wHY IS THE GRANT ONLY FOR SHORT FILMS?
The reason this grant is for short films only (i.e. less than 40 minutes), is that typically there is no return on investment for short films, thus making it harder to find funding. Short films are an essential part of independent filmmaking as it is where filmmakers learn their craft and figure out who they are as artists.
can i submit a webseries?
The project must be able to stand on its own and fit the time parameters for a short film (under 40 minutes). If it is a part of a series, the project submitted must still feel like a complete story.
cAN i SUBMIT MORE THAN ONE PROJECT?
You can submit more than one project, just make sure you fill out an application for each.
cAN i reSUBMIT a PROJECT?
You can absolutely resubmit projects! We recommend working on your supporting documents, to make sure that the project has grown since the last submission.
When is the deadline?
Submissions for the Fall 2022 Grant cycle closed on Sunday, September 18th @ 11:59pm. We then announced the top 10 finalists on Wednesday, October 5th, 2022, and our winner was announced on Friday, November 4th, 2022.
Cycle 8 of the Grant will open in January of 2023.
Can I submit a documentary?
This is specifically for short films: documentary, narrative, animated, experimental, any and all qualify. The definition of a short film is any project with a run-time not exceeding 40 minutes.
Do you have grants for projects other than short films?
Not at this time.
Do you accept film pitches for funding?
No, we do not accept unsolicited works.
Does the film have to be shot only in Georgia?
At least 2/3 of the film must be shot in the state of Georgia.
What documents are required?
Anything that can help convey your understanding of the project and the scope. This can include your budget, pitch deck, lookbook, treatment, etc. None of these things are required but are highly suggested to remain competitive. All of the projects that have actually been able to be competitive have had pitch decks or lookbooks or things that visually can help us imagine the kind of projects that they want to produce.
Need help in creating these documents - check out our Filmmaker Toolkit.
Everything that we suggest will be helpful in the process of making your film, as well as applying for any other grants.
Does the budget have to be $5,000?
If you are functioning with a budget over $5,000, make sure you express in your application how you plan on raising the additional money.
Does the film have to be in pre-production?
If you are planning on shooting before our deadline, we need to know kind of specifically how our $5,000 is going to help you with post-production (editing, sound design, special effects, etc.)
What is an inclusion statement?
As part of our mission to make entertainment more inclusive, we require all applicants to articulate how their project is increasing representation in front of and behind the camera. We aren’t looking for a specific answer, buzzwords, or magic phrases. A strong inclusion statement shows that the filmmaker made conscious choices in how they approach their project, including (but not limited to) subject matter, writing, casting, hiring, shooting, vendors, etc.
Check out these examples from Seed&Spark!
If you have any other questions, please contact us at info@filmimpactgeorgia.org.