Tubi’s $250,000 Fandom Fund Is Not Open to Applicants
The fund will back creator-led films and series for Tubi in 2027, but independent creators cannot apply to this round.
By shahzad
6 min read0 readers
In this story
Key takeaways
Tubi and Kickstarter announced the Fandom Fund on November 13, 2026, to support creator-led films and series that will premiere exclusively on Tubi starting in 2027.
Business Insider reported that the initiative totals $250,000; the current round has already been selected, so creators cannot submit a new Fandom Fund application now.
Independent creators can follow Kickstarter’s film updates and review the broader Culture Fund, but that is not an open application to the current Tubi round.
Tubi and Kickstarter announced a new creator-funding partnership on November 13, 2026. The Fandom Fund will provide selected digital-first storytellers with funding and promotion, but Kickstarter says the projects for this round have already been chosen and applications are not open.
What happened
Tubi, the free ad-supported streaming service owned by Fox, and Kickstarter announced the Tubi x Kickstarter Fandom Fund on November 13. It is designed to help independent digital-first creators turn projects and existing online audiences into films and series for a larger screen.
Tubi says selected creators will receive funding, promotional support and an exclusive debut on its service. The companies expect supported projects to begin streaming in 2027. The genres named in Tubi’s announcement include horror, young adult, stories centered on Black entertainment, true crime, LGBTQ+ projects, comedy and reality.
One selected project will receive additional support to develop into a full series or feature film. Tubi says its platform has 110 million monthly active users; that is the company’s audience figure, not a promise that every funded project will reach that number of viewers.
Business Insider reported that the Fandom Fund totals $250,000, with $150,000 distributed among about eight to 15 creators and a further $100,000 in matching funds for one project. Tubi’s announcement confirms the additional opportunity for one project but does not publish the dollar breakdown.
The Fandom Fund is part of Kickstarter’s Culture Fund. On the official Fandom Fund page, Kickstarter describes a process in which creators launch a project on its platform, build support from backers and, if selected, receive the fund’s boost and a path to a Tubi premiere.
The key application detail is easy to miss: the current Fandom Fund round is not accepting applications. Kickstarter says Tubi and Kickstarter have already selected the projects from creators who built audiences online.
Why it matters
Analysis: The partnership gives Tubi a way to find stories from creators who already have communities, rather than relying only on projects developed through traditional production channels. Creators get a possible combination of funding, promotion and a streaming debut; Tubi gets a pipeline of programming with an audience attached.
The $250,000 figure does not make this a general grant that every filmmaker can request. The current round is selection-based, and Kickstarter says the chosen creators had already built an online audience.
There is also a distinction between ownership and distribution. Kickstarter’s FAQ says creators keep ownership of their projects and creative vision. That does not remove the need to review any agreement covering the exclusive Tubi debut, promotion, delivery requirements, payment and future distribution. Those contract details are not set out in the public announcement.
The deal is another example of entertainment companies seeking new ways to develop and distribute creator-led work. Big Zero has also covered Spotify’s partnership with Scholastic to add children’s audiobooks to Premium and Atlantic Music Group’s push behind emerging act LNGSHOT. The Fandom Fund differs by connecting crowdfunding, production support and a planned streaming release.
What creators should do now
If you are an independent filmmaker or digital creator, do not treat the Fandom Fund as an open call. Kickstarter says this round’s projects have already been selected and invites creators to sign up for its film newsletter for future opportunities.
The same page says independent creators can apply to the broader Kickstarter Culture Fund, described as a $1 million fund for creators in film, art, fashion and music. Check that program’s eligibility rules and terms; an open Culture Fund application does not mean the Tubi Fandom Fund round has reopened.
Creators considering a future Kickstarter campaign can take four practical steps:
Build an audience. The Fandom Fund targets digital-first creators who already have an audience. Keep evidence of engagement, not just follower totals.
Plan the budget. Kickstarter says its funding model is all-or-nothing: a project receives its Kickstarter funds only if it reaches its goal. Include production, rewards, fees and delivery in the target.
Protect project rights. The FAQ says creators keep ownership, but review any agreement for exclusive streaming, licensing, promotional use, deadlines and future seasons.
Follow official updates. Use the Fandom Fund page rather than relying on reposted application links.
For viewers, the announcement does not describe a change to Tubi’s viewing terms. It points to creator-led projects arriving in 2027; individual titles and premiere dates have not been published.
What is still unknown and what to watch next
Tubi’s announcement does not name the selected creators or projects or give individual release dates. The public pages also do not set a schedule for the next Fandom Fund round.
Business Insider reported the overall funding amount and allocation, while Tubi’s release confirms the program structure and additional support for one project. More detail about the selection process, production milestones and distribution agreements may emerge as projects are announced.
The next useful signals are the selected creators, the first project announcements and any update from Kickstarter about future opportunities. Until then, creators should distinguish the Fandom Fund from the broader Culture Fund.
FAQ
Can creators apply to the Tubi Fandom Fund?
Not for the current round. Kickstarter says the projects have already been selected and directs creators to its film newsletter for future opportunities.
How much money is in the Fandom Fund?
Business Insider reported a total of $250,000, including funding for a group of creators and a larger matching award for one project. Tubi confirms the extra support but does not state the dollar breakdown in its announcement.
Where will the funded projects stream?
The selected films and series are expected to debut exclusively on Tubi starting in 2027. Individual premiere dates and a title list have not been announced.
Do creators keep ownership of their work?
Kickstarter’s FAQ says creators keep ownership of their projects and creative vision. Ownership is separate from distribution terms, so creators should review any agreement covering an exclusive Tubi debut and other rights.
Is the broader Kickstarter Culture Fund open?
Kickstarter’s Fandom Fund page describes the Culture Fund as a $1 million program and says applications are open. That does not reopen the current Tubi Fandom Fund round.
Bottom line
The Tubi-Kickstarter Fandom Fund is a new route for selected digital-first creators, not an open application for every filmmaker. Creators should sign up for Kickstarter’s official film updates and review the broader Culture Fund separately before preparing a proposal.
