Cynthia Erivo Short Film Fund: Call for Filmmakers
Deadline: Sunday 15 November 2026, 6pm
The Cultural Programme at the Stephen A. Schwarzman Centre is delighted to announce that the Cynthia Erivo Short Film Fund is now open for applications. This new fund supports University of Oxford student filmmakers and is run in partnership with the Oxford University Film Foundation (OUFF).
Across popular movies, women and women of color in particular remain underrepresented in lead and all speaking roles, according to research from the USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative. Creating change means bringing new voices to the industry, and the Cynthia Erivo Short Film Fund is designed to support storytelling that spotlights characters from a variety of backgrounds. Filmmakers are invited to submit work that focuses on the voices we rarely see represented in stories that reflect commercial, exciting, and compelling short films.
What the fund offers
Two films will be selected. Each team will receive:
- £4,000 towards making their short film
- Access to filmmaking equipment through OUFF
- An industry-led filmmaking masterclass
- Support from the Cultural Programme team and OUFF throughout production
- A screening of the finished films at the Schwarzman Centre in Trinity term 2027
Who can apply
The fund is open to all current University of Oxford students, undergraduate or postgraduate, in any subject. All genres are welcome, and films should run no longer than 15 minutes. You don’t need a full team to apply. OUFF’s network can help successful applicants find collaborators.
Selection
Applications will be reviewed by a panel from academia and the film industry, including representatives from the Schwarzman Centre, OUFF and the USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative. The panel will be looking for a strong, authentic voice and story, and a film that can realistically be made within the time and budget available. Shortlisted applicants will be invited to pitch to the panel in Week 6.
Key dates
The application deadline is Sunday 15 November 2026, 6pm. Successful teams will be announced by Friday 27 November. The first edit is due by mid-Hilary (Week 5), the final film by end of Hilary, Friday 11 April 2027, and the films will be screened in Trinity term 2027.
How to apply
Please read the full call-out before applying through the online application form. You’ll be asked for a logline and synopsis, a script sample, a short statement, an outline budget and details of your team.
We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, and particularly encourage applicants whose voices are under-represented in film. If you have any access needs or would like support with your application, please let us know.
The Cynthia Erivo Short Film Fund is generously supported by the Adobe Foundation and Jason and Yvonne Lee, in collaboration with the USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative.
If you have any questions, please email culturalprogramme@humanities.ox.ac.uk
Cynthia Erivo Short Film Fund: Call for Filmmakers
