore International Film Festival (SGIFF) and funded by the Tan Ean Kiam Foundation, the grant awards S$30,000 to each selected production-stage project and S$20,000 to each selected post-production-stage project. Four projects are funded annually: three in production and one in post-production.
Since its launch in 2017, the SGIFF Film Fund (comprising SEA-DOC and the companion SEA-SHORTS short film grant) has awarded S$885,000 to nearly 50 films across the region. The fund is currently on temporary hiatus as of February 2026, with SGIFF planning to relaunch a revamped version later in 2026.
Current Status: Temporary Hiatus
On February 11, 2026, SGIFF announced that the SGIFF Film Fund is on temporary hiatus as part of a strategic review. The festival plans to relaunch the fund later in 2026 with a renewed framework designed to better respond to the regional industry's evolving needs and strengthen support for marginalised voices within Southeast Asian filmmaking.
Jeremy Chua, newly appointed Executive Director of SGIFF (promoted from General Manager), stated: "This short hiatus gives us the necessary space to work closely with our partners to strengthen the SGIFF Film Fund for the long term. Our commitment to filmmakers and the regional industry remains unchanged, and we look forward to relaunching the Fund later this year with a renewed framework that responds meaningfully to today's production and distribution realities."
The 2025 cycle was the most recent completed round. Filmmakers should monitor the SGIFF website for announcements about the relaunch.
What It Funds
The SEA-DOC grant supports mid-length and feature-length documentary films from Southeast Asia at two stages:
Production Funding
Three production grants of S$30,000 each are awarded annually. Production funding supports films that have not yet completed principal photography. The grant can be used for shooting, crew, equipment, travel, and other production costs.
Disbursement is in two parts: S$15,000 upon submission of the most updated treatment and production schedule, and S$15,000 upon submission of the completed film (ProRes 422 HQ and h.264).
Post-Production Funding
One post-production grant of S$20,000 is awarded annually. Post-production funding supports films that have completed principal photography and are in the editing stage.
Disbursement is in two parts: S$10,000 upon submission of an updated production schedule and latest cut, and S$10,000 upon submission of the completed film (ProRes 422 HQ and h.264).
Eligibility Requirements
Director Requirements
- Must be a Southeast Asian citizen (Southeast Asia is defined as Cambodia, East Timor, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Brunei, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam)
- Must have completed a previous short film (a password-protected online link to the previous film must be submitted with the application)
Project Requirements
- Must be a documentary film
- Must be mid-length or feature-length (not short films)
- Must be shot in Southeast Asia OR have key cast and creative team of Southeast Asian descent
- For production funding: film should be ready to enter production
- For post-production funding: film must have completed principal photography and be in the editing stage
Completion Requirements
- Production grants: Films must be completed within 3 years. If principal photography is not completed within 2 years of signing the agreement, the agreement is terminated and no pending instalments are paid.
- Post-production grants: Films must be completed within 12 to 18 months. If a new edit is not submitted within 12 months of signing, the agreement is terminated.
- SGIFF retains the right to at least the Asian premiere of the completed documentary.
- Once a project is selected and disbursement begins, the project cannot be withdrawn from the grant or a full refund is required.
Application Requirements
- All applications must be in English
- Films in any language other than English must have English subtitles
- Submission is free (no entry fee)
- Applicants must specify whether they are applying for the production grant or the post-production grant
- Only complete submissions received by the deadline are accepted
2025 Recipients
The 2025 cycle awarded S$110,000 across four SEA-DOC projects:
| Project | Director(s) | Country | Stage | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black River | Tran Phuong Thao, Swann Dubus | Vietnam | Production | S$30,000 |
| South Sea | Riar Rizaldi | Indonesia | Production | S$30,000 |
| The People Outside | Jewel Maranan | Philippines | Production | S$30,000 |
| Arts Centre | Tan Pin Pin | Singapore | Post-Production | S$20,000 |
Notable Past Recipients
- Aswang (Alyx Ayn Arumpac, Philippines, 2019): A documentary about the drug war in the Philippines under President Duterte. The film premiered at IDFA and went on to international festival circulation.
- Monisme (Riar Rizaldi, Indonesia, 2023): A hybrid documentary exploring volcanic mythology and science in Indonesia. Had its Asian premiere at SGIFF.
- South Sea (Riar Rizaldi, Indonesia, 2025): Rizaldi's second SEA-DOC-supported project, investigating a 2022 tragedy in East Java where 11 people were swept away by tidal waves during a nighttime spiritual ritual.
Typical Award Size Range
The SEA-DOC grant awards fixed amounts based on the project stage:
- Production grants: S$30,000 each (3 awarded annually)
- Post-production grants: S$20,000 each (1 awarded annually)
- Total annual pool: S$110,000 across 4 projects
Disbursement is split into two equal installments. For production, S$15,000 is paid upon submission of the updated treatment and production schedule, and S$15,000 upon delivery of the completed film. For post-production, S$10,000 is paid upon submission of an updated cut, and S$10,000 upon delivery of the completed film. The amounts are fixed and not negotiable.
SGIFF Festival Context
SGIFF is the largest and longest-running film festival in Southeast Asia, founded in 1987. The 36th edition ran from November 26 to December 7, 2025. Starting with the 37th edition in 2026, SGIFF is shifting its dates earlier in the year, running from October 21 to November 1, 2026. The festival is supported by the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) of Singapore.
The SGIFF Film Fund was established in 2017 (officially launched as a formal fund in 2018) to provide direct grant funding to Southeast Asian filmmakers, creating a structural funding resource for regional filmmakers who often lack access to the European and North American grant ecosystems available to English-language documentary filmmakers.
Application Timeline (Historical)
The 2025 cycle followed this schedule:
- Submission deadline: March 20, 2025, 23:59 (GMT+8)
- Notification date: June 30, 2025 or earlier
- Submission platform: Via the SGIFF Film Fund website
The 2026 cycle is on hiatus. Updated timeline information will be posted on the SGIFF website when the fund relaunches.
Who Should Apply
Documentary filmmakers from Southeast Asia with a mid-length or feature-length project at the production or post-production stage. Both debut and established directors are eligible, provided the director has completed at least one previous short film. Projects with strong storytelling and a compelling Southeast Asian subject or perspective are most competitive. The selection committee evaluates submissions based on narrative ambition, cinematic approach, regional relevance, and the urgency of the story.
Filmmakers with short film projects should apply to the companion SEA-SHORTS grant, which awards three short film projects with S$5,000 each plus post-production support from White Light Post.
What Makes an Application Competitive
The SGIFF selection committee evaluates submissions based on four core criteria:
- Narrative ambition: The committee looks for projects that tell stories in a way that expands what documentary cinema can do. The selection committee cited Riar Rizaldi's Monisme as creating "a multilayered universe" that "dares to look at the world from a point of complexity, trusting cinema as a form for deeper seeing and thinking."
- Cinematic approach: Projects must demonstrate a distinctive visual and structural vision. Aswang stood out for using Filipino folklore as a metaphor for state violence, blending observational footage with mythological framing rather than relying on talking-head interviews.
- Regional relevance: The project must speak to Southeast Asian experiences, histories, or perspectives. The committee prioritizes stories that emerge from the region rather than being imposed from outside.
- Urgency of the story: The committee favors projects that address timely, underrepresented, or marginalized subjects. Aswang tackled the Duterte drug war while it was ongoing. South Sea investigates a 2022 tragedy through a true-crime and cosmic-horror lens.
A strong application includes a clear treatment, a director's statement that articulates the creative vision, evidence of access to the subject matter, and a realistic production or post-production plan. A previous short film that demonstrates the director's storytelling ability is required and weighs heavily in the assessment.
Watch
See Also
For Southeast Asian documentary filmmakers building an international financing strategy, see Documentary Financing: Building Your Stack. For post-production planning, use the Storage and Footage Calculator. For production schedule planning, use the Production Schedule Calculator.
