Awards and Competitions

ZOOPA COMPETITIONS are available to filmmakers who would like to compete in advertising contests by producing videos for clients such as Nike, Google, Microsoft and Universal Studios. Simultaneously ongoing projects with different deadlines. Prizes up to $20,000 per ad. WEBSITE: http://zooppa.com/.

LINKTV VIEWCHANGE ONLINE FILM CONTEST
You know that stories can change how we think and how we act. Now LinkTV, the nation’s largest independent television broadcaster is calling out to filmmakers and to those working in global development: Tell your story. Change the world. On April 30th Link TV launched the ViewChange Online Film Contest, with $50,000 in cash prizes. The ViewChange Online Film Contest is looking for short films (in any genre) that examine international development efforts toward achieving the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Online voters will help determine the finalists, with the winners selected by a distinguished panel of judges that includes Gael García Bernal, Wim Wenders, Danny Glover, Senator Daniel K. Inouye, Angélique Kidjo and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. Winners and finalists’ videos will be nationally broadcast on Link TV and showcased at major events in New York City and Washington D.C. All six category winners will be included in ViewChange.org, a cutting-edge digital media hub launching in November 2010. WEBSITE: http://www.linktv.org/viewchangefilmcontest

last updated: 05.19.2010

Funding

ASTRAEA VISUAL ARTS FUND is accepting works from contemporary lesbian visual artists within the U.S.. Each year, three grants of $2,500 are awarded to artists working in an array of media including sculpture, painting, prints, mixed media and works on paper. This fund does not include film/video, or photography submissions. DEADLINE: September 7. WEBSITE: http://www.astraeafoundation.org/grants/grant-applications-and-deadlines/#visual_arts.

ANDY WARHOL FOUNDATION FOR THE VISUAL ARTS awards grants biannually to curatorial programs at museums, arts organizations, and other cultural institutions for the presentation of visual arts, including film. Foundation also gives funds to organizations for re-granting (for new works only) and artist-in-residence programs. Organizations should have nonprofit status; individuals and fiscally sponsored projects are not eligible. DEADLINE: September 1. WEBSITE: http://warholfoundation.org/grant/overview.html.

ASSOCIATION OF MOVING IMAGE ARCHIVISTS (AMIA) KODAK FELLOWSHIP IN FILM PRESERVATION provides $4,000 toward tuition and registration fee to a student pursuing a career in the profession of moving image archiving. The scholarship includes free registration to the annual AMIA conference and a four-week internship at Kodak and other film restoration facilities in Los Angeles during the summer of 2011. Transportation and housing will be provided at no cost, and student will be paid a stipend to offset other living expenses. Applicants must have a minimum 3.0 GPA, and be enrolled in a graduate-level or other advanced program in film or television studies or production, library services, archival administration, museum studies, or a related discipline for the next academic year. Fellowship applicants must be at least 21 years of age on or before July 1, 2011, and must have a valid driver’s license. DEADLINE: Applications must be received by May 1. WEBSITE: http://www.amianet.org/events/kodak.php.

PACIFIC PIONEER FUND is accepting applications from emerging documentary filmmakers who live and work in California, Oregon and Washington. Total annual grants up to approximately $100,000, ranging from $1,000-$10,000. DEADLINE: April 15, 2010; August 15, 2010. Rejected applicants must wait one year to reapply. WEBSITE: www.pacificpioneerfund.com/.

TRANSVIDEO STUDIOS IN-KIND MATCHING GRANTS PROGRAM provides grants to filmmakers and video artists who are either seeking funding or have already secured some production or post-production funding. AWARDS: Matching funds are provided up to $40,000 in equipment and $20,000 in funding. DEADLINE: none. WEBSITE: www.transvideo.com.

GRANTMAKERS IN FILM + ELECTRONIC MEDIA (GFEM) MEDIA DATABASE is a new online portal that allows media funders to learn about quality media projects. Grantseekers load projects into the site through a series of web-based forms. GFEM staff review projects, and, if approved for inclusion, projects become entries in the online database. Grantmakers will be able to search the database to look for projects to support. ELIGIBILITY: Projects must already have at least one foundation or government funder attached. DEADLINE: none. WEBSITE: media.gfem.org.

last updated: 05.19.2010

Media Training/Labs

SFFS FILMMAKER CLASSES (ongoing) The San Francisco Film Society offers relevant and engaging classes for emerging artists, film professionals and cinephiles of all ages and skill levels. The program develops and hones students’ skills in small classroom settings, where participants learn how to shape their ideas for documentary or narrative films into fully realized productions. SFFS Filmmaker Education covers both the business side and the artistic aspects of filmmaking and empowers students to capitalize on the latest funding trends, business models and networking opportunities. Classes can be taken individually or as a track and are designed to provide the in-depth knowledge and skills necessary for optimum performance in screenwriting, production, documentary filmmaking, professional development and film studies.PRESENTED BY: The San Franciso Film Society. LOCATION: San Francisco, CA (San Francisco Film Centre in the Presidio, at the Ninth Street Independent Film Center and other locations). WEBSITE: www.sffs.org/filmmaker_services/classes.html.

last updated: 05.19.2010

Residencies

SAN FRANCISCO FILMHOUSE is accepting applications for its 6-month residency program at Pier 27 in San Francisco, starting mid-September. The FilmHouse Residencies offers 2,800 square feet of production office space available free of charge to local independent filmmakers actively engaged in various stages of film production, and are designed to bring together under one roof an eclectic mix of San Francisco filmmakers for mutual encouragement and support. Application fee: $25. DEADLINE: May 28. WEBSITE: http://www.sffs.org/filmmaker-services/filmhouse-residencies/filmhouse-guidelines.aspx.

SQUEAKY WHEEL ARTISTS IN RESIDENCE PROGRAM (August – November 2010) offers equipment-access residencies at its facilities in Buffalo, NY. NEA Int’l Digital Filmmaker Residency is offered to one “mid-career experimental filmmaker who is interested in crossing the digital divide but lacks access and training.” Four-week residency includes Final Cut Pro training, unlimited access to Squeaky Wheel’s film, video, and computer equipment facilities, $1,000 stipend, and travel and hotel accommodations. Artist must complete and exhibit at least one new work during residency, and is required to conduct a free public workshop (four–eight hours) on a media arts subject of her/his choice. squeaky.org. DEADLINE: June 16. WEBSITE: http://squeaky.org/.

ATLANTIC CENTER FOR THE ARTS ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE PROGRAM (October 11-31) “provides artists the opportunity to work and collaborate with some of the world’s masters in the visual, literary, and performing arts” for approx. one month in New Smyrna Beach, FL. Three master artists from different disciplines (including film/video) accept up to ten mid-career associate artists for cross-genre master classes and project collaborations. Master artists selected by invitation only; no unsolicited requests accepted. Associate artists select a master artist then submit cover letter to master artist and later work samples as requested. Room, board, and limited meals provided. Facilities include digital computer lab. Application fee: $25. DEADLINE: May 21. WEBSITE: atlanticcenterforthearts.org.

AMERICAN INDIAN ARTIST RESIDENCY offers affordable short and long-term living and studio spaces for artists of all disciplines. Each living space includes basic furnishings, a kitchen, bathroom, double bed, and private phone. Residency Costs: Hewitt Upstairs Apartment and Studio: $1,225; Hewitt Downstairs Apartment and Studio: $1,225; Back Dyott Apartment: $925; Middle Dyott Apartment: $550; Front Dyott Apartment: $625. Required work samples: 10 images of work (for visual art residency) or no more than 15 pages of plays or film scripts (for literary residency). No entry fee. DEADLINE: June 15 for winter residencies (October–December 2010); September 15 for Writer Residency (January 2011). WEBSITE: http://www.montanaartistsrefuge.org/apply.html.

last updated: 05.19.2010

Screenwriting

AUSTIN FILM FESTIVAL (AFF) SCREENPLAY COMPETITIONS award cash prizes in two divisions. eart of Film Screenplay Competition is open to original narrative feature-length (90–130 pages) scripts in two categories: adult/family and comedy. Prime Time Teleplay Competition is open to teleplays based on a current television series in two categories: sitcom and drama. Applicants to either competition must not currently earn a living by writing for film or television.Entry fee: teleplay, $30; screenplay, $40; no fee for student competition. (Note: See Notices for conference registration information. Film festival accepts entries until July 15, see Web site for submission information.) (512) 478-4795 or toll free, (800) 310-FEST; fax: (512) 478-6205; austinfilmfestival.com. Postmark deadlines: screenplays, May 7; teleplays, June 1; early student, May 21; final student, Aug. 27.Website: http://www.austinfilmfestival.com.

last updated: 05.19.2010