We are currently accepting applications for the 2026 (Egg)celerator Lab. The application deadline is Tuesday, April 29, 2025 at 11:59pm ET.
Register for an informational webinar with our team on Thursday, April 3, at 11:00am ET. A recording of the webinar will be made available afterward.
This program supports nonfiction filmmakers or filmmaking teams working on their first or second feature-length documentary.
In this year-long program, filmmakers receive:
$40,000 USD in grant funding for the production of their feature-length film
Mentorship with Chicken & Egg Films team members
Two creative retreats focused on career building and creative development
Travel stipend for director and producer upon acceptance to a forum or market during program year
Tailored industry meetings and funder connections
Peer support from their cohort
(Egg)celerator Lab is generously supported by the National Endowment for the Arts, and through general operating support from our wonderful community of donors and grantmakers.
To reference all information about eligibility and the list of application questions, please download this Program & Application Guide.
ELIGIBILITY
Applicant Eligibility Filmmakers must meet the following criteria:
Identify as a woman or gender-expansive filmmaker. Co-directing teams, where one director is a woman or gender-expansive filmmaker, are also eligible. If a prospective applicant does not meet the targeted demographic criteria, we will accept and evaluate the application based on merit/strength of the proposed project.
Be directing their first or second feature-length (48 minutes or longer) documentary film (hybrid docs are eligible). See the FAQ for Chicken & Egg’s definitions of first-time and second-time directors.
Be based anywhere in the world, except for countries which are under comprehensive US sanctions. Further information about US sanctions can be found here.
Project Eligibility Projects must meet the following criteria:
Must be a documentary or nonfiction film (including hybrid docs).
Must be intended as a feature-length (48 minutes or longer) film.
Must be in early to mid-production at the time of applying. We recommend that you have between 10-60% of your anticipated footage shot by the date of application.
Must be independently produced.
You do not need a fiscal sponsor to apply for this program. However, if you are awarded, you must secure a US fiscal sponsor or be a 501(c)(3) to receive the funds. We can advise on this if granted.
For more details about eligibility, please review the full list of FAQs at the end of this page. If you have any additional questions regarding our open call, contact us at egglab_opencall@chickeneggfilms.org.
evaluation criteria
Priority will be given to films committed to creating social change and/or uplifting underrepresented stories that challenge mainstream narratives. We support a broad range of issues from the personal to the political that explore a variety of artistic approaches, such as personal, experimental, animated, essayistic, archival, and beyond.
Subject Matter and Positionality: The project explores compelling and clear subject matters, themes, and questions, with an awareness of their relevance to our current moment. The story and/or approach aligns with Chicken & Egg Films’ mission and challenges mainstream narratives, conversations, or perceptions. The director demonstrates critical thinking and reflects on their own perspective and biases regarding the subject matter and approach.
Story and Concept: The film features a clear and compelling narrative trajectory or concept, including character arcs where applicable. The director acknowledges the elements that remain unknown and outlines how they will address these gaps. They express a vision for weaving together various elements and arcs into a cohesive and engaging feature.
Artistic Approach: The project shows a distinct and compelling creative vision which conveys a confident directorial voice. The work sample reflects the intended story, style, subject matter, and other project elements. The sample evokes an emotional response and conveys a tone that enhances the storytelling, demonstrating strong use of visuals, sound, music, pacing, and editing.
Access and Accountability: The director articulates their access and connection to the story, its participants, and the community involved. They welcome and integrate community feedback and thoughtfully implement processes for accountability that consider physical, mental, cultural safety and beyond. Furthermore, the director reflects on the potential impacts and consequences of the filmmaking process on participants, audiences, crew, and other stakeholders during and after filming.
Feasibility: The application outlines realistic and appropriate activities and a timeline that aligns with the film’s concept and artistic vision. It includes a carefully considered fundraising plan, and the budget is appropriate, reflecting the needs of the proposed activities and timeline.
work samples
Current Work Sample
The current work sample should meet the following criteria:
Length: Should be 7-20 minutes of material from the project with which you are applying. We encourage you to not spend extra resources creating a brand new sample for this application if you already have one you have used to apply to other grants/programs. If your current sample is longer than the maximum length of 20 minutes, you can provide timecodes for the portion of the sample you would like reviewers to watch and that best reflects your intended style and approach.
Content: Can consist of a combination of the following:
2–3 scene selects/excerpts
character strands
trailer/teaser/sizzle reel
We are looking at your ability to construct a story, and so a trailer alone will not be eligible nor competitive.
Scenes/excerpts do not need to be in chronological order, so put your strongest material first and separate scenes with title cards. Reviewers are required to watch up to the first 10 minutes in the first round. Work samples will be viewed in full in subsequent rounds.
Prior Work Sample
The purpose of a prior work sample is to give us a sense of the director’s visual style, storytelling ability, ambition, and follow-through.
For first-time feature directors, the prior work sample is optional, but should meet these criteria:
It must be a documentary, fiction-nonfiction hybrid, or other form of nonfiction.
It can be a short or feature-length film, including web series, animation, or experimental.
You may submit a work sample from a separate project in which you held a prominent creative role in the production, such as Producer, A.D., cinematographer, or editor. If you are not the director, please specify your role in the creation of the completed work submitted. Note that samples of work directed by you are strongly preferred over samples of work where you held a prominent role but did not participate as director or co-director.
Fiction work, music videos, commercial work, and PSAs are not accepted as prior work samples.
Second-time feature directors must submit their first feature-length documentary film that they directed or co-directed as their prior work sample.
APPLICATION
The majority of the questions are based on the Nonfiction Core Application 2.0 with some supplemental questions included. Please note that a new version of the Nonfiction Core Application 3.0 was released in February 2025. However our open call is still based on the Nonfiction Core Application 2.0 (v.2022) to allow applicants more time to familiarize themselves with the 3.0 version.
Ready to apply?
Step 1: Review the Program & Application Guide.
Step 2: Confirm your eligibility. You must first fill out the pre-application form to confirm you are eligible for the grant. If eligible, you will receive an email with your account login information and the link to the application platform.
Step 3: Submit application. You must submit your application via the platform no later than Tuesday, April 29, 2025 at 11:59 PM EST. Late applications will not be accepted for any reason.
Have questions? Register for the informational webinar with our team on April 3.
Accessibility Request: If you require technical assistance to navigate the application platform due to a disability, please contact egglab_opencall@chickeneggfilms.org. We kindly ask that you make your request for assistance as soon as possible, and no later than Monday, April 7, 2025.
March 18, 2025 | 2026 (Egg)celerator Lab application opens |
April 29, 2025, at 11:59pm ET | 2026 (Egg)celerator Lab application deadline |
May - October 2025 | Chicken & Egg Films reviews applications in a three-round process |
October 2025 | Chicken & Egg Films interviews finalists |
November 2025 | Applicants are notified of their application status |
January 2026 | (Egg)celerator Lab program year begins with first cohort check-in call |
January - March 2026 | Grants disbursed |
February/ March 2026 | Spring Retreat (5 days, in-person - all costs covered by Chicken & Egg Films) |
July 2026 | Summer Retreat (5 days, in-person - all costs covered by Chicken & Egg Films) |
Please note, the program timeline may be subject to change, and any changes will be communicated in November upon acceptance into the program.
The program includes regular one-on-one calls with our team. Each of the projects will also receive individualized industry strategy consultations and mentorship.
FAQ
Grants are $40,000 for each selected film. The grants will be disbursed in installments throughout the program.
Yes. For this application, the questions are in alignment with the 2.0 version (v.2022) of the proposal checklist. Our hope is that your responses to these questions will result in material that may be used for other applications as well.
You cannot apply with the same project for both the Research & Development Grant and the (Egg)celerator Lab in the same year. We will disqualify your (Egg)celerator Lab application without review if you have also applied for the R&D grant with the same project in the same year. These opportunities fund different stages of a project.
Please only apply with the one project that you feel is the best fit for Chicken & Egg Films. Read our guidelines and look at past films we have supported through the (Egg)celerator Lab to get an idea of our interests. If you really cannot choose between two projects, you can email us at egglab_opencall@chickeneggfilms.org with a short description of both films and ask for our advice. This advice will not impact your application.
Filmmakers who have already received support on their first feature-length documentary through the (Egg)celerator Lab are not eligible to apply to the Lab with their second feature-length documentary project.
If the project was funded through an 2023 or 2024 R&D grant, you can apply to the (Egg)celerator Lab as long as this is still your second feature-length documentary. This is the only instance in which you may apply to the (Egg)celerator Lab with a project that was previously supported by Chicken & Egg Films.
A first-time director has never completed a feature-length documentary film and is currently working on their first feature-length documentary/nonfiction film.
A second-time director has already completed and premiered one feature-length documentary film and is currently working on their second feature-length documentary film. If a director has completed and premiered one feature-length documentary film and currently has one or more works-in-progress, the project they submit will still be considered their second feature as long as it has not been completed or premiered.
You are still considered a first- or second-time director, even if you have the following experience: you have directed multiple shorts or a web series; you have directed feature-length narrative film(s); you have produced feature-length documentary film(s).
Co-directing teams with one first- or second-time co-director and one more experienced co-director are allowed to apply. Please note that the first-or second-time director must also meet the Applicant Eligibility criteria listed above. The prior work sample must be representative of the less experienced filmmaker’s experience.
You cannot apply with a film project that you are currently developing in an undergraduate or graduate program. However, if you started a film during a program, and are now independently working on the project, we can consider your film for the Lab.
If the director is a first- or second-time filmmaker, and the project has still not shot more than 60% of its anticipated footage, past applicants may apply again. We urge you to consider how your project has evolved since your last submission and to clearly state how that progress is evident in both your proposal and current work sample.
As a general guideline, we recommend that if you have between 10%-60% of anticipated footage for your film shot, you are in a sweet spot to apply. If you are still in development/pre-production, then the story and sample you submit will likely not be as competitive within the application pool. Similarly, if you are in late production, you may be looking to finish and premiere before the program year begins. If you are aiming to reach the rough cut stage by the end of 2025 or by the first quarter of 2026, your project is most likely too advanced.
Only projects in production are eligible to apply because we want to ensure that we have the greatest opportunity possible to make an impact on the production of the project and on the development of the director’s career during the program year. That said, we understand production timelines are dependent on many factors and may change from what you indicate in your application.
As a 501(c)(3), Chicken & Egg Films is not able to support films or projects relating to influencing, directly or indirectly, a political campaign for public office in the US or internationally, regardless of the timing of the release of the film.
If you are unsure about your film’s eligibility based on the above, you can email us at egglab_opencall@chickeneggfilms.org with a description of your film project.
Yes.
Projects in the early production stage are eligible. At least 10% of shot material is required. No matter what stage of the project, filmmakers are required to submit at least seven minutes of edited footage to apply. Second-time directors must submit a previous work sample.
Yes. The standard credit we’ll request from grantees in the (Egg)celerator Lab will be “In Association with Chicken & Egg Films.”
Due to our limited staff capacity, we cannot provide one-on-one feedback to all applicants. We do provide some feedback for those whose projects are shortlisted. Chicken & Egg Films believes wholeheartedly in the importance of feedback and is constantly searching for ways to offer more support to all our applicants.
For any questions not addressed on this page, you can email us at egglab_opencall@chickeneggfilms.org.