LGBTQ+ Seattle Area Filmmakers Take Note: Deadline For $3Bill Fellowship Approaches!

Three Dollar Bill Cinema is taking a break from film festivals this year, but the LGBTQ+ film lovers non-profit is still offering some of its popular programs including a “Cinema Fellowship” which offers up a $7500 grant for aspiring LGBTQ+ filmmakers to complete a short film. Applications for the Three Dollar Bill Cinema Fellowship 2026 are open through May 15th, 2026 so you still have a couple weeks to apply. The fellowship not only gives money to fund a film, but also mentorship and creative support.

Go here to apply:  Three Dollar Bill Cinema Fellowship 2026

More info:

This fellowship offers $7,500 in unrestricted funding, along with mentorship and creative support, to help bring queer stories from Washington State filmmakers to life. Whether you’re in the early stages of development or putting the finishing touches on a project, we encourage you to apply.

We’re especially excited to support work that is urgent, personal, and pushes creative boundaries across all genres—narrative, documentary, experimental, animation, and beyond.

Three Dollar Bill Cinema Fellowship 2026

Three Dollar Bill Cinema is proud to support queer filmmakers through a $7,500 fellowship for short-form cinematic work.

ARTIST RULES

• While the subject matter of the work does not need to center on queer themes (but is encouraged), the primary creator (director, writer, or producer) must identify as part of the LGBTQIA+ community.
• The recipient must reside in Washington State (having been a resident for more than six months).
• We are especially interested in artists (amateur or professional) with bold perspectives, clear creative voices, and a strong sense of intention.  

PROJECT RULES

• We welcome narrative, documentary, experimental, animation, and hybrid projects.
• The project can be at any stage of the filmmaking process (development, production, post-production, or distribution). 
• We encourage creative risk, experimentation, and work that feels urgent, personal, or unexpected.
• Projects (or a cohesive collection of projects) must total 20 minutes or less in runtime. This could be a single short film, a series of micro-shorts, or a more expansive or unconventional installation rooted in cinematic storytelling.
• The finished work shall be completed within 12 months of receiving the funds.

RECIPIENTS RECEIVE

• $7,500 in unrestricted funding
• Mentorship and development meetings with Three Dollar Bill Cinema board and community members. 

TIMELINE

• Application Deadline: May 15, 2026
• Fellowship Announced: June 16, 2026
• Project Completed: July 31, 2027

SELECTION CRITERIA

• Artistic voice and originality
• Clarity of vision and intention
• Creative use of fellowship support
• Feasibility of the proposed work
• Alignment with the spirit of Three Dollar Bill Cinema (Queer Cinema, Community Engagement, Educational Experiences)