The Chicken & Egg Pictures Research & Development Grant supports filmmakers from around the world who have directed at least two feature-length documentaries and are in the research & development stage of their next feature-length film. Each year, The Chicken & Egg Pictures Research & Development Grant will offer up to thirty (30) filmmaking teams a $10,000 USD grant for research or a $20,000 USD grant for development. The Chicken & Egg Pictures Research & Development Grant is Chicken & Egg Pictures’ newest initiative born during our 2023-2025 Strategic Planning process. This new initiative supports directors with a track record while ideating, thinking, planning, and writing their next feature-length film. Unfortunately, it is well known that many filmmakers invest their personal resources into their first and second films and continue to face challenges with funding when entering into the research & development stages of new projects. It is very hard to secure funding for a new project without significant sample material, and yet it can be impossible to produce material without external funding. Responding to this particular challenge, The Chicken & Egg Pictures Research & Development Grant provides financial support to experienced directors during a filmmaking stage that has too often gone unpaid and unsupported.

$10,000 for research or $20,000 for development

The director must be a woman or non-binary documentary filmmaker and have directed at least two feature-length documentaries

The fund organizes the AlumNest community of supported filmmakers for further peer support, mentorship opportunities and deeper connections in the documentary film industry.

Chicken & Egg Pictures was founded in 2005 by documentary film industry veterans Julie Parker Benello, Wendy Ettinger, and Judith Helfand, who were inspired by a shared belief in the power of women storytellers. Based on their experience in filmmaking, teaching, funding, and impact producing, they identified an urgent need in the field—more financial and creative support for women nonfiction directors. The three founders brought together a unique combination of skills, experiences, and access to create not just an organization, but a lasting community.