How we invest in South Asian storytellers.
As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, our programs are designed to remove the real barriers emerging creators face — money, mentorship, access, and community. Here's how each one works and who it serves. In our first year, we’ve awarded $185K in grants and reviewed 35+ project submissions.
Funding & Producing
without access to traditional financing
We award grants of $10,000–$100,000 plus hands-on production support to get high-impact South Asian projects made — stepping in as funder and, where it helps, as producer or executive producer. Funding can cover development, production, post-production, festival costs, and distribution, and we back stories across formats — short, feature, documentary, and vertical — so long as they carry genuine diaspora relevance.
- Grants from $10K to $100K per project
- Covers development, production, post, festival & distribution
- Open to short, feature, documentary & vertical formats
- Executive-producing and production guidance from our team
How to apply: projects are reviewed on a rolling basis.
Submit your applicationMentorship & Networking
and industry relationships
We connect storytellers with award-winning filmmakers, producers, and technologists through masterclasses, workshops, and one-on-one guidance — including our “From Pitch to Premiere” masterclass and main-stage sessions at leading festivals and conferences. These programs run year-round at festivals and events, and there is never an extra charge to take part.
- Masterclasses and skills workshops at festivals & events
- One-on-one mentorship with industry leaders
- Free to participate — no cost beyond event access
How to join: sign up through the host festival or event or join our creator network.
Join our creator networkDistribution & Promotion
audiences and buyers
We help creators reach audiences and buyers — building festival and submissions strategy, making introductions to distributors and buyers, and amplifying finished work through our digital channels, hosted screenings, and newsletter. We consider all creators; the more strongly a story is tied to our mission of authentic South Asian storytelling, the more we can do.
- Festival strategy, submissions support & buyer introductions
- Digital promotion across our channels and newsletter
- Hosted screenings for finished work
Eligibility: open to all creators — priority goes to stories strongly tied to our mission.
Submit your applicationCommunity & Culture
creative community
We build a durable community where South Asian storytellers find collaborators, mentors, and momentum — through galas, mixers, workshops, and salons. We share opportunities quarterly, invite creators to screenings and talks of new creative work, and help storytellers navigate and join the festivals happening around them through our sessions.
- Community galas, mixers, and salons
- Invitations to screenings and talks of new work
- Quarterly opportunity updates & festival navigation support
How to take part: we share opportunities quarterly and invite creators to screenings and talks.
Join our creator networkAre you a South Asian filmmaker, writer, or artist?
Opportunities open throughout the year. Join our creator network to be notified first about grants, mentorship, masterclasses, and calls for submissions — and to introduce us to your work.