THE ROY W. DEAN GRANT
FOR FILMS THAT ARE UNIQUE AND MAKE A CONTRIBUTION TO SOCIETY
Now Accepting Applications for the 2025 Fall Grant
Deadline: October 31st, 2025 @ Midnight
Open to Filmmakers from Any Country
Winner Receives a Check for $3500!
$20,000+ in Services and Discounts
Free Consultation to Review Application
FALL GRANT GRANT NOW OPEN
DEADLINE: OCTOBER 31st, 2025 @ MIDNIGHT
For over 30 years, the Roy W. Dean Grant funds independent films that are unique and make a contribution to society that, without its help, might otherwise never get made.
OPEN TO DOCUMENTARIES – NARRATIVE FEATURES – SHORTS – WEB SERIES – MULTIMEDIA PROJECTS
Finalists will be announced in January, and the Winner in February 2026
WATCH OUR 30 YEAR ANNIVERSARY VIDEO!
ELIGIBILITY
- Budget Must Be Under $500,000
- Open to Filmmakers from Any Country
- For Any Phase of Production from Development to Post-Production
- Films Can Be Any Length
- Live Action or Animated
Want to Learn More? Read the GRANT FAQS
AWARD
A $3,500.00 Check from From the Heart Productions
Sponsored by Sonny Fassoulis
DISCOUNTS AND FREE SERVICES
- $15,000 in original music written by well-known composer David Raiklen. (Exclusive of recording costs)
- $6,000 in animation from Emmy award winner Charlie Canfield. This is 1/3 off normal price for 6 weeks of animation
- $500 in grip, lighting or expendables from Filmtools
- Karen Everett of New Doc Editing will match any amount you spend on story consulting services with free services (i.e. pay for 3 hours, get 3 hours free!)
- $1,620 for one consultation a month with Carole Dean on financing your film
- Tom Malloy of Glass House Distribution donates an hour of consultation on distribution of your film
- $700 one week DSLR camera package rental from Birns & Sawyer which includes Canon 5D Mark III camera body, a 24-70mm Canon EOS lens, 2 batteries, charger, carrying case, and two 32G Compact Flash media cards.
- Free consultation, marketing material creation and design and marketing/strategizing for producer-writer-director team for solicitation of distribution from Smart Girls Productions
- 20% discount on the design of your marketing sheet by professional Dan Chapman
- 35% Discount from 1st Imprint for all your printing needs
- $600.00 for your Free Closed Captioning by Cineprosmedia
- $500 Value in still shots by Carole Joyce, Authentic Visions Consulting
- $500 Access to Norman Berns‘ courses; Script Breakdown $100, Righting Rotten Resumes $50, Creating effective business plans $150, How to make a Budget $100; program budgeting $100
- 25% Discount on legal work from Mark Litwak
- 25% discount on Pitch Deck and/or Website Design from Adam Heyes
- 40% discount on printed materials ( Postcards, Posters, Press kits, Business cards, etc.) from Copymat, Hollywood.
- 20% off services and free consultation from Donna Houser, online acting coach and mentor
- 10% discount on DCP conversion service and use facility for no charge. Chris@simpledcp.com.
- $117.00 TriLens holder from Frii Designs
- $110.00 Session for free from Breianne Pryse to clear and strengthen energy, get clarity and dissolve blocks
- 50% off the cost of 8 sessions over four month training in the Intentional Filmmaking Class
- Contact our insurance agent Debbie West at MovieInsure for excellent prices on all film insurance needs.
PAST WINNERS!
The $500 Britt Penrod Award will be granted to an additional film that is unique and that makes an exceptional contribution to society.
“The Roy W. Dean Grant gave me the push I needed to continue on my journey and complete my film. It is an invaluable resource and award for any filmmaker faced with the enormous financial burden of finishing a feature length film. I couldn’t be more appreciative of the continuous support of Carole Dean and the various partners and artists who contribute to the RWD grant.”
– CATHRYNE CZUBEK
Director, “A Girl and a Gun”
2010 Roy W. Dean Grant Winner
APPLICATION INFO
APPLICATION FEE: $48
STUDENT FEE: $38
*Must have Student ID
All applicants will receive a FREE 15 Minute Consultation with Grant Director Carole Joyce to discuss your application!
Consultations will take place after finalists have been announced.
Items to submit (upload) on your application:
- Cover Letter
- Proposal (for documentaries) or Synopsis (for shorts or features)
- Marketing/Distribution/Social Media Plan
- Crew Information
- Budget (or Estimate)
- Sample Work: Provide a URL to a video of your trailer or prior work (Vimeo, YouTube, etc.)
Project Proposal and Synopsis Guidelines
Submit a written proposal. If you would like an outline for a documentary proposal, click here.
For documentaries, please send us an outline of your documentary film. It can be from 2 to 6 pages.
For short films and features, we want a one page synopsis (or outline) of the film and the first 10 pages of your script.
Please be sure also include the following:
- Style, format and approach to the material, including any distinct visual or technical elements.
- What are your plans for distribution?
- Are you the producer, director, what?
- How is this project unique and how does this project benefit society?
- What is your relationship to the material?
- List name and position of proposed key production personnel (producer, director, cinematographer, editor, etc.) and their relevant experience or credits.
Sample Work(s) Guidelines
All Roy W. Dean Grant and Carole Dorothy Joyce Grant applications must be accompanied by a sample of applicant’s previously completed work via URL to an online video (Vimeo, YouTube, etc).
We need to see what you have made and what your vision is for your proposed or current film. If you do not have a prior work, submit one from a key member on your crew.
OTHER GRANTS
2025 CAROLE DOROTHY JOYCE STUDENT GRANT – OPEN NOW
Application Deadline: November 30th
A grant just for student filmmakers!
For any kind of film, either live action or animated.
$3,000 Cash and $10K+ in Services and Discounts.
