JustFilms Application - Ford Foundation
The Ford Foundation's JustFilms initiative funds innovative, artist-driven feature documentaries exploring social justice themes like gender, race, and disability justice worldwide.
Funder: Ford Foundation
Due Dates (Anticipated): June 2026 (Full application deadline, projected)
Funding Amounts: Typical grants range from $100,000–$200,000 per feature documentary; actual amounts may vary.
Summary: Supports artist-driven, feature-length documentary films that creatively address social justice issues central to the Ford Foundation’s mission.
Key Information: Application is highly competitive; only feature-length documentaries (50+ min) with filmmaker creative control are eligible.
Description
JustFilms, an initiative of the Ford Foundation, provides funding for artist-driven, feature-length documentary films that explore and illuminate social justice themes. The program seeks projects that align with the foundation’s priorities—especially those addressing gender, race, and disability justice—and that demonstrate intersectional representation, innovation in storytelling, production viability, and anticipated cultural impact. The open call is global, with a particular focus on regions where the Ford Foundation has offices. The application process is competitive and structured around the Documentary Core Application standards.
