The application for the 2026 AFS Grant for Short Films will open on July 23, 2026.
The AFS Grant for Feature Films is now closed and will reopen in the spring of 2027.
The AFS Grant awards funds annually to Texas-based filmmakers working in any style or genre. The AFS Grant aims to ensure that promising Texas artists have access to funding opportunities right here in their home state. AFS is committed to providing equitable funding opportunities for artists, and filmmakers of all identities and backgrounds are encouraged to apply.
Since its inception in 1996, the AFS Grant has awarded more than $3 million in cash grants and more than $340,000 in-kind goods and services to 570+ Texas filmmakers to date, creating life-changing opportunities for artists, many from backgrounds traditionally underrepresented in the film industry and working outside large industry centers. In addition to grants for development, production, and post-production, we provide cash stipends to Texas filmmakers traveling to prestigious film festivals through our AFS Travel Grant program.
The AFS Grant is highly competitive. Over the last five years, on average, 12% of applicants received funding per cycle. Each project is reviewed by a different combination of film programmers, filmmakers, and industry professionals, in Texas and across the country.
If you have any questions regarding the grant, please email us at filmmakersupport@austinfilm.org.
Check out past grant recipients here.
ONLINE INFO SESSIONS
AFS Grant program staff will offer a series of live webinars to share tips, answer frequently asked questions, and provide guidance for applicants. We strongly encourage attending a webinar if you are a first-time applicant. Due to staffing limitations, we cannot offer one-on-one grant consultations or review materials in advance.
AFS Grant for Short Films Webinar | July 30 at 6 PM
AFS Grant for Short Films Webinar | August 19 at 6 PM
If you are unable to attend the above webinars, a recording of the first webinar will be available on this page a few days after the event.
THANK YOU TO OUR 2026 AFS GRANT PARTNERS
