The Academy Foundation of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is always finding ways to bring in an international voice. To that end, they awarded 44 recipients it’s FilmCraft and FilmWatch 2017 grants.
“This year, the grants will support non–profit organizations in 24 communities across the country, reach underserved high school students, support emerging and mid–career filmmakers of all ages, and will provide unique opportunities for enrichment and engagement with the cinematic community and its artists,” said Buffy Shutt, chair of the Academy’s grants committee.
The Academy’s FilmCraft and FilmWatch grants were established to identify and empower future filmmakers from nontraditional backgrounds, cultivate new and diverse talent, promote motion pictures as an art form, and provide a platform for underrepresented artists. Grants range from $5,000–$20,000, and a total of $500,000 was awarded for the 2017–2018 grants year.
The grant recipient institutions and programs in California are the following:
American Film Institute (Los Angeles, CA) – Directing Workshop for Women
– A tuition–free, year–long program that provides hands–on training and mentorship to increase the number of women working professionally in screen directing.
Association of Moving Image Archivists (Online) – Resources for Oral History Collections
– A collaboration with the Oral History Association (OHA), and with the Northeast Document Conservation Center (NEDCC) to bring in–person and online resources to those working with oral history collections.
California State University, Los Angeles (Los Angeles, CA) – Urban Stories Film Incubator
– A year–long experience where students will be guided through pre–production, production, and post-production to create short films or documentaries that tell their diverse community stories while developing their long–term filmmaking skills.
Echo Park Film Center (Los Angeles, CA) – ACTION! A Visiting Artist Residency Program
– A year–long series of visiting artist weekend residencies that invites documentary filmmakers of color to share their work, skills and experience with diverse audiences and the next generation of cinematic activists.
Hollywood CPR (Los Angeles, CA) – Entertainment Artist, Craft and Technicians Certificate Program
– Program provides under–represented students a unique opportunity to learn specialized craft and trade skills from IATSE industry professionals who are masters in their trade.
Inner-City Filmmakers (Los Angeles, CA) – Arts Education, Pre-Professional Training, Career Counseling and Jobs Placement Program
– Program provides under–represented students a unique opportunity to learn specialized craft and trade skills from IATSE industry professionals who are masters in their trade.
International Documentary Association (Los Angeles, CA) – Educational and Cultural Public Programs
– Programs showcase the insights of accomplished documentarians, offer high quality professional development opportunities, and deliver engaging content for diverse nonfiction filmmakers and cinema enthusiasts in multiple cities across the country.
Los Angeles County High School for the Arts Foundation (Los Angeles, CA) – Cinematic Arts Program Artists–in–Residence
– Will allow up to three year–long visiting artists in the Cinematic Arts Program to teach courses in screenwriting and sound design.
National Association of Latino Independent Producers (Los Angeles, CA) – Latino Lens Incubator
– An all-encompassing training and bridge program that helps participating filmmakers deliver a short film while working with the filmmakers to develop strategies, networking, and aim for film distribution.
San Francisco Film Society (San Francisco, CA) – Doc Talks at SFFS FilmHouse
– Program will be made up of six workshops, each of which will provide documentary filmmakers from a wide variety of backgrounds with guidance, mentorship, and practical filmmaking skills.
Streetlights (Los Angeles, CA) – Job Training and Placement Program
– Program delivers skilled workers from underserved communities to the entertainment industry by providing training that is industry-designed, industry-approved and Industry-taught.
Sundance Institute (Park City, UT) – 2017 Native Filmmakers Lab
– Program will identify and nurture two Native American or other indigenous film storytellers through an intensive three-day Lab focused on the craft, technical expertise, and direct financial support needed to produce their short film projects.
UNAM Los Angeles (Los Angeles, CA) – Tomorrow’s Filmmakers, Today’s Professional Development Program
– In collaboration with Hola Mexico Film Festival, is a ten-day professional development program for emerging Hispanic filmmakers in Los Angeles.
Visual Communications (Los Angeles, CA) – Armed With a Camera Fellowship Program
– A seven-month program that gives 10 emerging Asian Pacific American filmmakers the support to create new and original work.
Frameline’s San Francisco International LGBTQ Film Festival (San Francisco, CA) – Barriers & Breakthroughs in Identity & Culture: Has the Needle Shifted for Filmmakers of Color?
– A series of film screenings and panel discussions designed to examine the intersectionality of sexuality, ethnicity, gender and gender identity, and cultural authenticity primarily among queer and trans filmmakers of color.
Mill Valley Film Festival (San Rafael, CA) – Mind the Gap: Women | Film | Tech
– A festival-wide program that will engage professionals across the film and technology landscapes through a series of networking events, discussions, screenings, and workshops, with a goal of moving the needle on gender equity in the film industry.
ReelAbilities Film Festival (various locations) – Enhancing Accessibility Options for Film Screenings
– Will provide enhanced accessibility options (captioning and audio description) for 35–40 films screened at 14 regional ReelAbilities film festivals throughout North America.
San Francisco Jewish Film Festival (San Francisco, CA) – Immigration Nation program
– A two-week sidebar program in five Bay Area venues that will explore the experiences of refugees and new immigrants in today’s rising climate of xenophobia, nationalism and authoritarianism.