Catapult Film Fund

Catapult's Development Grants provide up to $25,000 to documentary filmmakers who have a strong story to tell, have secured access, and are ready to create a fundraising piece to help unlock critical production funding. We enable filmmakers to develop their projects to the next level, at the early stage when funding is hard to find. We support powerful and moving storytelling by filmmakers with a strong voice across a broad spectrum of subject matter. In addition to the Development Grant, recipients have access to a mentorship program with the Catapult team, in areas including story development, production process, fundraising and distribution strategy. Catapult's involvement with each project is uniquely tailored to the needs of the filmmakers.

Catapult Film Fund also partners with The True/False Film Festival for the annual Rough Cut Retreat (RCR), a one-of-a-kind mentorship experience. Launched in 2016, RCR unites nonfiction filmmakers and mentors in a creative, supportive, and engaged atmosphere. The annual Rough Cut Retreat offers filmmakers & their projects thoughtful feedback to help move films from a rough cut to a final cut with an eye on winter festival deadlines which they can seek to bring on additional key team members, partners, and funders. The fellowship is geared towards emerging filmmakers who have directed short films previously and for whom this is their first feature, or for filmmakers who have directed one or two features already.

Catapult offers the potential of additional financial support to its development grantees in the form of Momentum Grants and Consulting Grants. Catapult grantees may apply for a Momentum Grant for up to $15,000 when they reach a point in their filmmaking process when an infusion of funds can propel them to their next step. Examples include hiring an editor, getting transcripts translated, archival research, or music composition.