The Mycoskie-UC Berkeley Psychedelic Documentary Fellowship has extended its 2026 application deadline to October 13. The official application page lists the cutoff as 5:00 p.m. PT, while the fellowship homepage says 5:00 p.m. PST; applicants should follow the time-zone wording on the page they use or confirm it with the program.
What the fellowship funds
The fellowship, a project of the U.C. Berkeley Center for the Science of Psychedelics, supports cinematic documentary narratives exploring psychedelics through science, policy, business and culture. It offers two production-grant tracks:
| Track | Project length | Number and maximum award | Eligible use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Short-form documentary | 40 minutes or less | Up to five awards of up to $10,000 each | Production |
| Feature-length documentary | More than 40 minutes | Three awards of up to $20,000 each | Production or post-production |
These award counts and maximums are for the Mycoskie-UC Berkeley Psychedelic Documentary Fellowship’s 2026 cycle. See the fellowship details.
Who can apply, and what can be submitted?
Filmmakers worldwide may apply, regardless of nationality or citizenship. Graduate students may apply to the short-form track if a faculty adviser supervising the film provides a support letter by the deadline.
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- Applications must be in English. Films in another language must have English subtitles.
- Budgets must be stated in U.S. dollars.
- Each applicant may submit one story and may apply to only one grant track in the 2026 cycle.
- The application is free and must be submitted through Submittable. The program does not accept proposals by email and says it cannot advise applicants on pitches before submission.
The fellowship does not fund fiction films or films commissioned by NGOs or brands. Projects already distributed in a public forum—including theatrical, festival, educational or community screenings—are excluded. The FAQ also says not to pitch first-person accounts of taking illegal substances; cannabis stories are ineligible. The program is currently focused on documentary film, not print or audio. Check the official eligibility FAQ against your project before applying.
How to apply and what happens after submission
- Choose the short-form or feature-length track based on the documentary’s runtime and project needs.
- Prepare an English-language application and a U.S.-dollar budget; short-form applicants who are graduate students should arrange the required faculty-adviser support letter.
- Submit the application through Submittable before the October 13 cutoff. The official application page states 5:00 p.m. PT; the homepage uses 5:00 p.m. PST.
A three-member selection committee approves funding, and the program says applicants will be notified of decisions by December 2026. Open the official application page.
Payment and awardee commitments
Short-form awardees receive the full grant upfront. Feature-length awardees receive half upfront and the second half six months later after submitting a project-update memo. Awardees are also expected to attend three to four virtual cohort meetings, submit a written report within six months detailing spending and accomplishments, share the completed film with the Center for the Science of Psychedelics, and credit the fellowship in the film.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get an extension?
The 2026 application deadline has been extended to October 13. The official application page lists 5:00 p.m. PT; the homepage says 5:00 p.m. PST. Use the wording on the page you are referencing or confirm the intended time zone with the program.
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Can I apply to both the Feature-Length Documentary Grant and the Short-Form Documentary Grant?
No. An applicant may submit one story and cannot apply to both tracks in the same year.
Can documentarians residing outside of the U.S. apply?
Yes. The fellowship is open to filmmakers worldwide, regardless of nationality or citizenship.
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