SCAM-Multimedia Authors Guild (France) - "Brouillons d'un rêve" Grants-Audiovisual Creation

What you get

You will receive up to 6,000 EUR (gross) for writing and preparing a documentary film. La Scam, a French copyright organisation based in Paris, will pay this amount directly to you as the author. The grant is awarded in two instalments, which you may combine. The first stage is a research grant of 2,500 EUR. It is intended to fund field research, preparatory interviews, archive research or the creation of a teaser. The second stage is a writing grant of between 2,500 and 6,000 EUR euros to further develop writing work that has already begun. You may also apply for the writing grant separately. If you wish to claim both, you must first claim the research grant. Selected authors may also apply for a mentoring grant of 1,200 EUR. This includes three mentoring sessions, i.e. individual guidance from an experienced documentary filmmaker. You will also receive a free screening of the finished film in the La Scam auditorium.

Who can apply

• Who you are: Any adult can apply. There are no restrictions regarding age, experience or place of residence.
• Membership: You do not need to be a La Scam member if this is your first documentary film project. Otherwise, you will need a verified Scam membership.
• Nationality: All nationalities can apply.
• Your project: A creative documentary or essay film as a stand-alone work with a running time of at least 40 minutes, intended for television or cinema. Series, journalistic features, feature films and predominantly musical works are not eligible.
• You apply as a person: Please apply as an individual writer, not through a production company. A production company may still be able to support you.
• No prior funding: To be eligible for the research grant, your project must not have received any funding to date. To be eligible for the writing grant, it must not have received more than 5,000 EUR.
• What counts: The jury of film directors is looking for a personal, imaginative approach and genuine depth in the screenplay.

How to apply

Applications must be submitted online via the La Scam website in French. There are six application rounds per year, with deadlines on 11 March, 13 May, 8 July, 9 September and 12 November 2026, as well as on 13 January 2027. Once applications have been submitted, La Scam checks eligibility; a panel of authors carries out a preliminary selection; and a jury of directors makes the final decision. The process takes around five months.

How realistic are your chances?

This scholarship is open to anyone worldwide who has a compelling idea for a documentary film, which is why it attracts so many applicants: in 2024, 193 scholarships were awarded from 2,006 applications. However, the total budget is substantial (over 830,000 euros per year) and there are six funding rounds, meaning that a well-developed, original project stands a real chance of success. A clear, personal approach and a solid synopsis are far more important than a polished CV.