Women in Film & Video DC

WIFV Narrative Short Film Finishing Grant

Women in Film & Video DC ⟩ WIFV Narrative Short Film Finishing Grant

WIFV Narrative Short Film Finishing Grant

The WIFV Narrative Short Film Finishing Grant is open for applications through August 15, 2024! 

Administered by Women in Film & Video, this program exists to support WIFV Members with the post-production of a short film (no longer than 15 minutes including credits).  It consists of limited in-kind services from Henninger Media Services, Interface Media Group, Ott House Audio, and ReelPlan. There is one call for applications per year.  The application deadline for 2024 is August 15, 2024 at 6:00 pm. Click here to begin the application process. Read about the process below.

Eligibility

• WIFV Narrative Short Film Finishing Grant is open to WIFV Members in good standing, who have been with the organization no less than one full year;
• Work must be narrative, not exceeding 15 minutes in length (including credits);
• Film must be at the rough cut stage at the time of submission with 90% of principal photography completed;
• Filmmakers must be residents of the Mid-Atlantic region (District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia, Delaware, Pennsylvania);
• The writer or director must identify as a woman;
• The story must include a protagonist who identifies as a woman;
• Work must be intended for a public audience

Please note: Individual filmmakers or filmmakers working in collaboration may submit, but student work, at any level, is not eligible for this grant.

Award Selection & Notification

A panel of film professionals from the Mid-Atlantic region will evaluate applications and select the recipient. Grants are awarded via a merit-based review process based upon the following criteria:

• Artistic Merit and Strength of Work Sample from the film under consideration;
• Readiness of Work to be Completed;
• Overall Creative Excellence;
• Distribution Plan.

All applicants will receive award notification via email within 45 days of the submission deadline. Grant recipients must sign and return the acceptance agreement within 5 days of receipt of award notification.

Please note: Acceptance of the grant stipulates that you will have your film completed by March 31, 2025 with the expectation of it being screened at the following ScriptDC Filmmakers Conference.

Grant awarded in-kind services include:

• up to 8 hours color correction by Henninger Media Services,
• up to 8 hours Design/Graphics time for the Graphics/Titles by Interface Media Group,
• up to 8 hours audio mix by Ott House Audio, and
• up to 4 hours of festival consulting provided by ReelPlan.

Application Process and Deadline

The completed application consists of the following to be submitted as one document in pdf format:

• Application Cover Sheet (available as a Google Form here);
• Project Information with Distribution Plan and including link to work sample;
• Full project budget;
• Resume or CV of key crew members. You may include a link to a video pitch (not to exceed 3 minute in length).

Please note: Applicants must include a sample of the work for which support is requested. Applicants must indicate a 10-minute (or less) section you wish to be evaluated. The work sample cannot be a trailer or specially-cut samples. The work sample must be a sustained section taken from the to-be-completed work.

 

Final Reporting, Copyright of Work, and Credits

• Upon completion of the project, a final report must be completed and submitted to director@wifv.org and a copy of the completed work is made available to WIFV.
• The work may be used or exhibited by WIFV to market the program, but will not be used without the filmmakers’ prior written consent.
• Credit must be given to this grant program and its funders on all informational and promotional materials. Language is provided with approval notification.

Please note: Grant recipients retain all rights over their work.

Assistance

Applicants are encouraged to discuss their applications prior to submission. For questions, please contact Melissa Houghton, WIFV Executive Director, at director@wifv.org or call 202-429-9438.

History and Past Recipients

This grant program was initiated with proceeds from the 2001 DC screening of WHAT MATTERS MOST, written and directed by Jane Cusumano.

The first film to receive this grant was the award-winning TELL ME ABOUT ORANGE.  It has been accepted into several film festivals and is now an award-winning short!  It was one of six short films featured on The Wrap website during the Power Women’s Summit on December 7 – 9, 2021.  The Jane Cusumano/WIFV Short Narrative Film Finishing Fund has also supported THE FAMILIAR and FLIGHT OF THE CROWS. These films are currently on the festival circuit!