Introducing!
The 2024 Narrative Short Film Grant Program
The Berkeley FILM Foundation is very pleased to announce the launch of our first-ever short fiction film grant program. This program will be accepting short fiction films only and be a separate review process from the documentary-only grant program which closed in early May. The Berkeley FILM Foundation acknowledges the growing need for funding of short fiction film projects by East Bay filmmakers and will be holding this program as an annual event in the fall moving forward. Please review the guidelines and requirements outlined below. Once you have determined your eligibility, we invite you to submit an application using the Submittable platform. The application window will open on August 19, 2024. The deadline to submit will be Monday September 23, 2024 at 11:59p. If you are unable to submit a written application, please contact Isabella Miller at isabella@berkeleyfilmfoundation.org or at 510-705-1481 to discuss accommodations and alternate methods to apply.
Eligibility
To be considered for this grant, you must work or live in the city of Berkeley, Emeryville, Albany, El Cerrito, Richmond, Oakland or Alameda. You must provide a valid street address for application. PO Box addresses will not be accepted. Applicants may submit one project for consideration per funding cycle.
The applicant must be:
- The Director, co-director, Producer or co-Producer of the films. Organizations may not apply.
- Be at least 18 years of age.
BFF will not consider a new film proposal from a former grant recipient until the prior funded film is completed. If you have won a grant from BFF in the past, you will only be eligible if it is a non-consecutive year that you are applying, and it must be in a different category. For example, if you won a previous grant in the “production stage” you would then need to apply in the “post-production” stage.
Eligible Genre:
- Short Form Narratives (40 minutes or less)
Not Eligible:
- Long Form Narratives (40 minutes or longer)
- Broadcast reality entertainment
- Advertising Commercials
- Industrial or Corporate Media
- Animation over 30 minutes
- Music Videos
- Gallery or museum installations
- Documentary shorts
- Documentary features
We Do Not Fund:
- Retroactive costs
- Deferred costs
- Media projects other than film or video.
- Organizational projects for internal or promotional use.
- General operating expenses of companies or organizations.
What We Are Funding
Berkeley FILM Foundation will provide grants in the pre-production, production, post-production and distribution stages of the narrative short film project.
The Berkeley FILM Foundation is interested in short, fiction films that use creative, thoughtful and innovative methods to tell a story with a strong theme of social or environmental justice. The review committee will be judging films based on originality, imagination and technical skill.
Beyond the issues addressed in the film and the artistic approach, we are wondering: Is this a film that will gain a wide audience both within and outside of serious film viewers? Does the filmmaking team display a level of professionalism that will enable the film to be completed? These are some examples of things that you are encouraged to address in the application.
The Grants
BFF has two tiers of grants available to filmmakers in the Narrative Film Grant Program: special awards (listed below) and general grants. Student grants are not being offered for this program. Students that apply for a narrative grant must apply for a general grant. The number of general grants available has yet to be determined.
General Grants
General grants awarded will range between $5,000 - $10,000. The amount of the award will be determined by several aspects of the application including (but not limited to) the line items outlined in the project budget, the intended use of the grant, the stage of the project you are in and the team behind the project. If you receive less money than you asked for, it is usually because we have run low on allocated funds but want to support the project for its creativity or cultural or social relevancy and BFF’s small grant will help inspire other organizations to give larger amounts.
The Saul Zaentz Awards: Two separate $25,000 grants.
This has historically been the Berkeley FILM Foundation’s highest award given each year and is our most prestigious. This is the first year we are introducing a second Saul Zaentz Award for $25,000. These films are chosen during final deliberation of the review committee and these films will embody the mission and purpose of the organization and its commitment to social justice. The grants are named after world-renowned film producer, Saul Zaentz, who was an original founder of the Berkeley FILM Foundation.
* Recipients of these awards are determined by the grants review panel during their final deliberation. You may not apply for them specifically.
The Application
This application must be completed online through the application platform, Submittable. You must complete an online unless you have arranged an alternate method to apply. The application will be live on Monday, August 19, 2024.
Requirements
In addition to the various questions asked on the form, applicants will be required to include the following materials:
1. A Completed Application: Must be submitted via Submittable using the link on the ‘Apply’ page on our website, www.berkeleyfilmfoundation.org/apply.
2. Script: You must provide a PDF document of the completed script for your project. Please include page numbers.
3. Prior Work: You must provide links to previously completed film projects. These work samples will better understand your creative style and scope of your work.
4. Visual Materials: To get a better sense of your story, would be helpful to see visual materials describing your film in addition to the script and past work. These visual materials could be including (but not limited to), a pitch deck, sample scenes, Story board, concept designs, lookbook, a trailer, etc.
5. Project Budget: You must provide your full project budget for consideration as part of the application as an excel document. This includes a clear outline of your costs related to development, production, post-production, distribution and impact (if applicable). Please make sure the document is concise and eliminate all blank pages. If applying for a distribution grant, please provide a detailed distribution budget and the total production cost. Please make sure the document is formatted correctly and blank cells do not bleed onto additional pages.
6. Current resume: Please include a current resume for the director and producer of professional activities and achievements within the application. Other key personnel on the project may be listed on the resume as well.
Optional (but encouraged) Materials:
1. Footage: If you have shot any footage that has been crafted to a cohesive scene, we recommend you provide a link for review or upload to our portal. The sample should demonstrate your access to characters, visual treatment, and the developing tone and style. We recommend you choose a sample that provides the viewer insight into the team’s ability to communicate their intention. If a password is needed, please use: BFF (all caps).
Application Review
Grants and awardees are approved by the Berkeley FILM Foundation Board of Directors acting upon the recommendations of the Grant Review Panel. The Grant Review Panel is comprised four to six industry professionals distinguished in their respective artistic fields.
- Official applications and support documents must be received by Monday September 23, 2024 by 11:59p.
- The review process is approximately 8 weeks in length.
- Applicants notified of award decisions no later than December 17, 2024.
- Grants are awarded on a competitive basis.
Please Note:
The Berkeley FILM Foundation can only fund a small percentage of the applicants we receive. A rejection does not preclude future applications. If you are awarded a grant, the film must conduct one community screening in partnership with BFF following completion, taking into consideration signed distribution contracts.
For technical assistance, including troubles accessing your 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