Application Deadline: October 9, 2026
About the Fund
The Frameline Completion Fund supports film and video projects that contribute to the visibility and representation of LGBTQ+ people and their communities. Since its inception in 1991, the fund has awarded over $717,500 to 203 projects, helping filmmakers complete works that reflect LGBTQ+ life in all its complexity and richness. The program is intended specifically for filmmakers who have already developed their projects to a substantial stage but need additional resources to complete the work. Supported projects can be of different formats, lengths, genres, and styles, provided they focus on LGBTQ+ people or communities. In 2026, the fund supported six films, including Adam’s Apple, Barbara Forever, But Still, We Move, Hunky Jesus, Jaripeo and Lady Champagne.
Eligibility Requirements
The fund is open to filmmakers working on eligible LGBTQ+-focused projects.
Project Requirements:
- Only applications that provide a full working cut of the film will be considered. Temporary sound, color, or visual effects are allowed, but projects without a rough cut will not be considered.
- Grants are given for completion only, so 90% of production must be finished. If you aren’t in the post-production phase, you must be ready to begin post-production as soon as funding is in place.
- Projects must be about LGBTQ+ people and their communities.
- Grants are given to projects in any film/video format, of any length, genre, or nationality. Short films are fully eligible.
- International productions are accepted, and there is no application fee.
Applicant Requirements
- Grants are only given to individuals with creative and financial control of the project. In the case of collaboration, a sole project director must be designated as the applicant.
- Student projects are eligible as long as the student maintains artistic and financial control.
- Members of the Frameline staff and/or Frameline Board of Directors are ineligible.
- Frameline encourages submissions from women, people of color, transgender people, intersex people, asexual people, nonbinary people, disabled people, and other underrepresented communities.
Funding Benefits
Selected filmmakers can receive up to $5,000 through the Frameline Completion Fund. Grant funds may be used for post-production costs, including editing, special effects and graphics, music licensing, photo licensing, closed captioning, and audio description. The standard grant range is $1,000 to $5,000, although the jury may recommend an amount above or below that range.
Why This Fund Matters
The Frameline Completion Fund fills a critical gap for LGBTQ+ filmmakers who have nearly completed their projects but lack the resources to finish them. As federal funding for arts organizations continues to disappear, the fund remains one of the few dedicated sources of finishing finance for queer cinema. Past recipients include landmark films such as The Watermelon Woman, Go Fish, Pariah, Disclosure: Trans Lives on Screen, Lingua Franca, Chavela, Freeheld, and We Were Here. For short filmmakers, the fund is particularly accessible, as there is no minimum or maximum runtime requirement.
Application Process
The submission window for the 2027 Frameline Completion Fund opens in late August 2026. Applications are accepted online and are free to submit. Applicants must provide a full working cut of their film, as well as information about the project’s completion status. For international submissions, the proposal must be submitted in English and the rough cut must either be in English or have an English subtitle option. Notifications to successful applicants will be sent by mid-January 2027.
How to Apply
Click here to apply
For More Information: Visit the official Frameline Completion Fund page on the Frameline website.
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