SIGNATURE EVENTS
FILM FLORIDA LEGENDS
From the earliest days of Filmmaking, Florida has played a significant role in the entertainment industry. Jacksonville hosted the Keystone Cops and Laurel and Hardy in the early 1900’s, D.W. Griffiths filmed in Ft. Lauderdale, Buster Keaton in St. Petersburg, and Miami’s Fleischer Studios turned Popeye and Betty Boop cartoons into Saturday matinee staples.
Our State’s tropical locations have long been the backdrop for such notable flicks as the Tarzan series, Creature From the Black Lagoon, Twelve O’Clock High and 30 Seconds Over Tokyo, The Yearling, the James Bond classic Goldfinger, Frank Sinatra’s Tony Rome, Elvis’ Clambake, and Jerry Lewis’ The Bellboy.
When television was coming of age, Jackie Gleason and Flipper represented Florida’s contribution to the medium, and a few decades later Miami Vice continued the tradition of legendary Florida productions.
With so much history and so many stories to tell about Florida’s entertainment legacy, Film Florida created the LEGENDS AWARDS, to honor the men and women who played such a big part in establishing our State as an entertainment powerhouse. Since its inception in 2006, FLORIDA LEGENDS honorees have included Ricou Browning Sr., Jordan Klein Sr., Mike and Brad Fuller, Ralph Clemente, Danny and Eddie Harvey and Digger Wilson, Errol Falcon, Michelle Marx, Belton Clark, Jerry Smith, Ray Fielding, Bill Grefe, Luke Halpin, Victor Milt, Dee Miller, John Patterson, Burt Reynolds, and posthumously Wes Skiles, Billy Mays, Egon Stephan Sr., Mike McGowan Sr., and Richard Norman Sr. Recent recipients include Sharon Gless, Emilio and Gloria Estefan, and Vanilla Ice.
These Legends remind us all of the dedication and hard work that these individuals, and many others yet to be recognized, contributed to Florida’s position in the entertainment production industry. Film Florida is proud to recognize their legendary efforts. Film Florida’s members nominate additional names for consideration to become Legends. A Legends Committee, made up of a cross section of Film Florida’s Councils, Executive Board and previous Legend honorees administers the nominations process and finally recommends new Legend Award recipients. For more information regarding Legends and our nomination process please contact the Legends Chair: [email protected]
DON DAVIS FINISHING FUND
The Don Davis Film Finishing Fund annually provides cash and in-kind production services to deserving filmmakers needing help to complete their film projects. The projects submitted have a broad range of subject matter and are judged by a committee of top industry professionals. As its name implies, the goal of the fund is to provide financial and/or in-kind support to filmmakers in order to finish their films. This is done through an annual judging processing.
“The funds namesake, Don Davis, was instrumental in passing legislation that has resulted in jobs and growth for Florida’s film industry,” said Graham Winick, Past President of Film Florida. “Representative Don Davis revived our industry by spearheading legislation that truly took our state to a more level playing field with other states also competing to bring in production business.” Then-Florida Lt. Governor Jeff Kottkamp agreed, “This is a fitting memorial to Representative Don Davis whose hard work has helped grow Florida’s film, television and digital media industry incentive program.”
In its first year of inception, the Fund was awarded a cash donation of $10,000 from Universal Studios Florida Production Group (USFPG) and its parent company NBC Universal. At stated by Pamela Tuscany-Warren, Vice President of USFPG, “We are saddened that our industry has lost a trailblazer, and want to continue his legacy with the Don Davis Film Finishing Fund that will assist filmmakers for generations to come. We think the creation of this fund will serve as a tribute to him, and that’s why we didn’t hesitate to contribute.”
Currently, the sponsors of in-kind grants are continuing to develop and grow. The program funds filmmakers working in both short and long formats in all genres- documentary, dramatic, educational, narrative, animated and experimental- whose films demonstrate advanced and innovative skills and whose works relates to the goals of Film Florida.
These goals are: • Promote the creation of jobs in the film & entertainment production industries • Promote economic development and tourism for the State of Florida
Grants Available • Cash Awards: Cash awards range from $500 to $1,500, with the number of grants varying from year to year. • In-Kind Awards: Currently being established and will include post-production services.
Special Requirements In order to apply for a Finishing Fund grant: • All projects must be shot entirely on location in Florida. • All major post production must be done in Florida. • Majority of crew hired must be “Florida Workers” defined as a person who has been a resident of Florida for at least one year at some time; or a person who graduated from a film school, college, university or community college in Florida in the past five years; or a person enrolled full-time in such a school, college or university.
• Filmmaker must have completed principal photography and be well into post production at the time of application. • Projects in development, pre-production, production or the early stages of post production will not be considered. • No student projects, graduate or undergraduate, will be considered.
You do not have to be a member of Film Florida to apply. In order to apply, you need to submit a proposal packet which includes these primary elements: • A completed project summary cover page which should include budget and distribution summaries • A DVD screener copy or file of your working rough-cut. • Application fee of $35.00. Please make check payable to Film Florida and send completed packet to: Film Florida Attn: Don Davis Film Finishing Fund 2516 Quail Park Terrace Kissimmee, FL 34743 [email protected]
Disclaimer(s): Recipients of the Don Davis Finishing Fund will be obligated to have finished film carry Film Florida logo in end credits, and filmmaker will have to be available for press opportunities.
Film Florida is legally responsible to the grantor(s) and must ensure that all funds are being used in accordance with your project proposal and budget. Film Florida must also guarantee that all activities are conducted according to IRS regulations and to that end, we will monitor all contributions received and expenditures of the funds.
THE SARA FULLER SCHOLARSHIP The Sara Fuller Student Scholarship was created in recognition of organizations that support Film Education. The program’s namesake, Sara Fuller, was a true pioneer in Florida’s Production Industry, and this scholarship honors her memory by supporting future filmmakers and encouraging excellence in the field of motion picture education.
Film Florida awards scholarships in the amount of $500.00 to organizations which can then award the scholarship to a student of their choice. To qualify, each organization must: • Provide a brief background / overview of their organization • Demonstrate how they support Film Education through their current programs, festivals, events, etc. • Demonstrate how they intend to promote Film Florida within their organization • Offer one invitation to a Film Florida representative to be present when the Sara Fuller Student Scholarship is awarded • Provide a short bio of the recipient and copies of marketing materials that illustrate the promotion of Film Florida at the completion of the program, festival, event, etc.
Applications for the Sara Fuller Scholarship are available on the Film Florida website at http://filmflorida.org/the-sara-fuller-scholarship.
CALENDARS
QUARTERLY MEETINGS 2019 – 2020
2nd Quarterly Meeting Boca Raton September 3-4, 2019
3RD Quarterly Meeting Orlando December 4-6, 2019
4TH Quarterly Meeting Tampa Week of March 23, 2020
1ST Quarterly Meeting (ANNUAL) Florida Keys June 2020
2ND Quarterly Meeting TBD September 2020
SALES MISSIONS 2019 – 2020