General

What is The Tarkovski Grant?

The Tarkovski Grant is an international initiative founded in 2015 to support independent filmmakers by helping them continue their festival journey. Selected filmmakers receive an international submission fee waiver package, providing complimentary access to a network of more than 30 participating film festivals worldwide.

​

Why is it called The Tarkovski Grant?

The Tarkovski Grant was founded in 2015 and takes its name as a tribute to the enduring artistic legacy of filmmaker Andrei Tarkovsky, whose work is widely regarded as among the most influential in the history of cinema. The name reflects our admiration for cinema driven by personal vision, artistic courage and creative integrity.

The initiative is entirely independent and has no affiliation with Andrei Tarkovsky's family, estate, foundation or any governmental or cultural organisation.

While Tarkovsky created his films within the Soviet film system of his time, he frequently found himself in conflict with censorship and artistic restrictions. In the final years of his life, he chose to remain in Western Europe, where he continued his work free from the limitations he had experienced in the Soviet Union.

Today, The Tarkovski Grant is an international initiative dedicated solely to supporting filmmakers of every nationality, culture and background. The name represents our commitment to artistic excellence and independent cinema and should not be interpreted as an endorsement of any government, political ideology or national agenda.

​

Is The Tarkovski Grant affiliated with the Tarkovsky family or foundation?

No. The Tarkovski Grant is an independent initiative and has no affiliation with Andrei Tarkovsky's family, estate, foundation or any organisation representing his legacy.

​

How many festivals participate?

The Tarkovski Grant currently collaborates with more than 30 participating film festivals across Europe, North America, Asia and Australia, with additional carefully selected festivals joining the initiative each year.

 

For Filmmakers

How can I receive The Tarkovski Grant?

The Tarkovski Grant cannot be applied for directly.

Recipients are recognised either through one of our participating film festivals or through the Connecting Cultures Program, which supports filmmakers from selected countries by providing additional access to international festival opportunities.

​

Why can't filmmakers apply directly for The Tarkovski Grant?

The Tarkovski Grant is intended as a recognition rather than a competition. Instead of asking filmmakers to submit another application, we rely on the expertise and judgement of the programming teams at our participating festivals.

By selecting a film for their festival—or by presenting it with The Tarkovski Grant—our participating festivals help identify filmmakers whose work they believe deserves additional international exposure. This collaborative approach allows The Tarkovski Grant to build upon the careful curatorial work already carried out by respected film festivals around the world.

​

What does the grant include?

Recipients receive an international submission fee waiver package with a value of at least USD $500, allowing them to submit their current or future work free of charge to participating film festivals.

​

Can I choose which festivals to submit to?

Yes. Grant recipients decide themselves which participating festivals they wish to submit to, provided their film meets the festival's eligibility requirements.

​

Does receiving The Tarkovski Grant guarantee festival selection?

No.

The Tarkovski Grant removes submission fees but does not influence the programming decisions of participating festivals. Every film is considered independently according to each festival's own selection process.

​

Can I use the grant for my next film?

Yes. Depending on the validity period of the grant package, recipients may use it for either their current project or a future film.

​

Do I keep the rights to my film?

Absolutely.

The Tarkovski Grant never acquires ownership, distribution or exhibition rights. Filmmakers retain full control of their work at all times.

 

For Film Festivals

How can our festival participate in The Tarkovski Grant?

The Tarkovski Grant works by invitation.

Each year we carefully select a limited number of festivals that we believe share our commitment to discovering and supporting outstanding independent filmmakers.

​

What does our festival need to do?

Participating festivals simply select one or more filmmakers they wish to honour with The Tarkovski Grant and provide us with the recipient's contact information following their awards announcement.

We then contact the filmmakers directly and arrange their grant package.

​

Does it cost anything for a festival to present The Tarkovski Grant?

Every invited festival is offered the opportunity to present one complimentary Tarkovski Grant to an outstanding filmmaker during its upcoming edition.

Some festivals choose to extend this opportunity by presenting The Tarkovski Grant to multiple award winners or even to all officially selected filmmakers. These expanded collaborations can be arranged individually and may involve a participation fee, depending on the scope of the collaboration.

We believe every participating festival should first have the opportunity to experience the initiative before deciding whether they wish to expand it further.

​

Do we have to contribute submission fee waivers?

No.

Contributing submission fee waivers is entirely optional.

Festivals are welcome to present The Tarkovski Grant without contributing waiver codes.

​

What happens if we contribute a waiver?

Festivals choosing to contribute a submission fee waiver become part of the international waiver package distributed to Tarkovski Grant recipients.

In return, they typically receive several hundred additional submissions each year from filmmakers recognised through The Tarkovski Grant, increasing international visibility and introducing new voices to their festival.

​

Will our festival be promoted?

Yes.

Every new participating festival is introduced through a dedicated feature article in Final Cut Magazine, highlighting the festival and its participation in The Tarkovski Grant.

​

Can our festival award more than one Tarkovski Grant?

Absolutely.

Many festivals choose to present The Tarkovski Grant to several award-winning filmmakers or to every officially selected filmmaker. These expanded collaborations are tailored individually to each participating festival.

​

Can any festival participate?

No.

To preserve the character and quality of the initiative, The Tarkovski Grant works with a carefully curated network of participating film festivals. New collaborations are established by invitation and are based on shared values, artistic quality and a demonstrated commitment to independent cinema.