Berkeley Film Foundation

Berkeley Film Foundation is sponsored by Saul Zaentz Charitable Foundation. Supports social, historical, and innovative documentary and dramatic works, with a focus on filmmakers of color.

The Berkeley Film Foundation The Berkeley Film Foundation (BFF) is dedicated to fostering a vibrant filmmaking community along the East Shore of the San Francisco Bay Area. We offer grants, educational resources, and exhibition opportunities to support filmmakers at all experience levels—from students to seasoned professionals. Our funding supports documentaries and narrative shorts in production, post-production, and distribution.

We are interested in funding films that boldly address social and environmental injustices, challenge oppressive systems, all in service of driving meaningful and lasting change. BFF also hosts regular screenings at The New Parkway in Oakland, California, of films that we have previously funded and are finally ready for the big screen! Are you a local, independent filmmaker working on a documentary?

You might be eligible for a grant through our Documentary Grant Program. >> BFF now funds Narrative Shorts! We host an annual open application cycle in the Fall.

Check our Grants page for more information. >> BFF proudly supports East Bay-based students who are enrolled in a film program anywhere. Check out our Grants page to learn more.

>> Having been co-founded by the infamous Saul Zaentz, BFF is proud to partner with the Saul Zaentz Charitable Foundation in keeping his legacy alive. >> The Berkeley Film Foundation’s core work is providing project grants to locally made films and offers two open call grant programs each year for Documentary and Narrative Shorts.

Documentary: March 16 - April 13 Narrative Shorts: July 27 - August 24 Special thanks to all of our funders: The Saul Zaentz Charitable Foundation, The Nancy P. and Richard K.

Robbins Family Foundation, The Fleishhacker Foundation, The George Lucas Family Foundation, The Jonathan Logan Family Foundation, California Humanities, LaFetra Foundation, The San Francisco Foundation, The Robertson Family Fund, The Berkeley Civic Arts Commission, Stephen M. Silberstein Foundation, The City of Emeryville, The East Bay Community Foundation, The Alameda County Board of Supervisors, Arent Fox LLP, Bayer, Warner Bros.

, Pacific Gas & Electric, Van Acker Construction, Shartsis Friese LLP, Wilson Markle Stuckey Hardesty & Bott, LLP, Walter J. Haas, Kava Massih, and Christopher Moscone.