Austin Film Festival’s Filmmaker Fiscal Sponsorship Program
Austin Film Festival has dedicated the past 30 years to advancing the art and craft of storytelling by encouraging and advocating for the efforts of writers, filmmakers, and all creators who utilize the written and visual language to convey their stories. Our Fiscal Sponsorship initiative directly aids independent filmmakers in securing funding and producing exceptional projects that can then be viewed by audiences. This program is available to independent filmmakers of all levels, irrespective of their education, background, or previous credits. Whether you are embarking on your initial project or have been creating films for as long as we have been providing assistance, if you possess a vision and a strategy, we are here to assist.
What is Fiscal Sponsorhip?
Fiscal sponsorship refers to a formal agreement whereby a 501(c)(3) public charity, such as the Austin Film Festival, agrees to sponsor a project that advances their mission. The primary objective is to enable fundraising through donations, and it provides an alternative option to creating your own nonprofit. Through this arrangement, you can seek tax-deductible contributions for your film project, while receiving oversight, support, and endorsement from a long established and reliable film organization.
Apply for Sponsorship for your film
Fiscal Sponsorship applications are accepted on a project by project basis. Applicants must submit the following materials for consideration:
You will only be considered for the program if you are an AFF Member in good standing at an Extra level or higher. Please visit the below link to join AFF or to renew your AFF membership.
Complete the below Application fully in order to be considered for sponsorship. Submit your application here.
The application fee for our Fiscal Sponsorship Program is US $40.00. This must be paid at the time of submission and is non-refundable. Please make your check or money order payable to Austin Film Festival. If you rather pay via PayPal, we can issue you an invoice via email.
Give your support to filmmakers!
By donating to the independent filmmaker projects sponsored by Austin Film Festival, you are supporting emerging artists and innovative storytelling. Your contribution helps bring unique and diverse perspectives to the screen, promoting creativity and new voices in the film industry. Additionally, your donation is tax-deductible, allowing you to make a positive impact while benefiting from potential financial advantages.
*On Donation Page, select the film you are sponsoring in the REASON FOR DONATION dropdown.
Current Supported Films
SPENCER
SPENCER
Writer/Director: Harper Sharpe
SPENCER is an intimate character drama about love, loss, and the impossible choices faced by a parent whose body is failing him, and the son who doesn’t understand why. Robert, a weary widower in his sixties, has devoted his life to caring for his son, Spencer, a bright, endlessly curious young man with Williams Syndrome. Their days are simple, structured, and full of small rituals: Nutella waffles, documentaries, and Spencer’s endless fascination with racing boats. But Robert’s worsening illness forces an unthinkable decision: he must arrange for Spencer to move into an Independent Living Center, a facility for adults with special needs.
As the film unfolds through quiet moments, tender routines, and devastating conversations, Robert struggles to prepare his son and himself for separation. When he finally breaks the news, Spencer’s world collapses. His outburst spirals into confusion, fear, and heartbreak. Alone in his room, Spencer retreats into obsessive behaviors to cope, while Robert faces his own physical collapse under the weight of guilt and love.
Told with semi-soft structure, allowing for naturalism, improvisation, and authentic performance from Hudson Sharpe, a young man with Williams Syndrome. SPENCER is a deeply human exploration of caregiving, independence, and the fragile boundary between holding on and letting go.
DAUGHTERS OF THE SOIL
DAUGHTERS OF THE SOIL
Director: Candance Bellamy
Daughters of the Soil is a feature-length documentary that follows the daily lives of modern Black cowgirls—working the land, riding horses, and competing in rodeos—while uncovering the long-erased history of Black women in the American West. Anchored in the present-day lives of cowgirls across Texas and beyond, the film offers an intimate understanding of what it means to be a Black cowgirl today. At the same time, it reframes the myth of the West by asking urgent questions: who gets to belong, who is erased, and who will be remembered. Using vérité storytelling, archival fragments, and poetic imagery, Daughters of the Soil challenges America’s dominant historical narrative, positioning remembrance as both belonging and justice.
STARDUST MOTEL
STARDUST MOTEL
Executive Producer: Colin Scully
Stardust Motel is a modern fable about the tangled relationship between Mexico and Texas – their intersecting cultures and icons, the 150-year history of a border crossing, and a universal dream that festers in spite of hostility. When border delays derail her trip to Texas, a young farmer from Mexico drifts instead to the Chihuahuan Desert’s mystical Stardust Motel, where myths and legends converge to affirm her artistic dreams.