Moving Image Fund: Pre-Production & Early Development Funding Grant

The Moving Image Fund, established by LEF New England, offers crucial support for independent documentary filmmakers in the region. Grants of up to $5,000 are available for pre-production phases, with a focus on projects demonstrating originality, technical skill, and feasibility. The fund aims to strengthen New England's film community and ensure the sustainability of artistic endeavors.

Moving Image Fund Grants
The goal of LEF New England is to fund the work of independent documentary film and video artists in the region, and to broaden recognition and support for their work, both locally and nationally. It also supports programs that highlight the rich history and ongoing legacy of innovation within New England’s independent film community.
LEF New England launched the Moving Image Fund (MIF) in 2002 to support new film and video work. The Moving Image Fund provides funding across all phases of production, supporting films from the early risk-taking stage, through a film’s completion. In this way, MIF offers a continuum of support for selected projects, while also identifying new talent.
Through MIF, LEF New England champions work that is provocative, heartfelt, and challenging in style and substance. Since its inception, LEF’s Moving Image Fund has supported over 300 independent filmmaker projects with approximately $4 million in funding. The overarching goal of LEF New England’s philanthropic investment is to help build a sustainable and strong community of support for artists and their work.
Pre-Production Funding
LEF invests in documentary film and video projects that demonstrate excellence in technique, originality of vision and voice, and creativity in form. The strongest proposals will be those that clearly articulate the ways in which the proposed project aligns with the program’s funding criteria.
Funding Criteria:
Quality of cinematic form and technique Originality of filmmaker’s voice, vision, and point of view Resonance and power of the film’s core idea or story Feasibility of production
A maximum of (6) grants of $5,000 will be awarded to projects in the pre-production phase of development at one August deadline each year.
Appropriate Use of Funds: Pre-production funds may be used for research, travel, location scouting, script or storyboard development, experimentation with shooting picture and sound, distribution planning, fundraising, creating a trailer, schedule and budget development, and staffing (creative, technical, or otherwise).

Eligibility

Projects must be long format; running times of 40 minutes or more.
Primary creative personnel (director and/or producer) must reside in New England (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont).Projects must not be commissioned or work-for-hire, and the director/producer creative team must have creative control of the project.LEF no longer requires you to have a confirmed fiscal sponsor at the time that you submit a letter of inquiry or application. However, if you are awarded a grant, you must have a confirmed 501c3 fiscal sponsor in place in order to receive any grant funding.If you are a professional taking a class (not pursuing a degree), then you are eligible to apply.See FAQ for further guidelines.

Ineligibility

We do not offer funding to high school, undergraduate or graduate students pursuing a degree (even in a non-film related field). Multi-channel or installation work will not be considered.Distribution efforts are not eligible for LEF funding.