The Catapult Research Grant expands upon its mission to provide early support to nonfiction filmmakers and films. This intensive program offers grants and dedicated mentorship to U.S.-based filmmakers in the early conception phase of a documentary feature or short.

Launched in 2020, its latest program seeks to address filmmaker sustainability and diversity in the field, with a focus on artists from marginalized communities. In 2026, they are supporting filmmakers who share a desire to deepen their craft and an ongoing commitment to the art of nonfiction storytelling.

Grants can be used for a variety of needs for developing new nonfiction film ideas including: research, writing, travel, crew, identifying and gaining access to protagonists, and any preliminary production costs associated with shaping the artistic vision or capturing early footage.