Southern Circuit Screening Partner Grant

Southern Circuit Screening Partner Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: South Arts, Inc.
Amount: Unspecified amount in in-kind support
Last Updated: September 21, 2025

Summary

The Southern Circuit Screening Partner Grant invites nonprofit, educational, or governmental organizations in the South Arts region to host screenings of independent documentaries. This initiative promotes diverse filmmakers, including those from historically marginalized communities. Partners engage audiences through strategic marketing and provide logistical support for filmmakers. The program emphasizes collaboration during film selection and aims to foster meaningful conversations about the art of filmmaking while making the events accessible to all community members.

Overview

Bring independent documentary filmmakers to your community for screenings and conversations around powerful stories and the art of filmmaking. Screening Partners are partner organizations that present Southern Circuit screenings, Q&As, and other filmmaker engagements with the community. Screening Partners develop screening audiences through strategic marketing and partnerships. As a group, they participate in the film selection process and discuss programming/marketing strategies for each film. Screening Partners act as hosts to touring filmmakers, providing recommendations for travel, lodging, and dining. South Arts coordinates filmmaker tours and provides marketing materials for each film. South Arts recognizes the value of filmmaker participation by providing an honorarium for each filmmaker’s tour, with the support of the National Endowment for the Arts. Screening Partners must be nonprofit, educational, or governmental organizations residing in the South Arts region (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee). Southern Circuit Screening Partners have included schools, churches, arts centers, municipalities, and other organizations, serving audiences of all ages. Southern Circuit is invested in partnering with Historically Black Colleges and Universities in the South Arts region. What films are presented? Southern Circuit prioritizes featuring Southern filmmakers and stories. We are committed to presenting films by filmmakers of color, LGBTQ+ filmmakers, and filmmakers with disabilities. Selected filmmakers should have an ethical relationship with the topics and individuals/communities represented in their work. We are invested in including emerging and first-time filmmakers. Screening Partners are provided a Southern Circuit Film Guide with potential selections for the season. Screening Partners work together to select six films that will tour to all Screening Partners. The Southern Circuit Film Selection Meeting will be held in June. At least one representative from your organization will be required to participate.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Applicants must be non-profit, educational, or governmental organizations within South Arts’ nine-state region: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. Non-profit tax-exempt status or an official unit of local, county or state government. Tax-exempt status will be verified by a third-party entity. Proof of governmental status is required. Applicants must have a DUNS number. Projects must take place in South Arts’ nine-state region.Applicants must acknowledge the support of South Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts in all marketing activities and contact with traditional (print, radio, TV) and social media.Complete and submit a final report to South Arts at the conclusion of the tour.Invited Screening Partners must comply with eligibility requirements. Failure to do so will result in disqualification of future project participation and grant funds from South Arts.Screenings must take place within the designated timeframe.Events must be marketed to and include the public. Projects are not required to serve the entire geographic community but should make diverse audiences a goal.Applicants are required to provide reasonable accommodations for constituents with disabilities during events, and to include physical access (ramps, accessible parking/box office/restrooms/seating, etc.). Communications and programmatic accessibility are required and can also help your organization build audiences and strengthen engagement. Please visit the NEA's website for more information. Applicants must commit to the Endowment’s Assurance of Compliance.An electronic final report must be submitted at the conclusion of the Southern Circuit season.

Ineligibility

Fiscal agents will not be considered.Applications will not be accepted from organizations that do not have a DUNS number.