Artist Accelerator
The Sundance Institute’s Artist Accelerator Program offers fellowships, grants, and mentorship to help independent filmmakers and media artists complete and advance their creative projects.
Funder: Sundance Institute
Due Dates: Rolling (various fellowships and funds)
Funding Amounts: Fellowships: typically $10,000–$25,000 unrestricted grants; Completion Funds: up to $25,000 per project; yearlong support.
Summary: Provides financial, creative, and tactical support to independent storytellers through fellowships and project grants for emerging and mid-career artists.
Key Information: Opportunities are available year-round; both open calls and invitation-based applications.
Description
The Sundance Institute’s Artist Accelerator Program is designed to support independent storytellers—primarily filmmakers and media artists—who are navigating the evolving creative and economic landscape. Launched in 2021, the program offers a mix of yearlong fellowships, project advancement, and completion grants, as well as individualized mentorship and a strong artist community. The initiative aims to foster professional growth, drive field-wide impact, and help artists realize visionary projects that might otherwise go unfinished. The program collaborates with peer support organizations, public agencies, and grassroots collectives to expand access, equity, and sustainability in independent storytelling.
