EVFA’s Documentary Research Grant backs nonfiction projects at the moment when research, access, and story exploration define what a film can become!
Each selected filmmaker receives an $8,000 USD grant for feasibility research, access-building, and core preparatory materials. Over 8–10 weeks (Jan–Mar 2026) participants will follow a guided pathway with clear check-ins, one-to-one mentorship, and two group sessions, to finish with a solid treatment, audience definition, distribution map, and a practical impact plan.
Who should apply: Filmmakers developing feature docs or series that tackle ethical-systems stories- culture, climate, human stories, and our relationship with non-human life.
Deadline: 6 November 2025
Notifications: Early December 2025
Grant amount: $8,000 USD
Apply here: https://forms.gle/3jVyE5am76dGWhf26
Read more about the grant below:
What type of projects are eligible for the Research Grant?
Feature documentaries and docuseries (episodic) are both eligible, including non-English language projects. Projects must be in the research or pre-research phase (not already in pre-production, production, or post), should align broadly with topics tackling ethical consumption (food, animals, culture and climate), and be open to pivoting (if necessary) based on research findings.
Who decides which projects are awarded the funding?
A review committee is being built from our advisory board, and this will be the deciding body.
How long will the research period be?
The research period will run for about 8-10 weeks between January and March, with some flexibility based on filmmaker’s commitments.
How many filmmakers will receive the grant?
3-5 filmmakers / filmmaking teams.
Can I still apply if I’ve already started research?
Yes, as long as you’re open to the potential that your film, story or characters may change direction if that’s where the research takes you.
Where should the money go?
Funds can be used to support your own time and costs during the research phase, as well as essential access costs e.g. travel and fees for archival materials. (Travel only when remote options aren’t available).
If your time is stretched, you could use part of the funding to hire support like a research assistant or producer.
Funds should not be spent on any type of production or shooting - bar certain exceptions (including undercover footage from research interviews to assess the characters, and/or for observing potential characters over an extended period of time). Most interviews should be held on Zoom/Meets, and only pick up a camera if it’s the only way to answer a research question.
Do I need to work full time on this?
Ideally, yes - although we understand everyone’s schedule is different. If you have other ongoing commitments, we recommend using part of the funding to hire a researcher or producer to assist you, to ensure that the grant funding and time is fully utilized.
Can I use AI?
Yes, but use it carefully! AI tools (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini etc) can help you research, translate information, or brainstorm ideas - but don’t rely on their answers, and always verify the information shared with you. We would advise against using AI to find characters, as stronger candidates will more often come to light through conversations, fieldwork, or archive work (since they will often not have a significant online presence or record).
What type of guidance will I get?
You’ll receive a research framework to follow for guidance. You’ll be asked to complete your research directly onto our Notion platform. There will be the option to allow access to advisers/mentors who can then view, comment and guide research. There will be 2–3 live Zoom sessions with research/strategy experts during the program, and 1:1 support with mentors.
What needs to be delivered at the end of the research period?
At the end of the 8-10 week research period, the filmmaker/filmmaking team will submit a concise research document. There are no obligations to produce a sizzle or shoot any production material.
At the end of your research you should come to one of two conclusions:
- 1️⃣ This story is a well thought out, well researched, unique and captivating story that is appropriate for the current market, has an audience, and has access to supporting materials and characters. This project is well positioned for any next stages of funding (e.g. development/sizzle), and will be better positioned for external programs and/or grants.
Or
- 2️⃣ This story is not as strong as I originally thought. It isn’t compelling enough and I don’t think it should move to production, or would be a good use of funds
You'll also research other films on similar topics to determine whether this ground has already been covered, whether those films succeeded, and if there's space for another version of this story, or whether you can use existing projects to your benefit.
This phase is also when you verify stories and facts, roughly calculate production costs (perhaps you've found four key characters across four different continents), and analyse the potential impact of your film and how that impact might be measured. All of this groundwork ensures that when you do move into production, you're making informed creative and financial decisions based on solid research rather than assumptions.
Research often requires travel to conduct investigations that can't be done online. You might need to visit a remote village to ask locals about a character who has no internet presence, or spend weeks speaking to dozens of people to gain access to crucial characters, archival footage, or materials. This phase involves watching through hours of archival content to verify the story exists in the material, and poring over documents, research papers, and transcripts to confirm there is substance to pursue. It's during this time that you analyze whether the story and characters you've found are strong enough to sustain a feature documentary and series.
Sometimes research even means following someone around for a few days with a camera to test whether what you think is there actually exists on film. Through this process, you understand all the nuances of your story, whether that's complex family dynamics or unexpected elements that could become central to your narrative. Research helps you figure out your audience and platform based on the story you're discovering, which in turn informs how you'll shoot during production.
Research is the crucial exploratory phase that takes place before you pick up a camera, offering a chance to discover what your project could truly become. This period allows you to find your characters, which might take weeks of locating candidates and conducting preliminary interviews with potential subjects and journalists. You may need to conduct dozens of conversations before discovering that one compelling character who will anchor your film. By building relationships and testing how people present on camera during this phase, you avoid the costly mistake of shooting formal interviews with people who ultimately won't work for your documentary!