Grant sizes will be up to $15K. The Fund will accept submissions from BIPOC directors living and working in the continental U.S with a particular interest in those that identify as being of indigenous and/or African descent.
Short-Film Fund: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you define "Independent Filmmaker"?
For the purposes of this fund, we define an independent filmmaker as someone who has directed and completed at least 2-4 short and/or feature-length films to date and who has about 5 to 25 years of experience. The spirit with which we created this Fund was to support filmmakers of color with a substantial body of film works that still face structural barriers.
Can a producer apply?
Producers need to apply as teams with the directors. We focus our efforts on artists and nurturing and growing our artistic community.
Can a single director submit more than one project?
No, if you are working on more than one project at a time as the director please choose one project to apply for the fund.
Can a collective of filmmakers apply?
Yes, if the members of your collective are working on a shared project and fit the eligibility requirements (primarily made up of mid-career Directors from racially and ethnically underrepresented communities in eligible states and territories), we welcome an application.
What kinds of stories are you interested in?
We are open to short-form films (at least 9 minutes – no more than 18 minutes) about a wide range of issues and themes of social relevance, particularly stories that disrupt the master narrative.
How many projects will be approved, and is there a quota by state/region?
We anticipate supporting 5 filmmakers per year. We are interested in building our community of filmmakers and want to especially encourage applicants from the Southern United States and/or that have ties to the South to apply.
At what stage does the project have to be to apply?
We are accepting applications for original films in pre-production. Filmmakers all work differently and we honor your process; we will consider anything before full-scale production. Generally, this means you are in research and development, figuring out your story and how you will tell it.
Do I have to submit the entire project calendar and plan (development, pre-production, production, and post-launch)?
We understand your plans are likely to change as you proceed. But we do want to know what your plans currently are to help us get a sense of what you have in mind, what your approach is, and your production strategy. If you have post-production plans already, that would be good for us to know. But we don’t anticipate many applicants who are still in pre-production will have these plans fully laid out.
Should we provide proof of all expenses?
We will ask for a financial report mid-course and at the end of the grant term.
How complete should the comprehensive line-item budget be?
We understand your plans are likely to change as you proceed. But we do want to know what your plans currently are to help us get a sense of what you have in mind, what your approach is, and your production strategy. If you have post-production plans already, that would be good for us to know. But we don’t anticipate many applicants who are still in pre-production will have these plans fully laid out.
What do you mean by "the ethics and accountability of the approach"?
This will vary from project to project depending on the issues and communities in question. But generally, they involve considerations relating to your relationship to the subject matter; how you’ll navigate differences in power and privilege; the impact of your project on the participants in your film, the communities who are most vulnerable or impacted, and your audiences; decisions relating to how the film will be disseminated; what audiences you’ll prioritize and why; how you navigate questions of rights and ownership; how you talk about your project; who is on your team; how the project will benefit communities and contribute to change; and any other considerations linked to your specific communities and themes.
Will you take it into account if my project is affected by Covid-19?
We understand the challenges of the moment. We have every intention to remain responsive and flexible to be as supportive as possible. Please be communicative and we will be as well. In our selection process, we care about issues of social relevance and the health crisis we are in is increasingly relevant. That said, we are still interested in all issues of social relevance today and are not exclusively focused on the COVID-19 pandemic.
If we don't receive funds, will we receive feedback about why?
CHROMATIC BLACK will offer feedback to finalists after the grantees are announced to advise others on trends we noticed in the applications that led us to our decisions. We regret that we cannot offer feedback to every single person who applies.
What involvement will Chromatic Black have during the grant and production processes and will we meet as a cohort?
We will create opportunities to gather either in-person or online to support your creative process, to provide feedback on your project reel and treatment, and to learn more about your progress and how we can support you. We are interested in building our community of artists and cultivating a long-term relationship with you.
What involvement will Chromatic Black have during the grant and production processes and will we meet as a cohort?
We will create opportunities to gather either in-person or online to support your creative process, to provide feedback on your project reel and treatment, and to learn more about your progress and how we can support you. We are interested in building our community of artists and cultivating a long-term relationship with you.