Film, Video, and Digital Production Grants

The Film, Video, and Digital Production Grants provide up to $30,000 to support early career film directors from Minnesota or New York City. These grants focus on production and post-production costs for new works in various genres such as narrative, documentary, experimental, and animation. Applicants must have directed at least two completed projects and demonstrate the ability to manage their proposed project effectively. The program does not cover pre-production costs or marketing expenses.

Production grants of up to $30,000 to early career film, video and digital production directors from Minnesota or New York City.
Production & Post-Production costs only
Pre-production and post-completion costs (marketing, distribution, etc.) are not covered
This program supports production costs and post-production costs connected to the creation of new narrative, documentary, experimental or animated works in film, video or digital formats. The program does not support pre-production work (e.g., script creation, location scouting, casting, etc.) or marketing, distribution, duplication, and other post-completion costs.
Grants have a maximum value of $30,000 (although applicants may request and panels charged with assessing applications may award lesser amounts) and do not require matching contributions.
Applications are accepted from Minnesota or New York City-based early career film directors who have already completed and released at least two works. Applicants provide:
multiple work samples reflecting completed directing worka sample of a work in progress (if relevant)resumesand answers to various narrative questions about the film project
These materials are reviewed by panels of film/video/digital experts, who recommend grantees to the Jerome Board of Directors, which must approve any and all grants made.
Types of Work
Eligible works include new film, video and digital production work in the genres of animation, documentary, experimental, and narrative. The Foundation has no preferences for subject matter or genre (i.e., documentary over narrative or animation).
Applicants are expected to demonstrate an ability to complete the proposed project. Depending on the subject matter, this may require the applicant to demonstrate an understanding of the subject and an ability to handle the material appropriately. In reviewing documentary proposals, panelists are interested in the degree to which relationships with the film subjects/content has been or will be developed.
Funds may be used for:
Production, including:ShootingRights Location feesEquipment Materials Travel Staffing (creative, technical or otherwise)Select post-production expenses, including: Editing Transfers Scoring/sound mix CGI/titlingSpecial effectsColor correction
Funds may only be used for expenses incurred after the grant is awarded and the grant contract is signed.
Film projects that are or will be in post-production at the time awards are made are eligible but are a lower priority.
Grantees must accept all grant funds within 18 months and use all funds within 30 months of the date of the grant letter.
Projects that are still in early pre-production planning and that may not begin shooting for at least 24 months are encouraged to not to apply until more work on the project has been completed. This program does not offer second grants to support projects previously funded within the Film, Video and Digital Production Grant program.
Project Budget
Films of any financial scale are eligible. Because the award may not be able to cover the entire costs of production even for those films with budgets of less than $30,000, we ask applicants to identify additional secured and/or potential sources of income for the project in the application.

Eligibility

This program supports early career film directors who have in the past and will in the proposed project generate new work. Generative filmmakers are those who generate new works and claim creative “authorship” and creative control in the creation of new work, and whose primary practice is centered in creating new work in animation, documentary, experimental, and narrative film, video and digital production.The Foundation understands that, especially at an early stage, artists may do more than direct: they may also act, design, write, edit and/or produce. Artists who perform multiple functions are eligible if these functions also include directing. This program is not open to film producers, editors, designers, etc., unless they also meet the basic history of directing criteria and are applying for a project that they will direct.At a minimum, applicants must have directed and completed at least two non-student film/video/digital production projects.Applicants must serve as the director(s) of the proposed project (i.e., must be listed in the film credits as the director).Applications are only accepted from individuals or co-directing teams applying jointly.Residency Statusis a resident of the state of Minnesota or New York City as demonstrated by having filed two most recent federal taxes as a resident of Minnesota and/or New York City, and will file in those same areas next year have either a Social Security Number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN)Student Statusare not participating in any degree-granting programs (K-12, undergraduate, graduate) in any field at the time of applicationwill not enter degree programs during the grant periodBody of Workhas directed two completed film/video/digital production projectsthese projects cannot have been in production and/or post-production while the applicant was enrolled as a student these projects cannot have been music videos, commercial or industrial workCareer Stageare in the early stages of their creative development and:show significant potentialhave some evidence of professional achievement but not a substantial record of accomplishmentare recognized as early career filmmakers by other filmmakers, curators, producers, etc.Creative Controlmust assume the role of director with ultimate artistic/creative control of:two completed past projectsthe project for which support is requestedIneligible works include installations, new media, gamers or interactive work. This type of work is supported in other Foundation programs and is not eligible for this program. Commercial, industrial, music videos, informational, or student work all fall outside of Foundation priorities and are not eligible in any Foundation program.Jerome Foundation considers music videos to be industrial or commercial work; they are therefore not eligible for support, cannot be considered as work samples or to establish eligibility. Music videos, industrial work and/or commercial work submitted as work samples will be removed from the application and will not be reviewed by the panel.

Ineligibility

This is not a program for first-time or second-time filmmakers. Applications may not be submitted by fiscal sponsors, production companies, LLCs, or other organizations.Residency Statushas not been not a resident of either the state of Minnesota or New York City as demonstrated by not having fil two most recent federal taxes as a resident of Minnesota and/or New York City, and will not file in those same areas next yeardoes not have either a Social Security Number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN)Student Statusapplicants who are or will be students enrolled in degree-granting programs» applicants who are enrolled in PhD programs should discuss options with staffbody of workis a first-time or second-time filmmaker and does not have at least two completed projects that were made entirely in production and/or post-production in non-student yearscareer stagewould be identified as “mid-career” or established in any arts discipline, including but not limited to film/video/digital productionare engaged in filmmaking as a hobby or avocational pastimecreative control producers, editors, crew, cast and screenwriters who are not in ultimate creative control of the projectOther Statusprevious Jerome grantees (in either the film, video and digital production or Travel and Study programs) who have not completed final grant reportscosts already supported through other Jerome-funded programs are not eligible for support in this programFunds may not be used for:MarketingCreation of trailersDistribution costsFestival feesPre-production costs, including:ResearchProfessional developmentThese types of activities are supported through the Jerome Hill Artist Fellowships—not through this program.