SHORT FILM 20 APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS 20 2018 Recipient: PAHOKEE 2019 Recipient: MISS JUNETEENTH THE 2020 AUSTIN FILM SOCIETY GRANT The AFS Grant makes annual grants to film and video artists in the state of Texas. Awards are provided to artists whose work shows promise, skill, and creativity. AFS is committed to fostering diverse and underrepresented voices in independent film. 2020 AFS Grant Applications Special attention is paid to provide support to women filmmakers and those who must be made through our website at www.austinfilm.org. identify with communities of color. Funded through revenues from the Texas Film For more information, call 512-322-0145 or email Awards, the Texas Commission on the Arts and private and corporate donations, the [email protected]. grant serves to redress the loss of public funds for filmmakers by disbursing funds for production and distribution and offering travel stipends to Texas filmmakers. Since 1996, AFS has awarded over $2M in cash and $340,000 in-kind goods and services to 425 artists. AFS Grant recipients have shown their films at renowned festivals like Sundance, Berlin, Cannes, Toronto, Venice, Tribeca, Rotterdam and SXSW, and have won Independent Spirit Awards and Student Academy Awards. The Austin Film Society is a 501(c)(3) non-profit media arts organization. Established in 1985, the Austin Film Society makes great film and independent filmmaking accessible in Texas. The grant was started in 1996 as the Texas Filmmakers’ Production Fund, and was renamed the AFS Grant in 2013. This project is supported in part by the Cultural Arts Division of the City of Austin Economic Development Department. 2017 Recipient: RENEEPOPTOSIS 2018 Recipient: 1985 Fall Application: The fall call for entries will • If you have only received one AFS grant, you will not exceed $10,000. However, applicants accept applications for short film projects only can reapply for the same project as long as can receive in-kind support valued in excess (under 40 minutes). you are in good standing on your contract of the $10,000 cash grant (in other words, with us. You must include a written progress applicants can apply to receive in-kind grants The application for short films will open in report that shows your project’s status has on top of $10,000 cash). September. The deadline for short projects advanced significantly since the last time it is Thursday, October 8, 2020. Applications was awarded funding. (Listed in the Required The Harrison McClure Endowed Film Fund - Cash must be submitted by 5pm CST. In November, Attachments section). Grant an independent panel of professionals from the The Harrison McClure Endowed Film Fund, national film community will convene III. Applicant Responsibilities $2,500, goes to an undergraduate student to review applications and administer awards. All applicants are required to do the following for the making of a short or feature film Awards are announced in December. after submitting their grant application: that will complete a course or degree • You must notify AFS immediately of any requirement. Students eligible to receive I. Applicant and Project Eligibility significant changes to your project that the grant must be rising juniors or seniors In order to be eligible to submit to the grant, occur after you submit your project. and must be enrolled as full-time students you must meet the following requirements: • If you are awarded an AFS grant, you in a four-year college or university located • This is a grant for filmmakers currently are required to carry out a project that is in Texas. The selected film must agree to residing in the state of Texas. consistent with the proposal you submitted. include a credit or thanks to the "Harrison • You must be the director or co-director of • If your project changes significantly from McClure Endowed Film Fund" in addition the project in order to apply. your proposal, you must write us a written to the crediting requirements of the AFS • You must be a Texas resident since request before expenditure of grant funds. Grant. Additionally, the selected filmmaker is September 1, 2019. Approval isn’t guaranteed. required to supply a copy of the finished film • You cannot apply if you are attending school • AFS will send you a post-grant period to the Endowment donors and the parents full time outside the state of Texas. questionnaire which serves as your report on of Harrison McClure, a promising Texas film • AFS staff and Board members may not be your grant. student whose life and passion for filmmaking the project applicant. are memorialized by this fund. • All genres of film and video are eligible to IV. AFS Grant Awards: What You Can Apply For apply, except industrial or promotional Fall Deadline –Shorts (Narrative and MPS Camera and Lighting Austin - In-Kind Grant pieces, music videos and “works-for-hire.” Documentary, Experimental Animation) The MPS Camera and Lighting Austin Grant is a credit from Austin-based MPS Camera Projects must meet the following requirements: Applicants can apply for any and all of the for up to $10,000 in production services. • All projects must be stand-alone single following cash and in-kind awards offered as This includes camera, lenses, lighting/grip works. TV or Web series are not eligible at part of the 2020 AFS Grant, noting that cash and electrical, among other services. The this time. grants will be awarded up to but not exceed grant does not apply to post-production • Project must be in pre-production, $10,000 per project. Please note that some services. This grant comes in the form of production, post production or distribution cash grants and in-kind grants have their own a certificate from MPS Camera Austin. An stages. eligibility requirements, so please read over the awarded certificate must be used on the requirements for each grant carefully. applying project and cannot be sold. Any II. Eligibility for Previous Recipients unused certificate must be returned to the If you have already received an AFS Grant the AFS Grant - Cash Grant Austin Film Society. Please visit the MPS following applies to you: • Projects may apply for up to $10,000 cash for Camera Austin website for more details • If you received two previous AFS grants for production or post-production through the about what they offer. Grantees must meet the same project, you cannot apply for a AFS Grant fund. Projects may apply for up to MPS’ minimum insurance requirements, and third AFS Grant. This does not include AFS $3000 for distribution support. rentals are subject to availability. MPS must travel grants. • Total cash support from the AFS Grant fund be credited in the project credits. sWebinar Shedule • The video sample is the most important part and anticipated dates. Webinars will take place via the web-based of your application as this is a film grant. It • Timeline should cover the project from pre- Zoom application. These webinars will provide must showcase your best work. production all the way through distribution. a general overview of the AFS Grant for short • The sample can include: a scene from the • Project timeline should not exceed 1 page. projects and all application areas. Advance proposed project or prior work. Do not registration is required to receive the Zoom link submit trailers for your required sample. For PROJECT PERSONNEL (Required, Submit Online) and instructions. more information, check out the Grant • Write up to 1 page detailing the bios of your Wednesday, September 9, 2020 at 5:30pm CST Writing Tipsheet. key creative team. Friday, October 2, 2020 at 12 noon CST • For applicants requesting distribution funds: Footage from the submitted project must be TREATMENT OR SCRIPT (Required, Submit Online) Application Preparation part of the video sample. • Write a treatment (1-10 pages) that focuses Applying for the grant is an online process. • Online video links must not be replaced or entirely on the story and the characters. Applications and all supporting materials must changed during the application review period • For narrative projects, a full script is be submitted online at https://www.austinfilm. (October-December) preferred to a treatment. This is not a org/afs-grants-applications/ (including screenplay competition and so early drafts video sample submissions). Please refer to Required Attachments: are fine. You can indicate how many rewrites the application form instructions for more Upload each of the attachments as PDFs with you plan to do in your project description or information on the required materials. For your application. timeline. advice on how to best approach each of these sections, you can refer to our Grant Writing PROJECT DESCRIPTION (Required, Submit Online) ADDITIONAL SUPPORT MATERIAL Tipsheet. Project Description should not exceed 2 pages (Required, Submit Online) and should include: • Additional video samples, such as a link to a Application Form Instructions • Description of the story of the film with full feature or full short, are encouraged. Go to the grant section of our website: https:// details about stylistic approach, visual • In digital format, reviews, articles, images or elements, story structure, and thematic www.austinfilm.org/AFS-Grants-Applications/ letters of support that show your project in threads. (Recommend 2- 3 paragraphs). (AFS Grant info is under the "Filmmaker a favorable light. • Description of your production plan, creative Support" section if you don't find it on the home • Letters of support are encouraged but not team, and information about project status required. You may submit up to two letters page). You will be able to save and return to to date. (Recommend 1 paragraph). of support with your application. See “Grant your application. • Information about your target audience and Writing Tips” for advice about letters of distribution plans.