The Sun Valley Film Festival has launched its 1 Potato Short Film Production Grant, offering $5,000 to support short narrative and documentary films shot entirely in Idaho.

For the first time, the grant is open to both fiction and documentary pitches. Applicants must be U.S.-based, and the winning project will premiere at the 2026 Sun Valley Film Festival.

“We are excited to bring back the 1 Potato production grant to support filmmaking in the state of Idaho,” said Celeste Matika, the festival's programming manager. “The festival has a strong tradition of showcasing documentaries, so it felt like a natural expansion.”

The grant provides more than funding. The 1 Potato Short Film Production Grant also connects winners with professional mentors, local crew members and logistical support throughout the production process.

Past recipient Scott Burkhardt, whose short film "Girls Are Strong Here" won the Grand Jury Prize at International Film Festival Boston and the 2022 Humanities Prize, credited the program with helping bring his vision to life.

“I could not have done it without the support of the Sun Valley Film Festival and the amazing Idaho crew they connected me with,” said Burkhardt.

Applications are now open. The selected filmmaker will be announced in December and will have one year to complete the project.

For full guidelines and submission details, visit the Sun Valley Film Festival website.