Filmmaking Grants for Individuals
Digital filmmaking tools put the power to make movies in the hands of anyone with a personal computer and digital video camera. But for many filmmakers, the process is still a complex and expensive one. Union labor, equipment rentals and long shooting schedules all drive up budgets and force filmmakers to devote effort to finding sources of funding.
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Types
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Individual filmmakers can choose from several different major types of grants. Some grants apply to specific projects and require filmmakers to submit scripts or summaries of the films they wish to make. Others reward past work, giving filmmakers cash to spend as they please on one or more future projects. Other filmmaking grants apply to specific aspects of production, such as screenwriting or post-production. Still others are education grants that pay for students to attend university programs and film workshops where they have access to equipment and expert guidance.
Sources
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Filmmaking grants come from both private and public institutions. Organizations such as the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and Film Independent give grants to filmmakers as a way of encouraging experimentation within the film medium and promoting new voices. Universities also offer film grants for students, both in the form of film scholarships and grants for specific productions. Film festivals are another source, sponsoring workshops and giving cash grants to festival winners or aspiring filmmakers who wish to exhibit there in the future.
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Amounts
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Film grants cover a wide range of amounts, but they are generally high to keep up with the costs of film production. For example, Film Independent offers the Elle/Garnier Directing Fellowship, which carries a $10,000 production grant, the Spirit Awards Grant which offers an unrestricted $25,000 cash payment and the Sloan producers Grant which pays $25,000 to an aspiring producer. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences grants for individual filmmakers range up to $30,000 (for the Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting).
Applying
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Filmmakers seeking grants need to apply directly to the institutions offering them. Applications usually require basic contact information as well as a written summary of a proposed project and some explanation of how the filmmaker plans to use the funds. Some filmmaking grants also require applicants to submit examples of past work on a DVD for review. In all cases, filmmaking grants are highly competitive and applicants need to find ways to make their projects stand out or appeal to the mission of the organization offering the grant.
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References
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- Photo Credit The retro movie camera in a museum image by Arkady Chubykin from Fotolia.com
