The New York City Film Production Grant, offered by the Jerome Foundation, supports early-career film directors based in New York City who are pursuing bold, creative, and experimental approaches to filmmaking. The grant provides production support of up to $30,000 for projects that demonstrate innovative storytelling, artistic risk-taking, and a strong personal vision. The program seeks filmmakers whose work reimagines or challenges traditional filmmaking structures and who are deeply connected to their communities and collaborators.

Applications for the 2025 grant cycle open on January 6, 2025, and must be submitted by Thursday, April 3, 2025, before 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Notification of award decisions will be made no later than October 20, 2025, with a public announcement following in Fall 2025. Grantees will receive their funding between November 13, 2025, and April 2027. Late submissions will not be accepted under any circumstances.

The program includes several opportunities for applicants to engage with Jerome Foundation staff and receive guidance. An informational webinar was held on January 21, 2025, followed by an application workshop on February 4, and a live Q&A session on March 18. The last date for an eligibility review with staff was March 28, 2025, and phone appointments for application questions were available through April 2.

To qualify, applicants must be based in New York City and be early-career filmmakers. A detailed program and application guide is available, with application questions beginning on page 18 of that document. Although the eligibility specifics (such as what qualifies someone as an “early-career” filmmaker) are not included in this summary, they are presumably outlined in the full guide.

The Jerome Foundation, headquartered in St. Paul, Minnesota, administers this grant as part of its commitment to investing in individual artists who challenge and expand the boundaries of their disciplines while engaging with the communities they represent and work within.