Granting GUIDELINES

WINTER 2012 GRANTING CYCLE

Applications for the Winter 2012 Granting Cycle are currently under review, decisions will be announced by March 30th, 2012. Please note, the Global Film Initiative cannot respond to inquiries regarding the review-status of a project before this date.

GUIDELINES FOR SUMMER 2012 GRANT APPLICATION
FEATURE FILM PRODUCTION & DISTRIBUTION GRANT

APPLICATIONS ACCEPTED: MAY 31, 2012 - JULY 16, 2012
DEADLINE: JULY 16, 2012

Definition of Grants
Pre-Sale Option
Eligibility Requirements
Materials to be Submitted With Application
Timeline for the Winter 2012 call for applications
Mailing Address

Definition of Grants:

• The Global Film Initiative awards up to ten (10) grants per funding cycle (cycle deadlines in January and July).
• Each production grant will be in the amount of USD $10,000 with a pre–sale option.
• Each Honorable Mention award will be in the amount of USD $1,000.
• Grants are awarded to assist filmmakers with the production and post-production of their film.
• Projects by first-time filmmakers are eligible; documentary and short films are not eligible.

Pre-Sale Option:

• Each applicant may request to be considered for a pre-sale option for U.S. and Canadian distribution.
• Grant-recipients who elect the pre-sale option will be offered a distribution contract for all U.S. and Canadian distribution rights; the finished film will be included in the Initiative’s Global Lens film series upon completion, for complete U.S. and Canadian distribution.

Eligibility Requirements:
The Global Film Initiative will accept grant applications for films that meet the following creteria:

• Narrative, feature-length productions (more than 65 min); documentary and short films will not be accepted
• From the following regions (please note directors must have been born in and retain citizenship from the same country of production):  Africa, Asia (excluding Japan, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan), the Caribbean (excluding Cuba), Central and Eastern Europe (excluding European Union), Latin America, the Middle East (excluding Iran and Israel) and Oceania (excluding Australia and New Zealand). Please see DAC List for a complete list of eligible nations:
  http://www.globalfilm.org/pdfs/DAC_List.pdf
• Pre-production, production or post–production stage, and have not premiered or been screened publicly
• Fifty percent (50%) or more of production funding in place
• Finished in 16mm, 35mm, HD, DigiBeta or Beta

For additional questions, please see our Eligibility Requirements – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page.

Materials to be Submitted With Application:
Two (2) copies of each of the following (English-translated) materials must be included (incomplete applications will not be processed):

1. The completed application form
2. Synopsis (no more than one page)
3. Biographies of key production personnel (Director, writer and producer, at minimum)
4. Director’s Statement (A brief paragraph about the director’s motivation for creating the film)
5. A finished screenplay/script
6. A production budget including sources of production financing and amounts committed. (At least 50%-60% of funding sources must be in place to carry film through substantial amount of production)
7. Copies of agreements with production financiers to ensure that the film can complete substantial production within submitted budget
8. Production schedule
9. Previous films of filmmaker(s) (when available)
10. Rushes/dailies, selected scenes or rough cut/final cut (when available) of at least five (5) minutes in length (please send 2 copies of footage)

For additional questions, please see our Eligibility Requirements – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page.

Note:

• The Global Film Initiative does not fund documentaries or short films.
• Applications must be submitted by mail — electronic or faxed applications will not be accepted.
• Submission materials will not be returned to applicant.
• There are two submission deadlines per year.
• All grant amounts are at the sole discretion of the Global Film Initiative.
• Applications can be rejected at the sole discretion of the Global Film Initiative.

Timeline for the Summer 2012 Call for Applications:

May 31, 2012– Application period open
July 16, 2012 – Deadline for submission; applications must be postmarked by January 15th and sent via international courier.
October 2012 – Grant awards announced

Applications for the Winter 2012 Granting Cycle are currently under review, decisions will be announced by March 30th, 2012. Please note, the Global Film Initiative cannot respond to inquiries regarding the review-status of a project before this date.

Send Applications and Supporting Materials to:

The Global Film Initiative
145 Ninth Street, #105
San Francisco, CA 94103, USA

Questions about our Granting Program? Visit our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page or e-mail gfi-info@globalfilm.org (no phone calls please).