Now Open: JustFilms Grant from the Ford Foundation for Documentary Filmmakers

If you’re working on a feature-length documentary that centers themes of social justice, equity, and cultural transformation, now is the time to apply for the JustFilms open call from the Ford Foundation.

This prestigious grant supports artist-driven documentary projects that intersect powerfully with the foundation’s mission — emphasizing intersectional representation, innovative storytelling, and real social impact.

The deadline to apply is Thursday, October 30, 2025, at 11:59 PM ET.

What JustFilms Supports:

  • Feature-length documentaries (50+ minutes) with strong creative control by the filmmaker(s)

  • Projects at the content development, production, or post-production stage

  • Films with clear alignment to the Ford Foundation’s focus areas, including gender, race, and disability justice

  • Work that reshapes dominant narratives and challenges systems of power

What They’re Not Looking For:

JustFilms does not fund:

  • Student films, narrative films, or short films

  • Episodic series, new media (AR/VR), or podcasts

  • Films that have already premiered or been broadcast

  • Impact campaigns or commissioned works where the filmmaker is not the rights holder

How Your Film Will Be Evaluated:

The Ford Foundation uses a weighted rubric to assess proposals:

  • Thematic Alignment – 30%

  • Intersectional Representation – 25%

  • Innovation in Storytelling – 25%

  • Production Viability & Independence – 20%

They strongly recommend reviewing the full FAQ before submitting.

This is a competitive but transformative opportunity for filmmakers committed to justice-driven storytelling. If your project is pushing boundaries, amplifying underrepresented voices, and tackling the big questions of our time, this could be the grant to help move it forward.

Learn more and apply by visiting: JustFilms Application – Ford Foundation

Have a project in development? Don’t wait — start your submission today and bring your story to life on your terms.

Jendayi Asha