A short film grant celebrating international filmmakers with up to $23,500 in cash and production services
Extraordinary stories don’t need two hours to make a lasting impression. The finalists for the 2026 Roy W. Dean Short Film Grant are proving just how much creativity, heart, and ambition filmmakers can bring to the short film format.
From the Heart Productions is proud to announce this year’s 26 finalists, an exciting international group representing projects from the United States, Japan, New Zealand, Italy, and Canada. Together, these filmmakers reflect the global reach of independent storytelling and the many ways a powerful short film can connect with audiences across borders.
The Roy W. Dean Short Film Grant supports independent filmmakers creating original narrative projects that contribute to society and have the potential to make a meaningful impact. Open to live-action and animated films, this international short film grant helps filmmakers move promising projects toward completion.
This year’s finalists stood out for their creative vision, the strength of their stories, and their commitment to bringing those stories to the screen.
“The imagination and heart behind this year’s finalists are truly inspiring,” said Carole Joyce, Director of the Roy W. Dean Grants. “These filmmakers are coming to us from across the United States and around the world with stories that deserve to be seen and heard. We’re thrilled to recognize their work and help one of these exceptional projects take an exciting step forward.”
2026 Roy W. Dean Short Film Grant Finalists
| Project Name | Filmmaker |
| Surviving Tech | Vatora Godwin |
| Legacy | Simon Shih |
| Soul Contract | Alison Thalhammer |
| Chicane | Katja Haecker |
| A Body of Land | Michele Powles |
| Bois Baby | Sea Armstrong |
| The Knell | Hannah Melissa Scott |
| Melody Heals the Soul | Louric Rankine |
| By Any Means | Marcus Ellison |
| Never Let Up | Emily Donelan |
| Alphabet Mafia | Abbey Harris |
| Pelea | Jamie Margolin |
| Mission Possible | Yuting (Ariel) Sligan |
| The Jeweled Bird | Carol Hall |
| Love Express | Gelsomina Prositto |
| 7-Day Free Trial | Michelle LeMay |
| Dozer’s Picnic | Matt Greer |
| A Scene from Death Row | Morgen Ludwig |
| UFH [Unidentified Flying Human] | Melissa Mars |
| Hitchhike | Gertruda Goddard |
| Colocasia esculenta | Priya Mishra |
| Arcade Cowgirl | Mike Messina |
| Beyond Measure | Mae Ann Berago |
| BROTHER HOLD YOUR LIGHT | Cary Garbutt |
| Don’t Take It Personal | Piper De Palma |
| IN GOOD HANDS | KiAnna Nycole |
What the 2026 Short Film Grant Winner Receives
The winning filmmaker will receive $3,000 in cash, along with a valuable package of donated production and postproduction services, including:
- A $15,000 Panavision grant for a 35mm or 16mm film camera and equipment, available for live-action films only.
- $3,000 in music and audio services from acclaimed composer David Raiklen.
- $500 in grip equipment, lighting, or expendables from Filmtools.
- A four-hour sound mixing session valued at $1,400 from Silver Sound.
- $600 in complimentary closed-captioning services from Cineprosmedia.
And more from heartfelt donors, giving the winning filmmaker substantial support to move their project toward completion.
Among the short film grants available to independent filmmakers, the Roy W. Dean Short Film Grant stands out for its commitment to original narrative films that entertain, inspire, and contribute to society.
From the Heart Productions congratulates every finalist and celebrates the artists whose short films remind us that even the smallest screen time can leave a powerful, lasting impression.
About the Roy W. Dean Grant
Since 1992, the Roy W. Dean Grant has awarded more than $2 million in cash and donated production services to independent filmmakers worldwide. Four grant competitions are held annually, supporting documentary, narrative, short film, and web series projects with budgets under $500,000.
Past Roy W. Dean Grant recipients have gone on to earn major industry recognition, including the 2025 Truer Than Fiction Spirit Award-winning A Photographic Memory, Emmy Award-winning documentaries Belly of the Beast andThe Love Bugs, Sundance Film Festival selection Raise Hell: The Life and Times of Molly Ivins, and the acclaimed documentary Kusama-Infinity.
About From the Heart Productions
From The Heart Productions is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to helping independent filmmakers get their films funded and completed. Through its fiscal sponsorship program, grants, educational initiatives, and personalized guidance, the organization has helped filmmakers raise more than $50 million in donations for their projects.
In addition to the Roy W. Dean Grants, From the Heart Productions provides filmmakers with resources, mentorship, and training through From the Heart THRIVE, its online education platform. THRIVE offers classes, workshops, expert instruction, and a growing library of resources covering film funding, producing, grant writing, pitching, emerging technologies, and career development for independent filmmakers.
Founded by President Carole Dean, best-selling author of The Art of Film Funding: 2nd Edition, Alternative Financing Concepts, From the Heart Productions continues its mission of supporting filmmakers who create stories that entertain, educate, and inspire audiences around the world.
