2026 Coexistence
Documentary Fund
Status: Open Now
Spring Cycle Deadline: March 16th, 2026
Notification Date: Mid April
Research Grant: $8,000 ($4,000 for shorts)
Development Grant: $15,000 ($7,000 for shorts)
Apply Here
About the Fund:
We believe that the way we treat other species is the defining moral and structural question of our time.
The Who Let The Docs Out ‘Coexistence Documentary Fund’ was founded to support artist-driven, cinematic non-fiction that examines the ethical stakes of using animals in modern society.
We view interspecies justice not as a niche interest, but as a critical lens through which to examine economics, culture, health, and history.
Our mission is to support a new wave of storytelling that exposes the invisible architecture of our reliance on animals. We support filmmakers who are ready to take creative risks, combining rigorous journalistic inquiry with cinematic language to reach mainstream audiences and transform public awareness.
What we support
We are seeking non-fiction, feature-length films, episodic content and shorts that move beyond simple exposure, to analyze the ethical stakes of using animals in modern society.
Focus Areas:
To be competitive, projects should explore our reliance on modern industries that use animal life and/or the resulting consequences for animals, environmental stability, or human health. We are particularly interested in:
Public Health: The impact of agricultural industries and consumption patterns on human health and wellbeing.
Industrial Systems: The animal and environmental cost of animal agriculture.
Global Supply Chains & Research: Animal-derived material global supply chains and animal testing.
Intersectionality: Stories that reveal how animal exploitation is inextricably linked to human labor rights, environmental racism, and the climate crisis.
Artistic Approach: Cinema First
We fund films, not just information. We are looking for:
Narrative Ambition: Character-driven stories with conflict, resolution, and emotional depth.
Visual Language: A distinct cinematic vision that elevates the storytelling beyond reportage.
Mainstream Viability: Projects with the potential to compete at top-tier festivals, on major streaming platforms/broadcasters, and/or reach wide audiences.
Funding Categories & Grant Amounts
Who Let The Docs Out offers funding for different stages of production. Applicants may apply for one grant type per cycle.
Research Grant (Features $8,000) (Shorts $4,000)
Funding to support the earliest phase of a project. This grant is designed to help you find your story - funding travel for casting, archival research, or preliminary shooting to test a hypothesis.
Goal: To produce a treatment or deck that proves the story's viability.
Development / Sizzle Grant ($15,000) (Shorts $7,000)
Funding for projects with a secured story that need to create the materials to sell it. This grant supports the creation of a "sizzle reel" (proof-of-concept trailer) and a comprehensive pitch deck.
Goal: To prepare the project for further financing.
Eligibility Criteria
Format: We accept feature-length documentaries (50+ minutes), episodic non-fiction series and short films (15-50 minutes).
Geography: We welcome applications from filmmakers based anywhere in the world.
Independence: Projects must be independently produced and retain creative control.
Team: We preference filmmakers with at least one prior credit and encourage first-time filmmaker applicants to partner with experienced producers.
Grantee Requirements & Deliverables
Acceptance into the Coexistence Documentary Fund is a partnership. In addition to financial support, fellows are required to participate in monthly virtual sessions during their program commitment window.
Upon completion of the grant period, all grantees must submit the following deliverables to close out their funding:
Grant Report: A narrative report detailing how the funds were utilized, the progress made during the grant period, and the impact on the project's trajectory.
Updated Creative Deck: A current pitch deck or treatment reflecting the development of the project.
Financial Report: A simple expense report outlining the allocation of grant funds.
Visual Evidence (Stage Dependent):
Research: A comprehensive research report & initial Pitch Deck
Development: A link to a sizzle reel and Production Pitch Deck.
How to Apply
Applications must be submitted through the Who Let The Docs Out Granti application portal. We use the standardised core application 3.1 format to reduce the burden on filmmakers.
Application Link: https://dashboard.granti.org/invitations/123a50d97077fbb1f94664d802fbfc/show