Grants to California Filmmakers and Students for Animation Films, Dramatic Works, and Documentaries
Berkeley FILM Foundation (BFF) 2023 Grant Cycle
Agency
Foundation
GrantWatch ID#
153759
Funding Source
BERKELEY FILM FOUNDATION
CFDA Number:
Funding or PIN Number:
Array
(
)
Geographic Focus
USA: California: All applicants must live or work in Berkeley, Emeryville, Albany, El Cerrito, Richmond, or Oakland; For students, film studies program must be in Alameda, Contra Costa, San Francisco, or Marin.
Important Dates
Deadline: 05/30/23 5:00 PM PST - Deadline for Student Grant Applications
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Grant Description
Grants of up to $5,000 and grants of up to $12,000 to California students and filmmakers in eligible regions to create animation films, short dramatic works, narrative films, and documentaries. Funding is intended to support projects that are already in the production, post-production, or distribution stages. Student grants are intended for full-time students attending a local film school. For general grants, filmmakers must work or live in the cities of Berkeley, Emeryville, Albany, El Cerrito, Richmond, or Oakland. Applicants for student grants must be currently enrolled in a full-time film studies program in Alameda, Contra Costa, San Francisco, or Marin counties.
The Berkeley Film Foundation supports emerging and established independent filmmakers whose work combines intellectual clarity with the creative use of the medium. The Foundation supports both narrative and documentary works that have a social consciousness and address complex issues of our time.
Eligible Genre:
Short Form Animation (30 minutes or less)
Short Form Narratives (30 minutes or less)
Short Documentary (40 minutes or less)
Long Documentary (over 40 minutes)
The mission of the BFF is to nurture, sustain, and preserve the thriving local film community and provides grants for social, historical, and innovative documentary, animation, and dramatic work(s).
Eligibility for general grants:
• Filmmaker must work or live in Berkeley, Emeryville, Albany, El Cerrito, Richmond, or Oakland.
• Must use a valid street address for application; no P.O. Boxes accepted.
• BFF will not consider a new film proposal from a former grant recipient until the prior funded film is completed.
• Applicant must be:
o The Director or Producer of the film. Organizations may not apply.
o Be at least 18 years of age
o Be residing or working in a qualified city for at least one year prior to the application deadline.
o Be the primary creator of work submitted
Eligibility for student grants:
• Applicant must be over the age of 18.
• Student must live in the cities of Berkeley, Emeryville, Albany, El Cerrito, Richmond, or Oakland. The applicant may not use a P.O. Box address.
• Must be currently enrolled in a full-time film studies program in the following counties: Alameda, Contra Costa, San Francisco, or Marin
• Be the primary creator of work submitted
Ineligible
Not Eligible:
• Broadcast news journalism
• Broadcast reality entertainment
• Advertising Commercials
• Industrial or Corporate Media
• Animation over 30 minutes
• Narratives over 30 minutes
• Music Videos
The Foundation does not fund:
• Retroactive costs
• Media projects other than film or video
• Organizational projects for internal or promotional use
• General operating expenses of companies or organizations
• Pre-production film projects
Organizations may not apply.
Pre-Application Information
Deadlines:
- General grants: May 15, 5:00 PM PST
- Student grants: May 30, 5:00 PM PST
The review process takes five to six weeks before making recommendations. Applicants will be notified of award decisions no later than the end of July 2023.
- The funder is introducing a separate application for Narrative Short film projects. Applicants planning to submit a fiction project for review, please refer to the Narrative Short Guidelines document.
- All applicants must submit a clip or trailer of up to 10 minutes with their application.
- BFF will not consider a new film proposal from a former grant recipient until the prior funded film is completed.
Estimated Size of Grant
- Up to $12,000 for general and narrative awards
- Up to $5,000 for student awards
- The Saul Zaentz award is $25,000*, and The Al Bendich award is $20,000*.
* Recipients of these awards will be determined by the Grants Review Panel. Applicants may not apply for them separately.
- If an applicant is unable to submit a written application, they should contact Isabella Miller at isabella@berkeleyfilmfoundation.org or at 510-705-1481 to discuss accommodations and alternate methods to apply.
- For technical assistance, including troubles accessing an account or uploading files, please contact Submittable Support at support@submittable.com
- For content assistance, please contact the Berkeley Film Foundation at info@berkeleyfilmfoundation.org
Berkeley Film Foundation
Saul Zaentz Center
2600 Tenth St, Suite 427, Berkeley, CA 94710
(510) 705-1481 (office)
