Happy Birthday America Grant
Grant Amount: $2,500.00
Grant Opens: Wed, January 7th, 2026
Submission Deadline: Fri, March 27th, 2026
Finalist Notified in April 2026
Recipient Announced in May 2026
No application fee
Overview
Unit3 Action supports engaging films in post-production which exhibit compelling stories, intriguing characters, and an original, innovative visual approach.
The Happy Birthday America Grant will be awarded to the filmmaker who demonstrates the vision and ability to create a feature-length film that captures the spirit of America as it celebrates its 250th birthday. The successful applicant will convince the judges that their project can embody the values, struggles, and triumphs that define the American story, while inspiring future generations through powerful storytelling and artistic excellence.
Who Can Apply
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Applicant must be at least 18 years old.
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Applicant must be in a key creative role for the film: ideally, the producer or director.
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Filmmaker may not be Unit3 Action, Inc. employee or board member.
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Applicant must be enrolled in college, or a recognized film/arts program at the time of application.
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Project cannot be a work for hire.
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Project must be a feature length film (60 minutes or more).
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Project must be within 3 months of beginning post-production from the final deadline.
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Projects must be produced or based within the United States of America or it's territories.
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Projects must be consistent with Unit3 Action's mission and represent an imaginative contribution to the moving image art form.
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Project reflects innovation in storytelling and visual style.
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Projects that primarily use interviews as a storytelling device will not be considered.
How to Apply
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To begin the application process, navigate to the “Grants” page to review the required items for submission.
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Filmmaker clearly articulates the intended goals for the grant.
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Filmmaker explains how the project takes a visually innovative approach.
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Filmmaker demonstrates how the grant will impact short- and long-term professional and artistic goals.
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It is recommended that the 10-minute sample be 1-2 scenes from the film and not a trailer.
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Only one application per project will be accepted.
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Films that have previously submitted to this fund may reapply if significant progress has been made since the last submission.
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Filmmakers will be notified of their application status via email by the end of November. Funds for grantees will be available shortly thereafter.
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Email info@unit3action.org if you have any questions.
Finalist Materials
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A work sample that is up to 10 minutes long. You must share a url to an excerpt (or excerpts) for the 10 minutes you feel most strongly represent your artistic vision, characters, and story. The external review committee will only see this work sample and not the original one you submitted. We highly recommend that your work sample be a scene or scenes versus a trailer or teaser. The review committee will not be able to watch more than 10 minutes.
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An updated, detailed budget (should include line items, not just top sheet)
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Any updates to the film or stage that you would like to share with the review committee (1-2 paragraphs max, please)
What should my visual sample include?
We recommend submitting 1–2 scenes that best showcase your story, characters, access to central subjects, and artistic vision. These scenes should help convince the review committee that your project has the strength and depth to sustain a feature-length film. Choose the scenes you feel most strongly reflect these elements rather than sending a trailer. We understand the material will be a work in progress and do not expect it to be picture-locked, color-corrected, or finalized.
Please note: if materials exceed 10 minutes, the review committee may only watch the first five minutes. If you prefer a different section, include the timecode for the five minutes you’d like us to view.
When are applicants notified?
All applicants will receive notification of their status by late-April 2026, and chosen recipients will be provided with next steps for accessing funds and starting their projects.
For more information about our grants, please contact info@unit3action.org.