This program supports filmmakers who are in the research or development phase of their feature documentary.
Launched in 2023 with support from Netflix, the Chicken & Egg Films Research & Development Grant provides financial support to directors during research and development, filmmaking phases that are too often unpaid and unsupported. Many filmmakers invest their personal resources to get their projects off the ground because it is hard to secure funding without significant sample material. Yet, producing material without external funding can be almost impossible. Our grant addresses this “chicken or egg” challenge.
A total of $450,000 USD is awarded in the following grant amounts:
$10,000 USD grants for Research
$20,000 USD grants for Development
The 2024 Chicken & Egg Films Research & Development Grant is generously supported by the Netflix Fund for Creative Equity.
2024 R&D Grant Recipients
Our most recent cohort is listed below. More details can also be found here in our announcement published August 26, 2024.
2024 Research Grant Recipients
1. Assia Boundaoui (dir.) - US, Algeria
2. Leola Calzolai-Stewart (dir.) - US
3. Ali Grant (dir.) - Canada
4. Hazel Gurland-Pooler (dir.) - US, Colombia
5. Sini Hormio & Anu Silfverberg (dirs.) - Finland
6. Minji Ma (dir.) - South Korea
7. Nadina Marquisio (dir.) - Argentina
8. Anushka Meenakshi & Richa Chandru Bhavanam (dirs.) - India
9. Jennifer Ngo (dir.) - Hong Kong
10. Jules Rosskam & Irene Lusztig (dirs.) - US
11. Sonia Ben Slama (dir.) - France, Tunisia
12. Angela Tucker (dir.) - US
13. Elizabeth Lo (dir.) - US, Hong Kong
2024 Development Grant Recipients
1. Sahra Mani (dir.) - Afghanistan, France (Dream of Grape Gardens)
2. Rand Beiruty (dir.) - Jordan (Portrait of A)
3. Michèle Stephenson (dir.) - US, Haiti (Oshun and My Grandmother: A Fable In Four Movements)
4. Sumie García (dir.) - Mexico (Maps of Post-truth)
5. Nico Opper (dir.) - US (Untitled Alexandra Billings Project)
6. Francesca Trianni (dir.) - Italy (Untitled Predator Project)
7. Rintu Thomas & Sushmit Ghosh (dirs.) - India (The Untitled Memory Project)
8. Jialing Zhang (dir.) - US (Dreams*)
9. Georgina Cammalleri (dir.) - Argentina, UK (Olympic Twins*)
10. Jane M. Wagner (dir.) - US (*holds you tight*)
11. Zippy Kimundu (dir.) - Kenya, Ireland (The White Doctor)
12. Inna Sahakyan (dir.) - US, Armenia (The Judge and the Dictator*)
13. Alexa Bakony (dir.) Hungary - (Highways of Hope*)
14. Alyx Duncan & Briar March (dirs.) - New Zealand (Memento Mori)
15. Anabel Rodríguez Ríos (dir.) - Venezuela (The Journey to Santa Rosa de Amanadona)
16. Carola Fuentes (dir.) - Chile (Untitled Chilean Documentary)
*Working title
2023 R&D Grant Recipients
Read about our 2023 cohort here.
guiding principles
Trust: This grant initiative is driven by our trust in filmmakers with an established track record. We trust that applicants will make the best determination about which stage to apply to based on the information presented below.
Simplicity: We aim to keep the application as simple as possible so that filmmakers are not burdened by the process.
Deep listening: This grant emerged from listening to a wide range of stakeholders including filmmakers and field representatives during our 2023-2025 Strategic Planning process. Filmmakers shared a desire for financial support to be allocated where they see the greatest need, as well as time and space to think, research, and develop new ideas.
ELIGIBILITY
You may only submit one application per cycle. If you have more than one eligible project, you must submit only one for consideration. You may apply for either the Research Grant or Development Grant, but not both.
Applicant Eligibility Filmmakers must meet the following criteria:
Identify as a woman or gender-expansive filmmaker.
Have directed at least one feature-length documentary, which is defined as an independently produced film that is at least 48 minutes in length.
Be based anywhere in the world (except for countries under comprehensive US sanctions).
Project Eligibility Projects must meet the following criteria:
Must be a documentary or nonfiction film (including hybrid docs).
Must be feature-length (48 minutes or more).
Must be in the research or development stage.
Must be independently produced. Works-for-hire are not eligible, and student films produced in an undergraduate or graduate program are also not eligible.
You do not need a fiscal sponsor to apply for the Research & Development Grant. However, if you are awarded, you must have a US fiscal sponsor, or be a 501(c)(3), to receive the funds.
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.
Idea: The proposal is clear, focused, and compelling.
Directorial Vision: The director’s prior work shows a clear creative voice.
Positionality: The director clearly articulates their connection to the story.
Ability to Execute: The project idea and planned activities are feasible in terms of scope and timeline, and the grant will have an impact on advancing the project.
APPLICATION
The 2025 Research & Development Grant open call will be announced in late 2024. Please subscribe to our newsletter for updates.
The majority of the questions are based on the Nonfiction Core Application 2.0, with a few additional questions included. The applications for the Research Grant and Development Grant are not the same. The Development Grant application asks an additional set of questions to collect more detailed information about the project.
December 2024 | 2025 Research & Development Grant Open Call launches |
February 4, 2025 | 2025 Research & Development application deadline |
February - May 2025 | Chicken & Egg Films reviews applications in a two-round process |
June 2025 | All applicants are notified of final decisions Grants disbursed |
August 2025 | Grant recipients are publicly announced |
January 2026 | 6 month check-in with grantees regarding status of their projects |
FAQ
Women and gender-expansive filmmakers who are in the research and/or development stage of a new project are eligible to apply. They must have directed at least one completed feature-length film (48 minutes or longer). Co-directing teams, where one director is a woman or gender-expansive filmmaker, are also eligible. In this case, please note that the primary contact of the application should be the woman or gender-expansive director.
We separate the Research Grant from the Development Grant in order to support projects in the earliest stages of creation without requiring all the deliverables necessary for projects in the development phase. However, we recognize that the line between the research and development stage can be open to interpretation. To assist applicants in determining which grant to apply for, we have provided definitions and core activities on the R&D program page.
A total of $450,000 will be disbursed in grants. $10,000 grants will be awarded for research and $20,000 grants will be awarded for development. The final number of Research Grants and Development Grants awarded will be determined during the selection process based on the applicant pool for each category.
If you received R&D support for a project through another program (such as a prior R&D grant, Chicken & Egg Award, or Critical Issues Fund), you are not eligible to apply for this grant with that same project. You are eligible to apply with a new project.
No, you cannot receive both Research and Development grants for the same project.
No. This grant is for those who intend to direct a feature-length documentary (48 minutes or more).