Women In Film (WIF) is a non-profit organization for women in the entertainment industry. Through its Foundation (WIFF), it sets aside a specific amount each year for its Film Finishing Fund (FFF) grant program to help support independent video and filmmakers who are working in or who actively seek to be working in the entertainment industry and who demonstrate advanced and innovative media making skills consistent with the organization’s goals, which are:
- to increase employment and promote equal opportunities for women in the entertainment industry
- to encourage individual creative projects by women and further their professional development
- to enhance the media image of women
- to influence prevailing attitudes and practices regarding and on behalf of women
TYPES OF GRANTS AVAILABLE:
1) CASH AWARDS: Cash grants from one thousand dollars ($1000) up to Fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000) per project.
2) IN-KIND AWARDS: On-line editing, post sound and other post-production services may be offered subject to availability. (Grants of post services are subject to availability and if available would generally only be provided in New York, Los Angeles or Washington, DC).
3) CONSULTATIONS with appropriate Women In Film and/or Women In Film Foundation board members may be provided for specific mentoring purposes.
GENERAL ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:
1) We encourage quality projects in all genres: narrative, documentary, educational, animated, and experimental.
2) Narrative Feature length Films: At least ninety percent (90%) of the Film must be complete. The rough cut should include placeholders for any missing scenes/footage.
3) For other genres including short narratives, animation, educational, documentaries, experimental: Only filmmakers who have completed principal photography and can submit a complete rough cut of the edited film are eligible to apply. No exceptions will be made - we will not review selected footage, partial assemblies, trailers, marketing reels, etc.
4) We accept projects of any length. The length of your project should relate to your planned avenue of distribution.
5) Submitted films cannot be fully completed (to final video master or answer print) and must be in a state of postproduction that allows for the filmmaker to comply with our credit requirements.
6) At the time the grant is awarded, the Film must not at any point have been in distribution.
7) No student projects will be considered for funding. This includes thesis projects and projects initiated while the applicant was a student.
8) Applicants do not need to be members of Women In Film, although they are encouraged to join.
9) There are no geographic limitations for the FFF. We accept applications from filmmakers worldwide; however, submitted materials must be accessible to English-speaking audiences or, at a minimum, have English subtitles. All submitted DVDs must be viewable in NTSC/Region 1 or Region 0 (all regions) format.
10) Projects must be RECEIVED (not postmarked) on or before Friday, April 29, 2011 to be considered for the 2011 Film Finishing Fund granting cycle. No exceptions will be made and any applications and materials received after this date will not be considered or returned.
11) If you are awarded a WIFF Film Finishing Fund grant, you must meet the crediting requirements as detailed in the Producer’s Warranty.
FFF AWARD JUDGING CRITERIA:
Following are some of the key elements the FFF judges consider as they review applications:
1. Does the film meet all general eligibility requirements for the FFF as listed on page 1?
2. Is there a clear demonstration that the WIFF FFF Grant will make a critical contribution to the completion of the film?
3. Are a substantial number of women in key creative positions?
4. Is the project by, for, or about women?
APPLICATION TIMELINE:
1) Complete the application and provide all supporting materials requested in this packet (including the application cover sheet and Producer Warranty). See the final page for “Frequently Asked Questions.”
2) Ship (via mail or FedEx/UPS/DHL, etc.) the completed application package to:
WOMEN IN FILM FOUNDATION
FILM FINISHING FUND 2011
6100 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 710
Los Angeles, CA 90048
3) All application materials must be legible (illegible applications will not be processed) and should be submitted in one package. The package must be received (not postmarked) by 5 p.m. Friday, April 29, 2011. Late applications will not be accepted. The Women In Film Foundation is not responsible for any material stolen or lost while in transit. For your own protection, please retain copies of all materials sent. Due to the volume of material received each year, we cannot
confirm receipt of materials. If you would like delivery confirmation, please add this feature to your package at the post office when shipping your materials, or send your package via another trackable delivery service (i.e., DHL, FedEx, UPS, etc.).
4) Judging takes place between May 23 and July 23, 2011.
5) Finalists must deliver bio, production stills, head shots of themselves, and art work if available.
Winners and applicants will be notified in the month of August 2011.
Application form here.
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