A Useful Guide to the Fondazione Prada Film Fund 2026

Supporting ambitious independent cinema from development to post-production

For filmmakers and producers looking for support to bring an ambitious feature film to life, the Fondazione Prada Film Fund offers an opportunity worth exploring.

Now in its second edition, the annual fund is dedicated to independent cinema and provides a total annual endowment of €1.5 million, supporting up to 14 projects. The Fund is open to projects from around the world and does not impose restrictions based on genre, theme, language or geography.

The 2026 call is currently open, with applications accepted for projects at three different stages: development, production and post-production.

Who is the Film Fund for?

The Fondazione Prada Film Fund is designed to support independent feature films with a strong artistic vision and a solid production structure.

One important point to note is that individual filmmakers cannot apply directly. Applications must be submitted by a production company involved in the project. The applicant may be a majority or minority production company, provided it meets the Fund's eligibility requirements.

The Fund is international, meaning there are no geographical restrictions on where an eligible project comes from. Documentaries are also eligible, as the Fund is open to all film genres.

What kind of projects can apply?

The Film Fund supports feature-length projects in three stages:

• Development – for projects that are still being developed creatively and financially.

• Production – for films that have entered the production stage.

• Post-production – for completed shoots that require further work to reach their final form.

Projects must be feature films with a minimum running time of 65 minutes. Short films and series are not eligible.

The Fund also emphasizes artistic freedom: it does not act as a co-producer and does not impose territorial, linguistic, thematic or genre restrictions.

What does a production company need to qualify?

Before starting an application, producers should carefully check the eligibility criteria.

The applying production company must have previously produced at least two feature films that were selected and premiered at an international film festival included in the official eligibility checklist.

The production company must also participate in the project with at least 20% of the film's total budget.

There are additional financing requirements depending on the stage of the project:

For development projects

• At least 70% of the development budget must already be secured through confirmed and documented financing.

• At least 20% of the total production budget must also be secured.

For production projects

• At least 50% of the total production budget must be secured.

For post-production projects

• At least 80% of the total production budget must be secured.

• The film must be completed within six months of the grant award.

General overhead and administrative expenses may not exceed 10% of the total project budget.

What does the selection process look at?

The Film Fund places particular emphasis on the quality, originality and vision of a project, alongside the strength and reliability of the applicant's production structure.

Applications are evaluated by independent readers and external consultants, with the final selection made by a committee appointed by Fondazione Prada. The committee also determines the amount of each individual grant.

This makes the application more than a financing exercise: it is an opportunity to clearly communicate the artistic identity of a film and demonstrate that the project has a strong and credible path toward completion.

What should applicants prepare?

Before applying, producers should read the official Call for Applications, Regulations and Checklist carefully.

The application materials should present the project clearly and convincingly. Among the materials referenced by the Fund is the pitch deck, which can include still images, information about the artistic team, a synopsis, a teaser link if available, and statements from the director and producer.

For post-production applications, there is an additional requirement: applicants must submit a rough cut of at least 60 minutes.

It is also important to remember that applications must be submitted in English. Applications in other languages, including Italian, are considered ineligible.

Key dates for the 2026 call

The 2026 call opened on 30 June 2026.

The deadlines are:

6 August 2026
Projects in production

10 September 2026
Projects in development and post-production

For post-production projects, a rough cut may be provided after the application, with a deadline of 20 November 2026.

The projects selected for the second edition of the Film Fund are scheduled to be announced in February 2027.

A few things worth checking before you apply

Before submitting, make sure that:

• Your project is a feature film of at least 65 minutes.

• The application is being submitted by an eligible production company.

• The production company meets the required track-record criteria.

• The production company is contributing at least 20% of the total project budget.

• Your existing financing meets the threshold required for your project's stage.

• Your application materials are complete.

• All required documents are submitted in English.

• You have carefully reviewed the official Regulations and Checklist.

Applications that are incomplete or do not meet the eligibility criteria may be discarded without notification, so taking the time to check the requirements before submitting is essential.

Where to find the full information and apply

If you are a producer with an eligible feature film project, the best next step is to go directly to the official Fondazione Prada Film Fund page.

There you can find the full call for applications, regulations, eligibility checklist, FAQs and the online application form:

Fondazione Prada Film Fund — information and application

The Fund represents Fondazione Prada's continuing commitment to cinema, extending its work beyond the presentation and investigation of film to support the creation and production of new independent works. For filmmakers and production companies with a distinctive project and a strong artistic vision, the 2026 call is an opportunity to explore in detail — and potentially take the next step toward bringing a film to audiences.