The Davey Foundation’s Short Film Grants Program awards $5,000 cash grants to help emerging filmmakers take their short film script through production and to screens around the world.

The Davey Foundation’s grant-winning shorts have screened at prominent festivals around the world, including Sundance, SXSW, and Tribeca, and have spurred the film careers of writers/directors, like Laura Moss ("Fry Day"), Lauren Wolkstein ("Beemus, It'll End in Tears," part of collective:unconscious), A. Stephen Lee ("The Sound of Coins Hitting Brass"), and Luis Fernando Puente ("I Have No Tears, and I Must Cry"). Davey Grant-supported films have been nominated for and won awards, like Nick Dixon's Emmy for "Mine" and Vika Evdokimenko's BAFTA nomination for "Aamir."

Davey Grant recipients are also provided mentorship from established filmmakers, like Dustin Defa ("Person to Person," Sundance) and Kenny Riches ("The Strongest Man," Sundance). All grant-supported filmmakers will also be invited to attend the Davey Fest short film festival in Salt Lake City, where their films will be screened alongside other stand-out shorts from their fellow grantees and the local film community.

Previous grantees include Ben Kegan, Lauren Wolkstein, Ted Schaefer, A. Stephen Lee, Nick Dixon, Vika Evdokimenko, Laura Moss, Curtis Whitear, Davey Morrison Dillard, Jackson Segars, Celine Held & Logan George, Jamil Munoz, Lauren Smitelli, Zack Bornstein, Haley Anderson, Nora Kirkpatrick, Colten Ashley, Terrance Daye, Ryan Craver, Molly Gillis, Patrick Foley, Isaac Cole, Shawn Francis Saunders, Alexander Woods, Adam Conversano, Grant Conversano, Katie Mathews, Gia-Rayne Harris, Joshua Nathan, and Luis Fernando Puente.

Previous guest filmmaker jurors include Dustin Guy Defa, Kenny Riches, David & Nathan Zellner, Sean Baker, Amy Seimetz & Bernardo Britto, Sophia Takal, Adam Salky, Janicza Bravo, Erin Vassilopoulos, and Andrew Hevia.

The Davey Foundation was created in 2013 in memory of writer, actor, director, and producer David Fetzer following his death at the age of 30. To date, 26 short film grants and eight theater grants have been awarded by the foundation. The Davey Foundation supports emerging filmmakers through grant funding, equipment lending, screening opportunities, and mentorship with established filmmakers.

For more information about The Davey Foundation, visit daveyfilm.org. ​

There are two grant categories: National (United States) and Utah.

Only scripts are accepted and judged. Completed films are not eligible. Three National (US) grantees will receive $5,000 cash and mentorship.

One Utah grantee (narrative and documentary film submissions accepted) will receive $5,000 cash and mentorship.

Scripts should not exceed 16 pages.

You must provide a synopsis of your film.

You must provide the film's budget, including pre-production, filming, and post-production costs. To attach files, go to My Projects, then Project File. On that page you can scroll down to Files & Attachments/Add file.

Present a detailed timeline that will allow your project to be completed for a screening at Davey Fest in June 2025. Filming should not begin before awards are selected.

Provide the names and contact information for three individuals who can vouch for your artistic vision and your ability to dedicate yourself to a project and see it to its conclusion.

If you are submitting a documentary project for the Utah grant, please provide a logline, story synopsis, topic summary, artistic approach, project stage, and timeline, but no script is necessary.

Grantees will be required to attend the screening of their film at Davey Fest in June 2025. A travel and lodging stipend will be provided.