ABOUT SIGHTLINE
SIGHTLINE is the cornerstone of Dance Film SF’s artist support initiative. In the theater, a sightline is the unobstructed path between the spectator and the stage; in film, it is the precise alignment of the lens and the subject. We recognize that for many artists, the “middle” of the creative process can become obscured by technical, financial, and developmental hurdles.
SIGHTLINE provides the clarity and support needed to bridge that gap. We help artists navigate the transition from pre-production to a polished, premiere-ready product, ensuring their vision reaches its intended audience with maximum impact.
We help screendance projects reach their full potential through three specific pillars:
1. FINISHING GRANTS
Direct financial support for projects in production or post-production.
2. FISCAL SPONSORSHIP
Our 501(c)(3) status acts as your foundation, allowing artists to access grants and tax-deductible donations from individuals and granting organizations.
3. MENTORSHIP
Expert guidance from our staff and industry experts.
TIMELINE & REQUIREMENTS
Rolling Basis: SIGHTLINE accepts applications year-round — apply whenever you’re ready to leap.
Applicants must submit the following materials for consideration:
- Project Description: logline, synopsis, artistic approach, project stage and timeline, preferably in one-sheet or deck format
- Key Creative: film team and any attached advisers or consultants
- Funding Strategy: fundraising strategy, funding to date
- Budget
- Work Sample: trailer or director’s work sample
FEATURED PROJECTS
Tiler Peck: Suspending Time
Premiered at the 2025 San Francisco Dance Film Festival. Won the 2026 Emmy for “Outstanding Arts and Culture Documentary.”
Last Dance at the Sundance Stompede
Won the “Portrait of a Generation” Jury Prize from the Barcelona Dance Film Festival and Best Documentary from the San Francisco Dance Film Festival.
Griot
A new dance film by Adji Cissoko (LINES Ballet) and Yoram Savion (YAK Films). Set to premiere at the 2026 San Francisco Dance Film Festival.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Not at all. SIGHTLINE is designed to meet you where you are. On your application, simply select the specific services—Finishing Grants, Fiscal Sponsorship, or Mentorship—that best serve your project’s current needs.
While SIGHTLINE acts as a primary pipeline for the festival and many supported projects go on to premiere there, the two programs maintain separate selection processes. All films undergo an independent jury review to ensure curatorial integrity across the festival slate.
Fiscal sponsorship allows your project to operate under Dance Film SF’s 501(c)(3) non-profit status. This enables you to apply for institutional grants and offer tax-deductible receipts to individual donors, which is often the key to unlocking larger tiers of private funding.
Our mentors include Dance Film SF leadership, seasoned filmmakers, choreographers, and industry experts in distribution and festival strategy. Mentorship is tailored to your project’s specific roadblocks, whether they are artistic or administrative.
SIGHTLINE operates on a rolling basis. We review applications throughout the year to provide momentum exactly when you need it, rather than making you wait for an annual cycle. We keep our submission process intentionally streamlined and easy to navigate. While it is not a complex application, we do require a work sample (trailer, work-in-progress, and/or creative deck) to get a sense of your creative team and vision.
Yes. If your project undergoes significant development or moves into a new phase of production, we welcome re-submissions.
SIGHTLINE’S ROOTS: THE CO-LAB LEGACY
SIGHTLINE emerged from over 14 years of dedicated artist support. Since 2013, our Co-Lab program has served as an evolving engine for boundary-pushing work across dance, film, and interdisciplinary performance. What began as a time-based laboratory for choreographers and filmmakers has grown into this multi-faceted initiative that fuels the entire dance and film ecosystem. We honor our history of creative production as the foundation for our current mission: moving dance-centric projects from development to completion.