Ready to produce
Signed agreement, final screenplay, final budget, production schedule and main cast / crew plan.
RTV ORIGINALS / PRODUCTION FUND
Small films.
Original voices.
US$1,000 Short Film
Production Fund
Supporting emerging filmmakers and original short-form storytelling from around the world.
Submit Your Project ↗No application fee · Ongoing review · No guaranteed selection
01 / THE OPPORTUNITY
A strong idea. A practical plan.
RTV Originals supports new short films at the idea, development or early pre-production stage. We are building an original film library with clearly agreed content rights and visible creator credits.
Applications are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Funding is awarded selectively, subject to available funds and a signed agreement. RTV may make no selection in any review cycle. There is no monthly award, guaranteed funding or promised response date.
What we are looking for
- Narrative short films
- Documentary shorts
- Animation and experimental films
- AI-assisted films
- Student and emerging filmmaker projects
Preferred final runtime: 10–20 minutes. Exceptional projects slightly outside this range may still be considered. Clear storytelling and a realistic production plan matter more than expensive equipment.
What this fund does not cover
Feature films, television series, commercials, music videos, explicit pornography or purely promotional content.
Completed films and projects already in production are not eligible. This is production support for new work, not reimbursement of past costs.
02 / HOW TO APPLY
Start with your idea.
Submit a project outline
Tell us about the story, your approach, budget and how the funding would help. Portfolio links are welcome. A full screenplay is not required in the first round.
Share more if invited
We may request a full screenplay, detailed budget, production schedule, cast / crew plan and rights confirmation. Documentary and experimental projects may provide a detailed treatment or scene outline.
Agree the production and rights
Selected projects must enter into a separate production and distribution agreement with RTV before funding is released.
03 / MILESTONE FUNDING
Support as the film takes shape.
For an award of US$1,000, the proposed schedule is shown below. Each payment requires review and approval; the signed agreement will set the final amount, deliverables and payment terms.
Production underway
Production evidence such as stills, call sheets, behind-the-scenes images or sample raw footage.
Complete rough cut
A complete rough cut meeting the agreement’s basic technical and content requirements.
Final delivery
Accepted final master, subtitles, poster, stills, credits, releases and agreed rights documents.
04 / RIGHTS & RECOGNITION
An RTV Original.
With your name on it.
This is a production partnership intended to build the RTV Originals content library. Selected projects will be required to enter into a separate production and distribution agreement with RTV before funding is released.
Depending on the project, the agreement may address exclusive digital distribution, worldwide streaming, promotion, trailers and clips, subtitles and localization, festival or platform exhibition, revenue participation, or copyright assignment. The scope, territory, term and commercial conditions will be agreed separately.
Submitting an application does not transfer copyright or grant public screening rights. Director, writer and cast / crew credits will remain visible when a completed film is released as An RTV Original.
RTV Originals is independent of the RTV International Film Festival. Applying is not a festival entry, and production selection is not a festival award.
Got a short film idea?
Tell us what you want to make — and how you plan to make it.
Submit Your Project ↗