Sacramento Film + Media Grant Program

The Sacramento Film + Media Grant Program is administered by Sacramento Film + Media, a division dedicated to fostering and expanding film and television production within the City of Sacramento. The initiative provides direct support to production companies by offsetting various costs incurred while filming or conducting post-production work in Sacramento. The program aligns with the city’s economic and cultural goals by incentivizing media activity that contributes to the local economy and enhances community engagement through storytelling that reflects diverse experiences. This grant opportunity includes two funding categories: production grants and post-production grants. For the fiscal year 2026, the program offers up to six production grants valued at $10,000 each, and two post-production grants at $5,000 each. Grants are distributed over two competitive application rounds. The funds may be used to subsidize costs such as required services from City departments—including police, fire, and permitting—as well as reimbursements for qualified expenses directly associated with filming or post-production within the city. These include hotel stays, rental equipment, local hires, and catering, among others. Any unused funds from the first round are rolled over into the second. Eligible applicants include production companies filming at least 50% of their project in the Sacramento region with a minimum of two locations in the city, or completing 75% of post-production work in the city. Qualifying projects encompass a wide range of formats including feature-length films, short films, documentaries, television series, commercials, and music videos. Companies may apply once per round and may only receive two grants within a 12-month period, including post-production grants. Applications must be submitted before physical production begins, unless the project is a documentary. Post-production applications must demonstrate that at least 75% of filming is complete. The grant application requires a comprehensive package including a treatment summarizing the story and characters, a detailed budget indicating Sacramento-specific expenditures, a shooting schedule, and a vendor list identifying local service providers. Additional required documents include a crew list, hotel night estimates, and evidence of prior production experience. These materials inform the evaluation of economic impact, community benefit, and project feasibility. Applications are reviewed by a panel of industry professionals and economic development experts who score submissions using a 90-point rubric. The rubric evaluates economic impact (20 points), community impact (30 points), and project feasibility (40 points). Elements such as the number of hotel nights, local hires, and support of marginalized communities are taken into account. Notifications are issued within approximately four weeks of each deadline, and reimbursements may take 4 to 6 weeks after approval. The City retains the right to revoke funding for noncompliance or misrepresentation. The application periods for fiscal year 2026 are as follows: Round 1 opens on November 15, 2025, and closes January 15, 2026. Round 2 opens on March 15, 2026, and closes May 15, 2026. Productions should begin filming within 180 days of award notification. Applications must be submitted via the grant portal, with all required documents uploaded. Successful applicants will be required to sign a funding agreement and meet the City’s insurance and business compliance standards. Final reporting is required within 60 days of project wrap, including documentation of economic and social impacts, local expenditures, and crew demographics.

Emphasize Sacramento economic impact and cultural representation for higher review scores.