2026 BTTL GRANT APPLICATION
Our $10,000 Action Grant is open to Directors worldwide who identify as women or apart of the LGBTQIA+ community.
We are now accepting projects from: Live Action, Non-Fiction, Animation and Immersive.
APPLY NOW
Turning Vision into Action
Applicants must demonstrate how the grant funding will allow you to advance in a critical area of development – be it casting, location scouting, hiring crew or shooting a scene. There are no limits, as long as the action taken moves the needle on your project.
This is about finding films with strong artistic merit and a bold original vision, ready to go into production within a year.
The Action Grant Finalists will become apart of our 2026 Cohort, receiving 1:1 mentorship, tailored introductions and and travel support to attend an Investor Showcase at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival.
Note: In the case of non-fiction and immersive categories, we accept projects that have begun production and are seeking finishing funds.
What Applicants Get
Our 2026 Official Jury
Each year, a selection of top industry professionals come together to form the Official Jury of Breaking Through The Lens. Our Jury serve as mentors and advisors to our finalist filmmakers.
Materials to Prepare for Upload
- Top sheet budget for entire project, with €10,000 Grant expenditure lines clearly marked – equivalent local currency accepted – PDF or .XLSX files only
- Production Timeline: overview of your target production and completion dates.
- Visual Treatment: a creative document that illustrates the Director's vision. Essentially a visual blueprint for the movie (may include artistic references, characters, cinematography, locations) - PDF files only
- Full Script: in original language OR detailed beat sheet in the case of documentaries - PDF files only (if a Non-English language narrative film, please also upload the first 10-pages of the script in English).
Guidelines and Eligibility
Team
- Project must have both a Director and a Producer, each 18+ years old.
- Director must identify as a woman or part of the LGBTQIA+ community.
- Producer must have completed a feature film or documentary with distribution (any gender).
- Lead Applicant can be either Director or Producer.
- Key Team Agreements must be in place (Director/Producer). If a core member changes after acceptance, the Jury will re-evaluate the project.
- BTTL does not grant to individuals.
- If selected, the grant must be accepted through a production company or fiscal sponsor.
- Projects may apply without a company, but must confirm one before receiving funds.
Project
- Projects are welcome from any country.
- Accepted formats: Live Action, Non-Fiction, Hybrid, Immersive.
- Projects must be in development or early pre-production, with runtime of 45+ mins.
- Exceptions: Non-Fiction & Immersive projects may already be in production if seeking finishing funds.
Requirements
- Budget: Submit a top sheet budget (local currency allowed, grant line items must equal €10,000).
- Script: Must be strong and finished.
- Language:
- Application must be written in English.
- Non-English films: submit first 10 script pages in English + full script in native language.
- Documentaries: provide a detailed beat sheet.
Experience
- Applicants must own copyright and maintain artistic, budgetary, and editorial control.
- Must have previous film/TV production experience (director, co-director, producer, co-producer).
- If lacking direct experience, applicants must show collaboration with experienced key creative personnel.
What to Expect
Submissions
BTTL Applications close at 5 p.m. PST on the grant deadline, with no extensions allowed. Submit early and report any technical issues right away for assistance.
Review
Applications go through multiple review rounds by an independent committee before reaching the Jury. Applicants may be contacted for additional project details during this process.
Notification
Shortlisted applicants are notified by email in early November and proceed to a video interview. The winner is announced at Sundance and joins the 2026 BTTL cohort; no individual feedback is provided.
Grant Distribution
Upon acceptance, winners must provide a final budget for approval. They will also sign a Filmmaker Action Grant Agreement with BTTL through their designated company. Grant funds are distributed within 30 days of signing.
FAQS
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Top sheet budget for entire project, with $10,000 Grant expenditure lines clearly marked – equivalent local currency accepted – PDF or .XLSX files only
Production Timeline: overview of your target production and completion dates.
Visual Treatment: a creative document that illustrates the Director's vision. Essentially a visual blueprint for the movie (may include artistic references, characters, cinematography, locations) - PDF files only
Full Script: in original language OR detailed beat sheet in the case of documentaries - PDF files only (if a Non-English language narrative film, please also upload the first 10-pages of the script in English).
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No later than November 5th, 2025
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As a small non-profit with a volunteer team, the application fee helps us power BTTL's mission. However, as filmmakers ourselves, we understand that these fees can add up. That's why we give every applicant FREE access to our 2025 Workshops + a discount code to join our year-round 2026 training. Applying for this Grant puts your project into consideration for our 2026 BTTL Cohort, which provides filmmakers the opportunity to pitch in front of leading investors and sales agents at the Cannes Film Festival. If selected, we will provide a travel grant to attend the festival, and you will gain private 1:1 coaching and industry mentorship. We guarantee that all application revenue goes directly towards running our program and the submission review process.
If you still have questions, kindly email us with "Grant Application + the full title of your project" in the subject line. We are a small team and will do our best to respond in a timely manner, with limited capacity to reply during peak application periods. Applicants needing application assistance to accommodate a disability may request support at any stage in the process. To request reasonable assistance or any inquiry, contact info@breakingthroughthelens.com.
Choose Your Application Type
Application Only
Includes access to 2025 workshop recordings
- Early Bird Application Fee – $29.99 (ends June 17th)
- Regular Application Fee – $39.99 (ends September 1st)
- Late Application Fee – $59.99 (ends October 7th)
Become a BTTL Member
For a one-time fee of $99.99 you will receive:
- Waiver code to join ALL 2026 Virtual Workshops (5 confirmed: festival strategy, film finance, new distribution strategies, AI technologies and IP)
- Application discount code for all 2026 Grant Opportunities.
- New Membership portal (launching Dec 2025) where you can network with fellow filmmakers, attend industry roundtables and meet new investors.
- Discounted 1:1 Coaching with our mentors.
- Budget, finance plan and investor contract templates
- VIP invitation to BTTL events at major festivals.
- Access to our Fiscal Sponsorship Program (low 3% fee)
Get Involve
We are planning to expand Breaking Through The Lens to other major festivals around the world and to create a supportive network for women through every stage of making their feature films. Find out how you can join us on this journey.
ATTEND our EVENTs
Our events are strictly invite only. However, we will evaluate individual requests on a case by case basis. Please include your company affiliation.
STAY INFORMED
Applications for our next BTTL Action Grant are now closed. The shortlist will be announced November 1st.
JOIN THE MOVEMENT
Whether you are a sponsor, filmmaker, industry or volunteer, we would love to hear from you. We are always looking for new collaborators to grow our initiative.
