Upcoming Opportunities
Application window: 8 November 2026–8 February 2027
Grants, documentary labs and project markets accepting applications during this period, plus announced openings to prepare for. Checked against organisers’ sources on 8 November 2026. Dates below are application dates, not festival dates. Malaysia time (MYT) is UTC+8. Where no closing time is published here, check the official call and submit early.
Open now / announced current calls
Open 1 November–1 December 2026, 23:59 GMT+7 (2 December, 00:59 MYT). Up to US$5,000 for exhibition, distribution or education strengthening Southeast Asian cinema within the region. Not for promoting one individual film. No entry fee.
Announced call: 5 November–5 December 2026. SEA-SHORTS: six Southeast Asian shorts receive S$10,000 each. SEA-DOC: three feature documentaries in late edit/finishing receive S$10,000 each, with emphasis on social issues and impact. Malaysian filmmakers should check the detailed applicant rules. The page still displays “Open Call Coming Soon”: confirm access to the application form. Closing time and fee not verified.
Deadline: 15 December 2026. International documentary co-production forum for feature projects in late development. A route to financiers and partners; not an automatic grant. Submission and participation fees apply.
Deadline: 15 December 2026. Documentary projects close to completion, presented to festivals, sales agents, buyers and post-production partners. Check fees and footage requirements.
Open 8 September–15 December 2026. Worldwide; documentaries over 60 minutes, ready at rough-cut stage by April 2027. Projects must not have attended another rough-cut lab before this programme. Editorial mentoring in Nyon, 11–14 April 2027. Check costs and attendance requirements.
Open 2 November–16 December 2026, 23:59 Hong Kong time / MYT. Features of at least 60 minutes in production or post-production, with director, producer and company attached. Financing, sales and festival connections. Submission fee applies; check format eligibility and required footage.
Published deadline: 11 January 2027; portal status needs confirmation. Eight-month programme for eight documentary projects at rough-cut stage, covering editing, distribution and marketing. The overview says open, but the programme page also displays “application closed”. Confirm with the organiser. Regional workshops have nationality restrictions. Check team requirements, 2027 tuition, scholarships and closing time.
Opening during the next three months
Opens 24 November 2026; closes 22 January 2027, noon GMT (20:00 MYT). Worldwide emerging filmmakers with director-led documentaries. Main award £120,000; runner-up development award £25,000. Check first-feature, project-stage and other full criteria. Use the organiser’s noon deadline rather than conflicting third-party listings.
Opening announced for the end of 2026; exact dates pending. Mentorship for first- or second-time documentary directors, with development/production and rough-cut routes. Prepare original footage and a clear artistic approach. The next edition’s costs and schedule require confirmation.
Opens January 2027; exact dates and fees pending. Documentary incubation and pitching for South Asian directors developing a first or second feature documentary. Regional restriction: Malaysia is in Southeast Asia, so Malaysian nationality alone does not qualify.
Standing annual schedule: opens 1 February; closes 1 March. Prepare for February 2027, but the edition-specific call is not yet confirmed. SEA director and primary production company; films over 60 minutes. Production supports projects before principal photography; post-production requires footage and a rough cut. No entry fee. Closing time for the 2027 round is pending.
Watchlist — not confirmed open
Philippines — ICOF and FLIP: co-production funding and a separate location/services rebate. Filipino production partner required. No application dates verified for this three-month window; see Grants for the revised ICOF terms.
Singapore — IMDA TAP film support: Singapore-company application and qualifying partners required. No new call verified in this window.
Sundance Documentary Fund: next announcement expected early 2027; opening date unconfirmed. Film Independent Documentary Story Lab: published dates run 5 October–14 December 2026 (members: 4 January 2027), but the same official page labels applications closed. Confirm with the organiser before treating it as open.
Shanghai SIFF PROJECT and Golden Horse FPP are listed under Project Markets with language restrictions. Their 2027 calls are not yet verified. Torino ScriptLab 2027 closed 3 November 2026 and FeatureLab closed 5 November; neither is an open call in this window.
More regional calls at Da Huang Pictures →