2024 Narrative Short Grant Program

The Berkeley FILM Foundation is pleased to announce the launch of first-ever short fiction film grant program. Donor Name: Berkeley Film Foundation (BFF) State: County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 09/23/2024 Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: Berkeley FILM Foundation will provide grants in the pre-production, production, postproduction and distribution stages of the narrative short film project. The Berkeley FILM Foundation is interested in short, fiction films that use creative, thoughtful and innovative methods to tell a story with a strong theme of social or environmental justice. The review committee will be judging films based on originality, imagination and technical skill. Types of Grants  BFF has two tiers of grants available to filmmakers in the Narrative Film Grant Program: special awards and general grants. General Grants  General grants awarded will range between $5,000 – $10,000. The amount of the award will be determined by several aspects of the application including (but not limited to) the line items outlined in the project budget, the intended use of the grant, the stage of the project you are in and the team behind the project. If you receive less money than you asked for, it is usually because they have run low on allocated funds but want to support the project for its creativity or cultural or social relevancy and BFF’s small grant will help inspire other organizations to give larger amounts. The Saul Zaentz Awards: Two separate $25,000 grants This has historically been the Berkeley FILM Foundation’s highest award given each year and is the most prestigious. This is the first year they are introducing a second Saul Zaentz Award for $25,000. These films are chosen during final deliberation of the review committee and these films will embody the mission and purpose of the organization and its commitment to social justice. The grants are named after world-renowned film producer, Saul Zaentz, who was an original founder of the Berkeley FILM Foundation. Eligible Genre Short Form Narratives (40 minutes or less). Eligibility Criteria  To be considered for this grant, you must work or live in the city of Berkeley, Emeryville, Albany, El Cerrito, Richmond, Oakland or Alameda. You must provide a valid street address for application. PO Box addresses will not be accepted. Applicants may submit one project for consideration per funding cycle. The applicant must be: The Director, co-director, Producer or co-Producer of the films. Organizations may not apply. Be at least 18 years of age. For more information, visit BFF.