The 1 Potato Short Film Grant is made possible by a generous contribution from FELICITAS FUNKE
Made for filmmakers. Rooted in idaho
The 1 Potato is developed to support emerging filmmakers and incentivize filmmaking in the state of Idaho. The winning storyteller gets a prize of $5,000 to bring their story to life, filming on location in Idaho.
$5000
Production Grant
MENTORSHIP
Guidance from SVFF industry experts.
IDAHO FOCUS
All narrative and documentary projects must be filmed in Idaho.
FESTIVAL PREMIERE
The completed film will have its world premiere at 2027 SVFF.
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
The 1 Potato Production Grant is open to filmmakers across the United States with submissions for narrative or documentary short films (live-action).
The winning project will receive $5,000 toward production costs to shoot the film on location in Idaho. The Sun Valley Film Festival (SVFF) will support the winning filmmaker throughout the process, from development through completion.
The winning film will premiere at the 2027 Sun Valley Film Festival.
2026 GRANT
$5,000.
One Film.
Made Here.
WHAT TO SUBMIT
NARRATIVE
Submit a screenplay written in English and a pitch deck for the film.
DOCUMENTARY
Submit a pitch deck for the film.
RULES & ELIGIBILITY
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The competition is open to all levels of experience.
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All narrative projects must be set in and filmed in Idaho.
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All documentaries must be filmed in Idaho.
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Narrative scripts must be 8 pages or less.
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Final films must be 10 minutes or less.
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Participants must be at least 18 years of age.
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The winning script will receive $5,000 (paid in 3 installments).
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The winner will have one year to complete the film and premiere at the 2027 SVFF.
2026 GRANT
$5,000.
One Film.
Made Here.
PREVIOUS WINNERS
2025 WINNER
COLIN INSLEY
featherCOVER
“Supporting the 1 Potato is an investment not only in the present but the future of filmmaking in Idaho because it’s localized as a specifically Idaho grant that requires the film to be shot in Idaho, ideally using Idaho crews. Anyone that works on a film that is funded by the 1 Potato will benefit directly from that investment because it exposes them to more professional filmmaking, and that can only benefit the larger Idaho film economy because anyone that works on a 1 Potato production will take little lessons and bits and pieces from that experience to their next thing and there will be a ripple effect out from there that will only make the films coming out of Idaho stronger and better and more interesting.”
2019 WINNER
SCOTT BURKHARDT
GIRLS ARE STRONG HERE
“The 1 Potato Award was the catalyst for me to make Girls Are Strong Here. The film went on to play a dozen festivals and won the Grand Jury Prize at IFF Boston and the 2022 Humanitas Prize for Best Short Film. I could not have done it without the support of the Sun Valley Film Festival and the amazing Idaho crew they connected me with"
2016 WINNER
EVA KONSTANTOPOULOS
RE/COLLECTION
“Winning the competition kicked the production of the script into high gear and gave us the resources and connections to the bring the film to life. We worked with an enthusiastic crew and the sweeping Boise landscape provided scenic locations and colorful characters for the project. At the Sun Valley Film Festival premiere, the programmers connected us to other passionate filmmakers and industry insiders and invited to the jam-packed days of panels and meet and greets. (Oh, and Sun Valley is just beautiful, GO!)