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The next grant application period will open on January 15th, 2026 and close on February 27th, 2026.

The grant is open to "emerging" and early-career documentary filmmakers. Filmmakers must live and maintain a primary residence in New Mexico. Eligible filmmakers must be a key creative member of the production (either writer, director, or producer credit).

No, there is no age requirement. Applicants of any age are welcome to apply as long as they meet the ‘emerging/early-career’ criteria.

We have deliberately left this aspect of eligibility open to applicant’s interpretation. However, the grant aims to cultivate filmmaking talent of those in the beginning stages of their filmmaking career. In contrast, applicants who have produced numerous widely-distributed films and who are already established in an above-the-line roll within the film-industry writ large would not fall into this category.

It is incumbent on the applicant to show how one meets this criteria and how the funding and grant programming will both allow their project to come to fruition and benefit one’s career or creative trajectory.

Yes. NMDIG is open to funding projects of any subject matter as long as the film’s content or story is based or grounded in New Mexico. Additionally, preference is given to projects that address community issues and challenges specific to New Mexico and that are of cultural and social significance to the state.

Yes. Applicants in any phase of production (Research, Pre-Production, Principle Photography, or Post-Production) are welcome to apply as long as the project is fully completed and ready to be screened within 6 months from notice of acceptance.

Filmmakers are welcome to apply during as many funding cycles as they like. Past grantees will no longer be considered as preference is given to those who have not been awarded grant funding and could benefit from the grant programming.

We plan to fund between 6 and 8 projects.

The maximum grant per film project is $4,000. Funding will be based on actual project requirements. We plan to fund between 6 and 8 projects.

Applicants may request up to $4,000 in funding for their projects; however, this is not required. It is suggested that applicants request only as much funding as they need and to have this reflected in their budget proposals. In the event the jury proposes funding a portion of a requested amount, the remainder must be raised from alternative sources by the filmmaker or production.

Filmmakers MUST complete their projects within six months from their acceptance of the grant.

Within the six-month timeframe, filmmakers are expected to participate in several in person events (orientation meeting, first rough-cut screening and critique, a second progress screening, as well as public screenings and interviews upon completion of the projects). Full participation and meeting of deadlines is required. Filmmakers who cannot meet these requirements are encouraged not to apply.

Full program participation is required of accepted applicants. This includes regular in person (or Zoom) progress review meetings, critiques of rough cuts with jury members, and public screenings of the final films with Q&A from members of the public. Applicants who either cannot or are uninterested in full participation in the program will not be considered.

Applicants workings on a feature length documentary may still apply; however, filmmakers must be willing to fully participate in the program and produce an abbreviated cut of the film (5-20 minutes) that they are willing to screen and promote within a 6 month timeframe. Applicants working toward a feature length film must show in their application materials how the funding would make a significant contribution to the success of the overall film. 

NMDIG’s aim is to support and grow the talent of individual early-career filmmakers rather than creative collectives, production teams, and groups of creatives. In very select circumstances the grant has supported individual filmmakers who had partnered with filmmaking organizations or production companies but the applicant retained the creative role in the production and was the driving force in the project.  By and large the grant endeavors to support to careers and creative visions of individuals not organizations, LLCs, non-for-profits, or collective filmmaking enterprises.

The grants may be used for any expense related to the production and distribution of the film.
Typical examples include: Research & Scouting Expenses, Equipment Rentals or Purchases, Travel Costs, Transportation or Meals, Hiring Crew or Talent, Paying Oneself, Festival Entrance fees, etc. All applicants must produce a budget showing how prospective NMDIG funding will be used, and awardees must report how the grant funding was used.

At the end of the six months, grantees are required to submit a .mp4 final cut of their film that is screen-ready for public showing as well as a URL link that is hosted online to the same cut (YouTube, Vimeo, GoogleDrive, etc.). We also require the submission of a short 30-60 second trailer that may be used for promotional purposes.

The Application Guidelines where you will find in depth application criteria can be found here as well as on the Apply page of this website.