WAVE Grant for Female and Gender Non-Conforming BIPOC Filmmakers
This grant provides financial support and mentorship to emerging BIPOC female and gender-nonconforming filmmakers in the U.S. to help them produce their first short narrative films.
The WAVE (Women At the Very Edge) Grant is an annual initiative aimed at supporting emerging BIPOC female and gender-nonconforming filmmakers who are ready to tell their unique and powerful stories. Each year, five filmmakers are awarded a $5,000 seed grant to help produce their first short narrative film. Along with financial support, recipients also receive a year-long mentorship from Wavelength’s award-winning team, providing guidance through all stages of production, including development, post-production, and festival strategies. In addition to the grant, all applicants are given the opportunity to participate in a free five-part workshop series hosted by Seed&Spark. These workshops cover essential filmmaking topics such as crowdfunding, pitching, budgeting, and distribution. For the top 20 finalists, the program offers a one-on-one consultation with a Seed&Spark crowdfunding expert, further helping them refine their projects. The grant is open to U.S.-based filmmakers who identify as women or gender-nonconforming members of the BIPOC community. To be eligible, applicants must be directing their first scripted narrative short film of approximately 10 minutes in length. Projects that are already in production or post-production, student films, documentaries, feature films, and series are not eligible. Applicants must also own the copyright and maintain editorial and budgetary control over their projects. The short film’s production cannot begin before February 2025, and the project must be completed by the end of 2025. As part of the application process, filmmakers are required to submit a treatment of the film, a budget and schedule (even if preliminary), a resume or CV, and a 1-3 minute video pitch introducing themselves and their project. While a script is not mandatory, it is strongly encouraged if available. The deadline for applications is November 15, 2024, at 11:59 PM PT. Finalists will be interviewed in January 2025, and all applicants will be notified of their application status by January 31, 2025. The WAVE Grant program begins in February 2025, and recipients will have the chance to showcase their completed short films at a special screening during the Yellow Springs Film Festival.
Award Range
$1,000 - $5,000
Total Program Funding
Not specified
Number of Awards
Not specified
Matching Requirement
No
Eligible Applicants
Additional Requirements
ELIGIBILITY Wavelength’s WAVE Grant is for a short narrative film of approximately 10 minutes. Shorts already in production or post-production will not be considered. Production of the short must be completed within 2025. Production cannot begin before Feb. 2025. This project must be the applicant’s scripted directorial debut. Student films do not count as prior work. Applicants may have prior experience in the film industry but cannot have directed a scripted short or feature film before. Applicants must own the copyright of their production and have budgetary and editorial control. Applicants must identify as a member of the BIPOC community and identify as a woman or on the gender-nonconforming spectrum Applicants must be based in the United States and will be required to provide proof of residency. Student films, feature films, series and engagement/outreach campaigns will not be considered. Documentary concepts or films in need of finishing funds will not be considered.
Geographic Eligibility
All