Tribeca Festival Filmmaker Programs

Overview

The Tribeca Festival runs several filmmaker funding and development programs that provide production financing, mentorship, and guaranteed festival premieres. The largest of these is AT&T Untold Stories, which awards $1.2 million to one emerging filmmaker or team to produce a scripted feature, along with year-round mentorship and a guaranteed premiere at the following year's Tribeca Festival. The 2026 Tribeca Festival runs June 3 to 14 in New York City, marking its 25th anniversary.

The Tribeca Film Institute (TFI), the nonprofit that previously ran Tribeca's grant programs, was dissolved in September 2020. TFI's programs, including the TFI Documentary Fund, TFI Narrative Fund, and TFI New Media Fund, no longer exist. Tribeca Enterprises, the for-profit parent company, now runs filmmaker support programs directly through the Tribeca Festival and its branded-content division, Tribeca Studios. Filmmakers seeking funding through Tribeca should apply to the current programs listed below.

The current active programs are:

1. AT&T Untold Stories: $1.2M production prize for a scripted feature, guaranteed Tribeca premiere
2. Through Her Lens: The Tribeca Chanel Women's Filmmaker Program: $120,000 production budget for a short film by a woman filmmaker
3. COLECTIVO: A Miranda Family Fellowship and Tribeca Studios Program: Funding and mentorship for three Latinx filmmaking teams to produce short films
4. Tribeca Studios programs with corporate partners: Branded filmmaker programs (e.g., the Lilly health storytelling program)
5. Creators Forum: Multi-day summit during the Tribeca Festival for emerging filmmakers

Historical Context: The Tribeca Film Institute (2001 to 2020)

The Tribeca Film Institute was founded in 2001 by Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal, and Craig Hatkoff as a nonprofit to revitalize lower Manhattan's arts community after the September 11 attacks. TFI launched the Tribeca Film Festival in 2002, then spun the festival off into a separate for-profit entity, Tribeca Enterprises, in 2003. TFI continued as a nonprofit funding and education organization for 17 years.

TFI's programs included the TFI Sloan Filmmaker Fund (launched in 2003 with the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation), Tribeca Film Fellows (a year-round fellowship for young filmmakers from underserved communities), the TFI Documentary Fund, the TFI Narrative Fund, the TFI New Media Fund, IF/Then Shorts (short documentary funding), and the TFI/ESPN Future Filmmaker Prize. TFI also ran multiple youth programs in New York City, including Tribeca Teaches and the Tribeca Youth Screening Series.

In September 2020, TFI's board announced a "pause" of all programming, citing fundraising challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. Fewer than 10 staff members were laid off, with remaining staff placed at Tribeca Enterprises. The closure became permanent. TFI's website now states in the past tense: "We provided funding, mentorship, and networking opportunities for entry- to mid-level filmmakers." The organization never resumed operations.

The dissolution of TFI created a gap in independent film funding, particularly for documentary filmmakers and creators from underrepresented communities who relied on TFI grants. Some of that gap has been filled by the current Tribeca Festival programs, though the structure has shifted from nonprofit grants to corporate-sponsored prizes and programs.

Current Programs

AT&T Untold Stories

AT&T Untold Stories is the largest film production prize of its kind. Beginning with the 2026 Tribeca Festival (the festival's 25th anniversary), the top prize increased from $1 million to $1.2 million. The program is open to emerging filmmakers with a scripted feature film project.

How it works: Five finalist teams are selected to pitch their scripted features in person in New York City to a Greenlight Committee of industry professionals. One team receives the $1.2 million grand prize to produce their film, along with comprehensive mentorship and a guaranteed premiere at the following year's Tribeca Festival. The remaining four finalists receive $15,000 grants to support their film's development.

2026 winner: Minnesota Goodbye by Sid Gopinath, Aditya Joshi, and Alifya Ali, selected by a Greenlight Committee that included Phoebe Robinson, Kellyn Smith Kenny, Lilian T. Mehrel, Isabel Sandoval, and Moises Zamora.

Past winners and their distribution outcomes:

Submissions for the 2026 cycle opened October 6, 2025, and close February 6, 2026. Filmmakers can apply at tribecafilm.com/untoldstories.

Through Her Lens: The Tribeca Chanel Women's Filmmaker Program

Through Her Lens is a program for women filmmakers with a narrative short film project. The program provides a $120,000 production budget to the winning project. There is no entry fee.

Eligibility: Applicants must have a screenwriter and director attached. If the applicant is solely the writer, a director must be attached. Applying directors must have directed at least one short film (5 to 38 minutes) that has screened at festivals, been distributed, or been self-distributed. The submitted project must be a narrative short film of no more than 20 minutes, able to be completed with a $120,000 budget.

Application requirements:

• Online application form
• Bios and contact information for key applicants
• Budget top sheet including post-production costs
• Script for a narrative short film (max 20 minutes)
• Artist statement on goals and career growth
• At least one visual material (lookbook, pitch deck, moodboard, or tone reel)
• At least one full sample of the director's prior work (minimum 5 consecutive minutes, via streaming)

Selection process: Five finalists are selected based on originality and creativity (25%), technical merit and skill (20%), quality of previous work (20%), market viability (15%), and mentorship potential (20%). Finalists pitch their projects to a jury of media professionals. One winner receives the production budget. The winner must set up a single-purpose LLC to receive the funds and produce the film, and must sign long-form contracts with the program, submit a production schedule and budget, and assume all liabilities (E&O insurance, guild obligations, etc.).

2026 timeline:

COLECTIVO: A Miranda Family Fellowship and Tribeca Studios Program

COLECTIVO is a program created in partnership with the Miranda Family Fund and the Hispanic Federation. It selects a cohort of three emerging filmmaking teams to receive funding, mentorship, and the opportunity to world premiere an original short film at the Tribeca Festival.

Each participating filmmaker produces an original scripted short film highlighting Latinx stories and/or talent in front of and behind the camera. Filmmakers are supported through each step of the creative process, from development to distribution, with guidance from Tribeca Studios and the creative team of Lin-Manuel Miranda, Luis A. Miranda, Jr., and their extended network.

Tribeca Studios Partnership Programs

Tribeca Studios runs branded filmmaker programs in partnership with corporate sponsors. These programs typically fund short films from end to end, including development, production, a Tribeca premiere, and distribution support. Current and recent examples include:

• Tribeca Studios and Lilly: A program supporting short films that authentically portray patient experiences and disease stories. Approximately 20 screenwriters receive mentorship at a Creative Summit in New York City, and three projects are selected for full short film or proof-of-concept production with a guaranteed Tribeca Festival 2026 premiere.
• Other branded programs: Tribeca Studios creates new programs annually with different corporate partners. Filmmakers should check tribecastudios.com for current opportunities.

Creators Forum

Launched at the 2024 Tribeca Festival, the Creators Forum is a multi-day summit taking place within the Tribeca Festival. It is designed for the broader filmmaking community and features conversations with industry leaders, roundtables offering intimate group mentorship on topics from festival strategy to distribution, case studies with indie success stories, and networking opportunities.

The Creators Forum is not a funding program. It is an educational and networking event that requires a festival pass or registration.

What It Covers

The active programs provide different types of support:

• AT&T Untold Stories: $1.2M production funding, mentorship, guaranteed Tribeca premiere
• Through Her Lens: $120,000 production budget, mentorship, Tribeca premiere
• COLECTIVO: Short film production funding, mentorship from Miranda family network, Tribeca premiere
• Tribeca Studios programs: Full short film production support, Tribeca premiere, distribution assistance
• Creators Forum: Educational programming, networking, mentorship roundtables (no funding)

Who Should Apply

AT&T Untold Stories: Emerging filmmakers with a scripted feature film project ready for production. The program is open to US-based filmmakers. The $1.2M prize is one of the largest production awards available, making it highly competitive.

Through Her Lens: Women filmmakers with a narrative short film project (max 20 minutes) that can be produced for $120,000. The director must have at least one prior short film credit. No entry fee.

COLECTIVO: Latinx filmmaking teams with a short film project highlighting Latinx stories. Three teams are selected per cycle.

Tribeca Studios programs: Varies by program. Filmmakers should check the current year's offerings, as programs change with corporate partnerships.

Filmmakers who need development funding or grants for documentary features should note that Tribeca no longer offers the type of grant programs that TFI ran. For documentary funding, see the Sundance Documentary Fund or Chicago Media Project in this directory. For feature film development grants, see Cinereach Grant or browse the full Film Scholarships Directory.

Common Confusions

The Tribeca Film Institute no longer exists. TFI was dissolved in September 2020 and never resumed operations. Any references to TFI grants, the TFI Documentary Fund, the TFI Narrative Fund, or the TFI New Media Fund refer to programs that are no longer active. Filmmakers should not attempt to apply to TFI.

AT&T Untold Stories is for scripted features, not documentaries. The program funds scripted narrative feature films. Documentary filmmakers should look at other funders.

Through Her Lens requires a completed script and a director with prior work. The program is not for first-time filmmakers with no reel. The director must submit at least 5 consecutive minutes of prior work, and a completed script of no more than 20 pages is required.

The $1.2M Untold Stories prize comes with obligations. The winner must set up a single-purpose LLC, sign long-form contracts, submit production schedules and budgets, and assume all production liabilities including E&O insurance and guild obligations. The prize is not unrestricted cash.

Past Recipients

Tribeca's filmmaker programs have a strong distribution track record. The AT&T Untold Stories winners in particular have consistently secured theatrical or streaming distribution, which is unusual for a production prize program.

AT&T Untold Stories past winners and distribution outcomes:

The 2026 winner Minnesota Goodbye by Sid Gopinath, Aditya Joshi, and Alifya Ali was selected by a Greenlight Committee that included Phoebe Robinson, Kellyn Smith Kenny, Lilian T. Mehrel, Isabel Sandoval, and Moises Zamora. The full past winner and participant list is at tribecafilm.com/attuntoldstories/past-winners.

Through Her Lens past winners have produced short films that premiered at Tribeca. The program has run multiple cycles with $120,000 production budgets awarded to women filmmakers. Specific past winner names are published on the Tribeca website per cycle.

COLECTIVO has selected three Latinx filmmaking teams per cycle, with shorts premiering at Tribeca. The program is guided by the creative team of Lin-Manuel Miranda, Luis A. Miranda, Jr., and their extended network.

What Made Winning Applications Stand Out

Each Tribeca program selects differently:

• AT&T Untold Stories: Five finalist teams pitch scripted features in person to a Greenlight Committee of industry professionals. The committee evaluates the project's readiness for production with the $1.2 million budget, the filmmaker's ability to execute, and the story's alignment with the program's mission to support systemically underrepresented filmmakers. Past winners (Smoking Tigers, Color Book, Land of Gold) were projects with a clear authorial voice tied to the filmmaker's own community or experience, a feasible production plan, and a director who could articulate a vision under pitch pressure. The four non-winning finalists receive $15,000 development grants, so the pitch event itself is high-stakes.
• Through Her Lens: Five finalists are selected based on originality and creativity (25%), technical merit and skill (20%), quality of previous work (20%), market viability (15%), and mentorship potential (20%). Finalists pitch to a jury of media professionals. The winner receives a $120,000 production budget and must set up a single-purpose LLC, sign long-form contracts, and assume all production liabilities. Strong applications have a completed script (max 20 pages), a director with at least one prior short film credit (minimum 5 consecutive minutes of prior work submitted), a budget top sheet that fits the $120,000, and a clear visual material (lookbook, pitch deck, moodboard, or tone reel).
• COLECTIVO: Three Latinx filmmaking teams are selected per cycle. The program supports short films highlighting Latinx stories and/or talent. Selection evaluates the project, the team's fit with the Miranda family network's mentorship, and the story's Latinx cultural specificity.

Renewal Requirements

None of Tribeca's current programs are renewable in the multi-year stipend sense:

• AT&T Untold Stories: A one-time $1.2 million production prize (or $15,000 finalist grant) per project. The prize is tied to a single feature film and does not renew. The winner must produce the film within the program's timeline for a guaranteed Tribeca premiere the following year. Past winners have not re-applied with new projects in subsequent years, though the program does not explicitly bar it.
• Through Her Lens: A one-time $120,000 production budget per short film project. The winner must complete the short film and premiere it at Tribeca. The program does not renew for a second project.
• COLECTIVO: A one-time short film production funding and mentorship per team. Three teams are selected per cycle. The program does not renew for a second short.
• Tribeca Studios programs: Vary by corporate partnership. Each program is typically a one-time short film production funding opportunity.
• Creators Forum: Not a funding program. It is an educational and networking event requiring a festival pass or registration. There is no renewal concept.

The defunct Tribeca Film Institute (TFI) programs (TFI Documentary Fund, TFI Narrative Fund, TFI New Media Fund, IF/Then Shorts) were dissolved in September 2020 and do not exist. Filmmakers should not attempt to apply to TFI.

See Also

For independent filmmaking financing strategies, see Independent Filmmaking. For festival strategy guidance, see Film Festival Strategy. To plan your production budget, use the Indie Film Budget Calculator. For other major film funding opportunities, browse the full Film Scholarships Directory. For documentary-specific funding, see the IDA Pare Lorentz Documentary Fund in this directory.