Short Film Studi
WE’RE BACK FOR VOL. 2 OF
ANTIGRAVITY ACADEMY’S SHORT FILM STUDIO
POWERED BY DOLBY CREATOR LAB.
$35K GRANT. YOU CREATE. WE PRODUCE.
APPLY NOW!
What is the Short Film Studio?
This program will support two filmmakers by developing, producing, and financing their live action or animation short films—championing bold, original stories that offer unseen perspectives.
The Short Film Studio challenges filmmakers to push creative boundaries and elevate their work by combining Dolby’s cutting-edge technologies with Antigravity Academy’s production expertise. Offering comprehensive support from script development through post, the studio is led by Antigravity Academy Founder and Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Carlos López Estrada, Antigravity’s Head of Development Holly Stanton and Producer, Valerie Bush.
What happened last year?
We completed 4 incredible films through the program. 2 were selected for the 2026 Sundance Film Festival. 1 was selected for the 2026 SXSW Film Festival. And there is more to come!
View our 2025 filmmakers here!
What do I need to apply?
A short film screenplay (12 pages maximum), a brief introductory video (1 minute maximum), a director’s deck, and a directing sample (4 minutes maximum).
See FAQs below for more details.
What will participants gain from the program?
Selected filmmakers will receive a $35,000 production budget and hands-on creative development and production leadership from Antigravity Academy at every stage of the filmmaking process. All films will be completed using Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos, ensuring the highest level of creative and technical quality.
Antigravity Academy will serve as the film studio and lead producing entity, overseeing and guiding each project through development, greenlight, production, and post-production. Filmmakers can expect structured development, script notes and revision deadlines, clearly defined production timelines, and continuous feedback from development through post-production.
By the end of the program, filmmakers will have a completed short film ready for festival submission. The program begins in spring 2026, with films completed by the fall.
What is Antigravity Academy?
Antigravity Academy is an Emmy-winning creative home for singular storytellers, with a unique emphasis on emerging talent. We develop and produce stories that haven’t been told before in film, television, documentary, short-form and beyond.
Antigravity recently wrapped production on our second feature, DED, directed by Carlos López Estrada and currently in pre-production for our next feature, THIRSTYGIRL by Alexandra Qin. Our debut film, DÌDI (弟弟), written and directed by Sean Wang, premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival where it won the Audience Award, opened globally later that summer via Focus Features, and went on to win two Independent Spirit Awards. We have a robust slate of projects in development across narrative film, documentary, and television, including the comedy series SMUGGLERS, in collaboration with This American Life and showrunner Joanna Calo (THE BEAR). In September of 2024, Antigravity presented the multimedia film “FOR MEXICO, FOR ALL TIME” at the Sphere in Las Vegas as the centerpiece of the groundbreaking sporting event,
Noche UFC.
What is Dolby Creator Lab?
Dolby Creator Lab was created to educate, inspire, and empower the next generation of filmmakers, musicians and game developers. Through university partnerships and community programs, we’re actively involved in helping new creatives find their voice by expanding access to software, making professional technology easier to use and getting artists the resources they need.
To learn more visit www.DolbyCreatorLab.com
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