The San Francisco Film Commission Film Space (SFFCFS) grant

The San Francisco Film Commission Film Space (SFFCFS) grant provides financial help to nonprofits. The grant helps independent filmmakers and increases film production activities in San Francisco.

Film SF Space Grant application banner

About the grant

This grant provides:

  • Low-cost office and film production space
  • Industry mentorship
  • Curated professional development programming

The current grantee for FY19-20 and FY20-21 is SFFILM’s FilmHouse Residency Program. The current grant period ended June 30, 2021.

Grant Amount: $48,000
The grant funds may be awarded to one applicant or may be split between two or more applicants, as determined by the Film Commission.

Application Deadline: CURRENTLY CLOSED

Grant Period: July 1, 2021 – June 30, 2023

For more information about the grant and requirements, download the application here.

Eligibility requirements

  • Applicant's mission focuses on the development and production of film in San Francisco through support and education of individual filmmakers.

  • Tax-exempt organization. All applicants must be tax exempt charitable organizations under Section 501(c)(3) of the internal revenue code. 

  • Applicant’s headquarters and primary operations must be in San Francisco.

  • The filmmakers supported by the Applicant must be actively engaged in a film, video, television or other moving image project in any genre and in any stage of production -- from screenwriting to strategizing the project’s exhibition, distribution and outreach plan.

  • At least one of the filmmakers supported by the Applicant must be working on a film which will shoot 55% of its shoot days in San Francisco.

  • At least two of the filmmakers who would be supported by the grant must be residents of San Francisco.

  • Applicant has expertise in creating professional development programming and providing industry mentorship to filmmakers and is a continuing and stable presence in the film community.

  • Applicant has a continuing existence and has had ongoing operations for a minimum of two years.

  • Applicants must demonstrate that they own or are leasing a facility suitable for ongoing use by five or more filmmakers (the "subgrantee filmmakers") for film office and film production activities (“Qualified Film Space”) per fiscal year* and that such ownership or lease will continue for at least two years.  Use of space must be provided to each filmmaker for a minimum of 12 months per fiscal year.

  • While physical space is required for the grant, working remotely is acceptable, if need be, in order to comply with local or state health orders.

Last updated October 19, 2022

Department

Film SF