Inwood Film Festival Filmmaker Fund Grant

The Inwood Film Festival Filmmaker Fund is a community-based grant opportunity created to promote and support filmmaking within the Inwood NYC community. This grant is managed by Inwood Art Works, a nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering professional performing and visual arts in the Inwood area. It is made possible through funding from the New York State Council on the Arts, with additional support from the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature. The goal of the fund is to encourage the production of cinema by local filmmakers and ensure the cultural relevance of film projects that reflect the stories and settings of this unique neighborhood in northern Manhattan. The fund offers a grant award of up to $5,000 per eligible filmmaker. Funds may be used strictly for expenses incurred during the project period of December 1, 2025 through November 30, 2026. Only film projects created by filmmakers residing in the Inwood NYC community are eligible. This includes residents of Inwood, Washington Heights, Marble Hill, Kingsbridge, and Riverdale. Filmmakers must possess at least one professional credit as a Producer, Director, or primary Director of Photography to be eligible. Projects that are student films are not eligible. Preference is given to proposals that focus on local stories with cultural or geographical significance, although this is not a requirement. Applications open annually on August 1 and close on September 30. Grantees will be notified by December 1, with funds disbursed by December 31. Applicants must submit several required documents: an Artist Statement (1,500 words or fewer) that discusses the necessity and personal connection to the film, biographies for the applicant and up to two additional key personnel, a screenplay draft or documentary treatment, a completed project timeline using the required template, and a work sample of a prior film that is under 25 minutes in length. Applications are evaluated based on the applicant's residency, experience in a primary creative role, the professionalism of project personnel, and the overall fit of the proposed project with the goals of the fund. Previous recipients must wait at least one full grant cycle before reapplying. All completed projects funded by the grant are automatically submitted for consideration to the next Inwood Film Festival. Inwood Art Works retains discretion over how grant funds are allocated, with a minimum allocation of $500 and a maximum of $5,000 per awardee. Applicants are advised to ensure their submissions are complete and align closely with the grant’s cultural and geographical focus. Questions about the grant or application process can be directed to Inwood Art Works via their official contact channels or by visiting their website.