Moving Image Fund: Production / Post Production Grants

The Moving Image Fund, established by LEF New England, supports independent documentary filmmakers in the region with grants for production and post-production phases. The fund provides up to $15,000 for production and $25,000 for post-production, with a focus on projects that demonstrate originality, quality, and feasibility. Since 2001, it has awarded over $5 million to approximately 450 projects, fostering a vibrant community of filmmakers in New England.

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 2001 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 awarded approximately 450 grants to New England-based independent filmmakers with over $5 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.
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 techniqueOriginality of filmmaker’s voice, vision, and point of viewResonance and power of the film’s core idea or storyFeasibility of production
Production Funding
A maximum of (8) grants of $15,000 each will be awarded to projects in the Production phase during LEF’s major grants review.
Appropriate Use of Funds: Production funds may be used for shooting picture and sound, early stage editing, equipment costs, materials, travel, and staffing (creative, technical, or otherwise).
Post-Production Funding
A maximum of (6) grants of $25,000 each will be awarded to projects in the Post-production phase during LEF’s major grants review. In order to be eligible for Post-production support, the project for which you are applying must have received previous LEF support.
Appropriate Use of Funds: Post-production funds may be used for editing costs, rights, online, sound mix, color correction, transfers, distribution strategy, 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).The spirit of our fund is to support filmmakers who are living and working in the New England region. LEF’s approach is to support the overall ecology of regional filmmaking in New England.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. (Find more details about locating a fiscal sponsor on our FAQ page.)For prior grantees, a final report on previous LEF grant funding is required.

Ineligibility

Projects with directors or producers enrolled in high school, undergraduate or master’s degree programs at the time of application are ineligible for consideration.Multi-channel or installation work will not be considered.Distribution efforts are not eligible for LEF funding.