Applications Open March 11, 2026
Miami Dade College’s Miami Film Festival, in partnership with ArtesMiami, is proud to announce the launch of the Miami Film Fund, a new initiative that will award a total of $15,000 in grants to filmmakers with ties to Miami and its Cuban-American community. Sponsored by ArtesMiami, the fund will distribute grants through the Coral Gables Community Foundation during its inaugural year to celebrate and elevate cinematic storytelling connected to the Miami community.
“Miami Film Festival is thrilled to provide this new funding source for filmmakers, which further supports our mission of championing filmmakers at every stage of their careers,” said James Woolley, the festival’s Executive Director. “By supporting creators, we ensure that Miami remains a world-class hub for storytelling and filmmaking.”
Aida Levitan, Ph.D., President and Founder of ArtesMiami, said, “Our board created the Miami Film Fund and partnered with the Miami Film Festival as our contribution to the development of Miami as an international film center. We want the entire community to own it and to help us grow the fund to at least $1 million in the next five years.”
Created to strengthen Miami’s growing film industry, the Miami Film Fund is designed to fuel projects in the stage of post-production, while spotlighting stories that reflect the city’s rich cultural fabric and global reach.
In its first year, three grants of $5,000 each will be awarded across the following categories:
- Cuban-American Filmmaker ($5,000): Open to filmmakers from anywhere in the world creating films about Cuban-Americans (especially those in Miami), or Miami-based Cuban-American filmmakers working on any subject.
- Miami Filmmaker ($5,000): Awarded to local creators working on any topic.
- Miami-Filmed Production ($5,000): Awarded to non-Miami filmmakers who filmed more than 50% of their production in Miami.
Grant recipients will be selected by a panel of industry professionals and community leaders, with an emphasis on artistic merit, cultural impact and meaningful ties to Miami.
Applications open March 11, 2026, coinciding with the Miami Film Festival’s 2026 program reveal event. The deadline to apply is April 19, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Winners will be announced in May 2026 and will have their films showcased as official selections at either the 2027 or 2028 Miami Film Festival.
Filmmakers whose films are in post-production can apply at www.miamifilmfestival.com/miami-film-fund.com.
Support the Miami Film Fund: The Fund is open to any donor who wants to give back to the filmmaking community. Funds donated go directly to Miami filmmakers, with a call for entries made annually. Please make your donation here.