William Greaves Fund
A research and development grant from Firelight Media supporting mid-career nonfiction storytellers from racially and ethnically underrepresented communities in the US, Mexico, Brazil, Puerto Rico, and Colombia.
Overview
The William Greaves Research and Development Fund is administered by Firelight Media, a nonprofit organisation dedicated to supporting nonfiction cinema by and about communities of colour. The fund is named in honour of William Greaves, a pioneering Black American documentary filmmaker whose career spanned more than five decades and whose work remains a foundational reference point for nonfiction filmmakers from underrepresented backgrounds.
The fund supports mid-career nonfiction storytellers from racially and ethnically underrepresented communities in the United States and from filmmakers based in Mexico, Brazil, Puerto Rico, and Colombia, with particular interest in filmmakers who identify with Indigenous communities in those countries. It provides financial support for the research and development phase -- the period when filmmakers are doing the foundational work of shaping a project before it can attract production funding.
What It Funds
The William Greaves Fund resources the research and development stage: the work a filmmaker does before a project has enough shape to attract production grants, broadcaster interest, or major fund support. Eligible activities include archival research, travel to meet subjects and conduct field research, development of a treatment or pitch materials, and prototype footage gathering.
In addition to financial support, Firelight Media provides grantees with ongoing mentorship and connection to the broader Firelight Media community, which includes documentary filmmakers, educators, and advocates working in nonfiction cinema from communities of colour.
Eligibility
Applicants must be mid-career nonfiction storytellers. Firelight Media defines mid-career as filmmakers who have established a professional track record in documentary but have not yet reached a level of mainstream industry recognition that would give them easy access to larger development funds. Eligible communities of origin include racially and ethnically underrepresented communities in the US, and filmmakers from Mexico, Brazil, Puerto Rico, and Colombia -- with a special interest in those who identify with Indigenous communities in those countries.
The fund is not designed for debut filmmakers or for established filmmakers who already have substantial access to development resources.
Firelight Media's Broader Mission
Firelight Media is one of the most important institutions in the US documentary ecosystem for filmmakers from underrepresented backgrounds. Its other programs include the Documentary Lab, which provides $25,000 in project grants alongside mentorship from documentary leaders, and a range of educational and community-building initiatives. Filmmakers who apply for the William Greaves Fund should also explore the full Firelight Media program portfolio.
Who Should Apply
Mid-career documentary filmmakers from racially and ethnically underrepresented communities in the US, or from Mexico, Brazil, Puerto Rico, and Colombia, who are at the research and development stage of a nonfiction project. The fund is specifically for filmmakers who have a track record but lack easy access to development resources.
See Also
For understanding how research and development grants connect to the broader documentary financing stack, see Documentary Financing: Building Your Stack. For planning a documentary development budget and timeline, use the Production Schedule Calculator.
